The Washington herald., 1909-01-23

Advocates OF a bigger navy won OUT III
the House OF Representatives. yesterday.
The provision in the naval bin for the
construction Of two 2S,0O0-ton battle ships,
which was the only proposal for this
years contribution TO the naval strength
OF the United States, was fought hard
without avail
When It came 10 a vote the amendment
10 strike out the provision for two bat
tie ships was defeated two 20 one-l60 20
So An effort TO lessen the number 20 one
hattie ship met little better reception,
but without practical effect The vote
on this was 15S to los
Chairman Tawney. Of Minnesota. chair
man OF the Committee on Appropriations.
and Mr.. Burton. Of Ohio. chairman Of the
Committee on Rivers and HarbOrs, were
leaders in the sttack on the battle ship
proposition as they were. in fact opposed
TO the exactions Of the whole schedule
FOR new naval construction
They based their opposition on two
grounds-frst, that the finances Of the
country did rot admit Of the drain at
this time, and. next, that the new ships
were not needed. as the United States
was al peace with the world, and that
continued peace was assured.
Both men made sighting references to
the japanese war scare, which, they said,
was always started about the time that
the naval appropriation bill came before
Congress Mr.. Tawney said the country
was getting tired OF it,
One Vessel Urged.
Mr.. Finley. of South Carolina, made
the motion 10 cut out the TWO battle
ships, and when that went down so hard
8Ir. Burton. Of Ohio. made the motion
for one ship, only as a sort OF forlorn
hope
The naval programme was cut down
a little by the exclusion Of the item for
four Golfers, not to cost more than
S90o.000 each. Mr. Knowlsnd. Of Cali
fornia. knocked this out by raising a
point OF order against II. being impeIIed
IN his action by the circumstances that
the limit Of cost put upon construction
shut out the Mare Island Navy Yard
from getting any Of the golfers TO build.
Otherwise the bill was accepted by the
House as IL came from the Naval Com
mitJee-
Mr. Barth0ldt, OF Missouri. an apostle
OF peace and a champion Of the Inter
Parliamentary Union for Arbitration and
Peace. said two more battle ships were
useless in view Of the remote possibilities
Of war and the expenditure al this time
was censurable in view Of the govern
ment's diminished and insufficient re-
ceipts. The United States was at peace
with the world. and il was time for the
temporary suspension q. least Of an ex-
tension Of our naval armament.
1T is very easy 10 talk about peace"
sad Mr. Waldo, OF New York, but no
nation has peace that has not the power
20 defend itself"
Chairman Tawney. Of the Committee on
Appropriations. went on record as Op-
posed TO naval construction plans.
scOfs War Scare.
4 am tired. he said, of the annually
recurring scare of war with Japan. which
occurs simultaneously with the considera-
ton of the naval appropriation bin Japan
IS not financially able TO 90 10 war. and
If she were. she would not send out
feet from Yokohama while the nearest
base Of supplies was Hawaii, impregnable
as Gibraltar 4290 miles away. and that
base in control OF the United States
Nlr. Tawney said the nation would ad-
vance if the money il proposed 10 spend
or battle ships were used 20 improve
the rivers and harbOrs. that would be
commercial Improvement" said Mr.. Taw-
ney.
Does the gentleman believe that
Hawaii could then be successfully de-
Tended unless We had ships Of equal
efficiency to any that may be brought
against it, asked Mr. Bates, OF Ten
nessee-
II not, why did the Taft board recon-
mend the plan Of defense, and why are
we needlessly wasting money In con
structing the works # they win not serve
the purpose for which they were in
tended?" replied Mr. Tawney
All that aside. the fact that there was
no possibility OF war with Japan, Mr.
Tawney said, was chief reason why this
construction plan should not be adopted
in the face OF a deficit Of 125,0O0,000 this
year and one of Sl43,090,000 next year
They were told that there was no money
70 expend for internal improvements
Yet. said he. in order to meet an am
biti0n 10 sUpass other nations in ship
building We are called upon TO expend
50, ,000,000 for merely tentative purposes ~
Mr.. Cochran, of New York. who made
q strong speech in favor Of two battle
ships, asked II the committee in recon-
mending two ships acted upon informa-
ton, or upon their own reason and jUdg-
ment2
Mr. FOss. chairman Of the Naval Com
mittee. replied that the naval general
board. the Secretary Of War. and Presi-
dent Roosevelt had recommended the
building Of four battle ships. The Naval
Committee, in its judgment, recommended
that two be authorized
Mr.. SheTley, Of Kentucky. asked rs
thaI an indication Of the fact that the
committee IS only half as wise as the
general board. or twice as wiser"
Col Pete Hepburn. Of Iowa ridiculed
the statements Of 8fT Tawney. He
secuted as an insult 20 the American peo-
pie the assertion that the only reason
FOR building the two battle ships recon-
mended was an ambition 10 excel other
nations. The Americans. he said. were
q waFsike people. Every generation had
had its war and every generation has
been found unprepared-
Burton Opposes Increase
Mr.. Burton. OF Ohio. lined up with Mr..
Tawney He called attention 70 the past
increase OF expenditures. When VIII
this growth cease?" he asked. There
was no place, IN his opinion. when If
could be so nationally checked as in the
naval bill II was the duty OF Congress
10 provide for the rational needs OF the
people, not TO provide protection against
phantom fears such as the annual war
scare evoked eoncurrently with the ap-
peerance OF the naval BILL which pass
away with It's disposition.
'Col. Hepburn has told Us that every
generation Of Americans had had its war,
Always the Same