Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-04-24
Only Two 8attleshIps.

Washington.-By a vote of 1919 to 80
tho House Wednesday decided against
the Presidents program for four bat
tleships and adhered to the recon-
mendation of its committee on naval
affairs for two vessels Of that type.
This result was reached after q de-
bate which lasted for four hours. and
was received with applause. The en-
tire session was devoted to considera'
ton OF the navy increase provision Of
the naval appropriation bill.
The provision for battleships was
the chief subject OF interest. the com.
mittees rec recommendation for two ships
Of that type prevailing by a decisive
vote after hard fought effort to In
crease the number TO four.
The Increase was opposed by Mr..
Tawney. chairman Of the committee on
appropriations. MIR. Foss. chairman OF
the committee on naval affairs. Mr..
Willett. minority leader. and others.
and was advocated by Mr.. Hobson OF
Alabama. who declared that In relation
to the increase OF other nations four
battleshlps would only keep the Am
erlcan navy abreast OF other navies.
Mr.. Longworth OF Ohio. In a vigor.
Gus speech. told the House that the
President was more Interested In this
increase than In any other question
before Congress-. and especially as all
OF them had In the election declared
that they supported him. this was a
good opportunity to live up to that
declaration.
An amendment by MIR. Tawncy to
reduce the number of new bnttleships
TO one was voted down by MI even
more decided majority than was MIR.
hobson's propositiaa for an Increase
to four
A provision for two fleet coliicrs Of
gSixteen knots and OF 1880 tons cn.
pacity. costing Si.Soo.oo0 each. was
adopted.
Amendments were adopted that one
Of the ba,tleships and one Of tho col
liers shall be bull, In u navy yard.
MIR. Humphrey OF Washington read
Q brief note addressed To him by the
President. dated April 18th. cxpfcssin.
surprise that any on. should oppose
four more ba,tlcships.. and Mr.. Hum
phrcy. waving his hama toward both
sides Of tho House. Said that every
body knew that at the bottom Of the
opposition 10 batticShips was a design
to create campaign material.
Mr.. Hayes Of California. said that
hs voiced the desire of the people Of
his state In sp-akin. for four battle
ships. lie declared that There 10 q
race question on tho Pacific coast. an
acute race question. and We OF III.
coast shall insist upon our right no,
To be submerged by the hordcs Of tho
Orient Who arc streaming across tho
Western Sca-eoolics and laboferE-
to take possession of American lands
vcs, Of tho Rocky mountaina-
The voting on tho amendments on q
regular division disclosed scscn,y'
ninc ayes. and 100 noes. on Sit. Hob
sons proposition To have four battle
ships. sir. iiobson then demanded
trii-rs. and the count revealed eighty
three ayes and i:s noes.
Mr. Ta~nry then offered his amend
meat reducing the number of battle
ships to one. but IL ~as defeated b.
sos moss To sisty ave ayes.
Insisting upon some concession. Mr.
iiobson moved an amendment pFosia
inE for three ba,ti~ships. which vas
voted down by .OS to sixty four. a
lsrs-r haiafi,y than aay developed
on any other vote taken
Mr. Goidfasis Of Sc~ York norea 10
amend the bill by making mandatory
the building Of ono batii-ship In q
navy yard. giving the secretary nf tho
navy discretion In the bsiidinE Of tho
other either In a navy yard OF by con
tract. and the suHE-siipn was adopted,
An amendment, by Mr. Loud os
Michigan prpsidins for ,~a feet col
ilrTs of sixteen knots speed and - zoo
tons capacity. costing siseo."0o each.
with an additional atnrnimrn, by Mr..
Maynard of Virginia siiruia'inF that
one of them shall h. bull, in such navy
yard an the SECRETARY uf the navy shall
direct. VAS adopted For this purpose
$4,000 Is appropriated 10 ,tc='H the
campaign.