Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-16
ROOSEVELT
IS IGNORED
CONGRESS REJECTS NAVAL
PLAN OF PRESIDENT
REFUSES ALLOWANCE FOR FOUR
BATTLESHIPs
Spirited Debate Follows Attempt to
Secure Larger Appropriation.
Hobson Foremost Cham
plon of Measure
BY Associated Press.

of 1893 to So the house of representatives
today decided against the president
program for four battleships, and ad-
hered to the recommendation of its
committee on naval affairs for two
vessels of that type. This result was
achieved after debate which lasted FOR
four hours and 1t was received with
applause.
The entire session was devoted to
consideration of the naval appropria-
tion bill. AS this increase was pro-
vided In the last section of the BILL the
measure was practically concluded
with the disposition of the provision.
The committee of the whole con-
cluded its work and 1t will report to
the house tomorrow for a final vote
on it's passage.
The provision for battleships was the
chief subject of interest, the commit
tees recommendation for two ships OF
that type prevailing by decisive vote
after hard-fought effort to increase
the number to four. The increase was
opposed by Mr. Tawney, chairman of
the committee on appropriations; Mr..
Foss, chairman of the committee on
naval affairs; Mr. Willetts, minority
leader and others. 1t was advocated
by Mr. Hohson of Alabama, who de-
clared that in relation to the increase
of other nations four battleships would
only keep the American navy abreast
of other great navies.
Longworth Supports Plan
Mr.. Longworth of Ohio, in a vigorous
speech. told the house that the presi-
dent was more interested in this IN
crease than in any other question be-
fore congress, and as practically all OF
them had in the last election declared
that they supported him this was a
good opportunity to live up to that
declaration.
An amendment by Mr.. Tawney to re-
duce the number of new battleships TO
one was voted down by an even more
decided majority than wac Mr.. Hob
on's proposition for Increasing 1t to
four.
provision for two fleet Golfers for
sixteen knots and 1880 tons capacity,
costing $1S00.o,l each, was adopted. &
Amendments were adopted that one
of the battleships and one of the coll
liers shall ne built in navy yard.
Mr.. Burton of Ohio opposed the bat
tleship provision. He declared that the
Monroe doctrine was not maintained
nv the military armament. Mr.. Hob
son of Alabama interrupted to ask
what, in the absence of absolute power
10 arbitrate, would protect the country.
Our prestige and the strength or
the nation will protect u.s. responded
Mr. Burton, amid a storm of applause.
Our strength" he continued, mot
only the strength of the navy and the
army, but our strength as people VIII
protect u.s."
No nation, he said, wished to quarrel
with us He quoted the instance OF
friction in maintaining the Monroe doc
trine in Venezuela against the preten-
sions of Great Britain when this conu-
trv had but three battleships and
tn, wit
OF Europe on the side of Great Britain.
THAT he declared, was an illustration
of the influence of the nation resulting
from it's inherent strength
eve cannot be compared with Chi
ma" he said, evidently referring TO the
presidents message ct Yesterday, a1lo ma
renewed applause I'VE are not IN the
same class.
Terms Claim illogical
The claim for four battleships he pro-
nounced to be wholly illogical.
"At This time" he proceeded, ."let us
continue our traditional policy, not of
ron-resistance but of confidence In our
strength as a nation, our military
strength, our material strength-put
most of all in the great moral and poiit-
ical ideas that have made our country
preat~o1r ideas of justice and the
equality of man. These great ideas are
stronger than battleships. Along this
line lies our destiny and our glory.
Mr Cochran of New York then made
a striking speech in favor of the build
ing of four new ships. Beginning by
declaring that he agreed with the senti-
ments expressed by Mr.. Burton. Mr..
rockran added that while the house
,,as 10 use its own Judgment concering
its actions. vet the president, being
commander in chief of the military
forces, great Difference was due to his
recommendations.
dertalxen the construction of a fighting
force. and abandoned the policies
through which 1t won consequence In
this world without parallel"
He referred to the racial questions
arising from the school troubles IN san
Francisco, and said that when tine
question of race superiority developed
.,This country" he said, sis the El
Dorado of the Japanese and the people
of the Pacific will not allow them to
lodge there because they assert equal
;+v This is the situation" he added,
chat iustifies me in yielding my Judg-
ment TO that of the president of the
Trnited States. We could conceive diff
fculties that would produce clash
between 4he Japanese and this coun-
try $4,000 ooo.
daai of merriment by reading from
sneeoh delivered by Mr. Cochran May
1s 1eo6. against military expansion. to
which the New York representative
replied mrl by inquiring whether the San
Francisco school troubles had arisen
then. ..
since the Cinnamon first landed there
and taught the American no" TO pay
poker" retorted Mr.. Rainey
Mr.. williams of Mississippi created
outbursts of applause by his opposi-
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