The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-14
The President Enthusiastically
Championed Construction
Of Four BattIeships But
Committee Said Two.
ECONOMY" is GIVEN
AS EXCUSE FOR ACTION
Secretary of Navy Newberry
Will Oppose Any Plan to
Construct Ships at Govern
ment Navy Yards.
BY Guy w. Finney.

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE action of
the house committee on naval affairs
in reporting in favor of authorizing
the construction of two 26OOO ton
battleships was probably another slap
at President Roosevelt. The president
urgently advised the committee to ad-
wise the construction of four ships of
this class. House members state that
this change of plan is due to the in
sistent economy cry which Chair
man Tawney of the house committee
on appropriations has called on the
house to heed, and to the probability
of vigorous opposition to the plans Of
the -four ur-battleship-men.'' Taking
warning at the opposition to the four
battleship program at the last session
of congress, only two members of the
naval committee of the house have
had the hardihood to declare out and
out for the authorization of four big
ships at this session.
A Heavy Expenditure.
But despite this desire for curtail-
ment of the paval budget, the bill will
carry expenditures Of approximately
$132, 100000, as compared with $123,-
100000 for the current fiscal year. The
two battleships to be recommended are
vessels of $4,000 tons displacement,
larger than now af1oat, and to cost
$40 100000. The rest of the $20,OOO.-
900, which represents the increase this
year over last, will be used to con-
struct five torpedo boat destroyers,
$4OOO.OOO; three colliers, $500 900;
four submarines, $2OOO,OOO; one SUBJ
marine boat, 100000.
Opposed to Navy Yards.
Secretary Newberry will oppose any
recommendation that the big ships be
constructed at the navy yards. In fact
he is not in favor of any construction
work on any of these vessels being
done by the government. If the naval
bill therefore, should come out of COM
mittee directing this work be done in
by protest from Secretary Newberry.
who is backed in his stand by several
leading naval officers.
Secretary Newberry's contention is
that by private contract this work can
be done at considerable less cost. BY
way of illustration he refers to the col
lier now building at the Mare Island
navy yard. which he says is costing the
government much more than the esti-
mated cost from private ship build
ing firm. While it was estimated last
year that the two 10000 ton battle
ships authorized by congress, and now
building, would cost $4,000, 900 each,
the members of the naval committee
have been led by tn navy department
officials to believe that it will be pos
sible to construct the proposed 26,OOO
ships at less cost than estimated for
the larger ships last year. This saw
ing will amount to $1,OOO,OOO. and ac-
cording to Secretary Newberry it is
due to competition among the private
shipyards
An Expensive Revenge.
Uuless present plans are altered, the
house of representatives will spend
about $4,000 to "get back at the
president because of the spanking
he administered to several members in
connection with his messages bearing
on the secret service Investigations
This process of getting back at the
chief magistrate will probably take the
form of giving the widest publicity to
the houses side of the secret service
controversy. 1t will be done through
the publication of, 100000 extra cop
les of the congressional record to be
distributed broadcast to individuals
throughout the country. Beside the
bill for postage, it will cost quite a
sum to print the Record and distribute
it. making total of $4,000, it is es-
timated.
The plan Is to print the speeches of
those members who have voiced their
indignation at the presidents utter
ances regarding the need of inyesti-
eating certain members of congress- y
While good many members. notably
Chairman Tawney and his associates
on the appropriations committee. are
in favor of this scheme. its adoption
has not been definitely decided upon.
President Has Advantages.
Now. in obtaining publicity for his
remarks, the president has a decided
advantage over congress. His mes
sages are printed in advance Of their
appearance in congress and are dis
tributed to newspapers throughout the
country to be held for release Besides
whatever he has to say on any subject
Is given ample space In all the news
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