The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1908-02-11

Mr.. Leak expressed the hope that
one OF the two political parties would
ship"
viii the gentleman name the doc
ter: interjected- Mr Gaines. OF Ten
neFsse-
Il do not propose TO name the doc
tor" Mr. Leak replied.
/ think that is the privilege OF the
delegates to the Chicago and Denver
conventions"
Considerable progress WAS made with
the Indian appropriation hill. which
was amended so that the commissioner
Cf Indian affairs. before he carries out
the policy OF abandoning non-reserva-
tiCns schools, shall investigate the
question fully and report 10 the house
at its next session. Another amend
ment restored the appropriation for
Indian schools at Fort Lewis. Colora-
do, Carson City, Nevada. and Mount
Pleasant, Michigan.
Consideration Of the Indian bill was
not concluded when the house at SOL
p m. adjourned
By vote of l3 TO 5, one member
absent, the house committee on naval
affairs today rejected the presidents
urgent recommendation that con-
gress at this session author
ize the building of four battle
ships, at total cost OF $3S 100000 and
by an unanimous vote there was IN
cluded in the navy appropriation bill
an authorization for the construction
OF two battleships to cost $1,000, 900
each and to be Of the Delaware type.
The representatives who voted in ac-
Icordance with the presidents recon-
mendations were: Lilley. of Connecti-
cut, republican; Thomas, OF Ohio. re-
publican; Mr.. Croft, OF Louisiana.
democrat; Talbot, of Maryland, demo-
crat, and Hobson, of Alabama. demo-
crat.
Representative HoDson announced
that he intended to make a minority
report recommending the authorization
FOR four battleships
But the authorization, merely. is
not enough" he said 1T should in
clude an actual appropriation so that
the work of construction would begin
without a moments unnecessary delay
Even SC, it would be three years be-
fore these vessels would be ready to
go into commission, and this country
has no time to loose"
The preference of the committee
stood in favor of four battleship au-
thorzation, but the voting attitude OIL
the majority was expressed by Chair
man Foss when he said:
Experience has shown that it is
more profitable in the end to recon-
mend in the beginning what you know
the house will stand for. A recommen-
datton for four battleships could not
be put through at this session"
The navy appropriation bill as
amended and agreed upon by the
committee, carries a total appropria-
ton Of $101 100000 for the navy es-
taolishment for the next fiscal Year.
about $24 900, 900 less than was asked
for in the department estimates. Under
the new authorizations for whose full
fillment congress is bound to appro-
pirate money at the next session IL
the bill as recommended passes the
house and senate, the committee in
cluded two battleships to cost $4,000
900; ten destroyers, $8, 500 900; eight
submarine torpedo boats, 5000, 900:
total 30,540.000, or $3S,730000 less
than the total for new authorizations
asked for by the navy department.
The new authorization estimates re-
jected by the committee compriseo
the following:
Two battleships, $4,000 900; four
scout cruisers. s1O, 900. 900: one s..:-..un-
ition ship, s1,75O,OOO; one repair ship,
S2,0OO,09O; two laying ships (cruisers
to be converted) $500 900.
The committee, however. raised from
torpedo boats asked for; held over for
further consideration and incorpora-
t1on in special bill the matter of pro-
viding fleet colliers; appropriated
100000 for the purchase, within the
discretion of the secretary of the navy.
or three so called sub-surface torpedo
boats and included an appropriation Of
81 100000 to enable the recruiting or
5000 enlisted men TO man the new
completed battleships ind authorized
the recruiting of 1900 more to become
available after the first of July.
No provision was made for the build
ing of drydock at Pearl Harbor, near
Honolulu The doubling Of the depart
ment's estimate of four submarine tor
pedo boats needed was largely influence
ed by letters and petitions from Pa