The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-16
Portsmouth Item of Quarter
Million Raises DixOn'S
Ire.
SUM DEFENDED
BY GALLINGER
Friends Of Navy Bill Confer to
Secure an Early
Vote.
By JOHN sNURE

senate insurgents resumed their dis
SECTION OF the naval appropriation BILL
when that measure was laid before the
Senate again this afternoon
The bill had barely been taken up
when Senator Dixon Of Montana pro-
ceeded 10 renew his activity of yester-
day in probing the facts as 10 the poll
teal navy yards"
The first item which the clerk read
related 60 the Portsmouth Navy Yard,
which is the one supposed TO be under
the wings Of Senators Hale and GaIlin-
ger Senator Dixon wanted - know
about the item, which was a quarter of
q million dollars for a foundry at the
Portsmouth yard.
Come to Rescue.
Both Senators Hale and GalIinger de-
Tended the item.
Senator GaIIiuger showed evidences
Of resentment at the disposition of Sen
sJor Dixon to criticise the conduct of
the Portsmouth yard, snd TO question
the need for its maintenance.
"If the Senator from Montana is 10
make war on the navy yards on the At
lantic CCast,' said Senator Gallingers II
hope he will not select Portsmouth. II
Is equiv ped Ia every possible way TO
meet the requirements. / venture the
prediction that when other navy yards
along the Atlantic coast are discOn-
tinued. Portsmouth win remain"
Senator Gallinger said ~ was proper
for Senator Dixon to ask the questions,
but III the Senator held that the apDTD-
priatiou in question was not called for
he was putting his judgment, which
could not be very technical. against the
judgment Of various navy officers, and
the Secretary Of the Navy,
Dixon Replies.
Senator Dixon replied by an attack
on the system Of duplication Of work
a. the various yards. He denied he
had any prejudice against Portsmouth,
but he asked If the system OF dupIiCa-
tion nov permitted az the various yards
would fcr a minute be tolerated by any
corporation or business concern. He
declared he believed a majority 0f the
Ssnate w6s opposed 10 the system and
that the country was.
indications are the insurgents VIII
continue their attacks ou various fea-
uTss Of the navy bill for the entire
day Friends of the bill are getting
restless under their attacks, and SEN
ator Hale and others are c0uuseling
with q view 20 Fastening a vote.
TiIlman Hits Back.
Senator TilIman, a member Of the
Naval Affairs Committee was led 20
answer Senator Dixon sharply by rea-
son OF the criticism the Montana SEN
ator offered TO the various navy yard
appropriations. Senator TiTman defend
ed the Charleston navy yard.
Senator DizOn's zeal 0utruus his dis
cretlon.' said Mr. Tllman. He has
been reading a magazine fun of lies
II is all well enough 20 SIT on the pin
uscle Of the Rocky mountains and
criticize the navy, but the opinions
given by the Senator from Montana
are not in accord with those Of eminent
naval surhorities.''
Senator Tlllmau declared that a CLIQUE
OF naval officers were trying 20 Get rid
OF tne tnariestown yard in the interest
or a greater yard a. New York and al
Norto-E- He also said the scheme was
20 40 away with all the yards on the
South Atlantic coast and establish a
great naval base at Guantanamo. Tuna.
senator Tillman charged that p~efu-
sice against the South was resuGnsfnIe
CCoAtnued on Second PaRe1