The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-22
Mississiippian Predicts War
 Within Ten Years
FIGHT LAPS OR SOMEBODY
Discussion of Naval Appropriation Bill Brings Out Criticism of Adminis-
 tration's Philippine Policy
 and Trip of BattIeships.

Washington, April 21.-The naval ap- propriation bill was today. on motion of Senator sAldrich made the unfinished business of the Senate, taking the place of the bill to appropriate to drainage of swamp lands the receipts from the sale of public lands in number of states. Senator Hale. chairman of the commit tee explained the provisions of the bill in detail
 MT Hale disclaimed any purpose to charge that no good would come of the fleets trip around the world. He re- ferred to it's as spectacular in the sense that "it was most remarkable and won derful"
 Mir Bacon said hel hoped the report that the fleet is to go around the world would prove incorrect. He not only looked upon it as dangerous. but also as expensive. saying it would cost all most $1,0OO,000 to take the fleet through the Suez canal alone.
 Mir Beveridge inquired whether there are facilities in the Pacific for making the necessary repairs to the fleet and Mir. Hale replied that was one of the questions that would have to be taken up. It would, he said, cost tens and tens of millions to supply those facilities.
 Danger of War.
 MT. Money made an extended speech OF the danger of war if the Philippines are held by this country, saying that all nations that have had dependencies have been obliged to maintain great navies. The 7,500,000 people of the Philippines, he said. had cost this country several hundred millions of dollars already and the money. he added, would produce no material re- suit of advantage to this country, but should be charged up to the mere pleas ure of ruling other people"
 MT. Money instanced the San Francisco troubles as an example of the rapidity with which war clouds might overspread the country. of we drop the Philip pines,' he said, we drop the chance of war in that ocean,.
 He was sure there was no treaty right on the part of Japan that would justify the attitude of that nation on the San Francisco trouble, but Japan he said, twas ready to provoke a quarrel"
 MT. Money predicted that in 10 years the United States would have to fight some body" and he paid a compliment to Jap anese valor and physical endurance.
 "Whenever we tackle that little nation" he declared. i've will have all we can do. You have got to keep that fleet there,' he declared, ''if you are to hold the Philip pines'
 Defense of Fleet.
 Defending the policy of sending the fleet to the Pacific, Senator Lodge said great good is already resulting from the long cruise, as it is teaching the fleet how to maintain itself away from ship yards by making repairs by it's own mechanics.
 Tt is not enough" he said, 'in navy to have the units the best in the world; 1t is necessary to have an efficient fleet, and we have never until this year produced an efficient fleet. I think this voyage has done more for the navy than any, thing that has ever been undertaken
 He declared that even should the Philip pines be abandoned that action would not make any difference in the need of a fleet. The navy. he said, is a guaranty of peace and does not provoke war
 Senator Beveridge advocated greater navy than the United States now has. The policy of the democrats, he said favored keeping the Philippines until the people there are fitted for elf-government, so that in any event it will be necessary to keep the islands for many years. Before the fleet started, he said, there had been talk of war, but after it reached the Pa cific waters such talk decreased, and has now almost vanished.
 The Senate spent almost two hours read ing the bill and discussing it's provisions. The only amendment of importance agreed upon was one including retired officers of the navy in the benefits of the 20 per cent salary increase provided for officers of the active list.