The Washington herald., 1910-02-28

The shlpbuilding interests of the United
States are getting ready to start another
war seare-Japanese. German, or other
WISE" said Representative James A.
Tawney, of Minnesota, chairman Of the
House Committee on Appropriations. in
statement issued last night, expressing
bitter opposition to the governments
naval programme as outlined by Secretary
OF the Navy Meyer on Saturday at an
executive session of the House Committee
or Naval Affairs.
Mr.. Tawney and those who believe with
him will make a fight on the floor this
year, the hardest they know how. 10 de-
feat the recommendations in the naval
appropriation bill 10 be reported this
week. that two 27.0o0-ton battle ships be
authorized at this session of Congress.
MIR. Tawney fears that the United States
is about to enter upon a competitive
shipbuildlng scheme" which will bankrupt
the Treasury, make large tax increases or
bond issue necessary. which. no holds
Is absolutely unnecessary. owing 10 the
geographical isolation of this country.
More than 70 per cent OF the total rev.
enues OF the government is now being ex-
pended on account OF past wars. and prep
sratlons for wars to come. he says. and
the situation, according TO his view. is
becoming more grave and more critical
all the time
Not for National Defense.
IT have read of the governments tenta-
tive naval programme with profound as
constituent" said Mr.. Tawney, in his
statement. "one reason for my surprise
on account OF the more than ambitious
naval programme which is suggested, is
the fact that it involves an enormous in
crease in our now enormously large APP
propriations for naval purposes. without
basing 1t on any necessity whatever as a
means for our national defense, and also
without any regard whatever for the fact
that in this fiscal year we are facing
deficit and that next fiscal year we Will
be near our aggregate revenues IN the
amount appropriated this session.
In view Of our geographical isolation.
which as means OF national defense
is worth more to us than the largest
navy any nation in the world possesses.
and also that In the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1909, We expended II per cent of
our government revenues on account OF
wars we have had, and wars we are pre-
pairing for, IL is rather amazing 10 find
naval programme proposed for this
year and next that will so greatly in
crease our appropriation under this head
If the American people could be made
to realize the extent OF the increase for
the army and navy during the past
eight years, and would understand the
geographical value OF our isolation. am
confident there would be an uprising
against this policy Of competitive ship
building.
Cost of Navy in Eight Years.
During the last eight years. the in
crease in naval appropriations amounted
in the aggregate TO $50, 100000 in excess
of our naval appropriations for the eight
preceding years. The increases in our
appropriations for the army during the
same eight years were ST.. zoo. 600 in ex-
cess of army appropriations for the eight
preceding years. In other words. the
aggregate Increase in naval appropria-
tons during the past eight years is
alone more than the total appropriation
for all conceivable government purposes
in any one year during the history of
the government prior 10 1895
We are at peace with all the world.
There is not even a prospect of our be
coming involved in war with a foreign
nation. II seems almost incredible that
any one would suggest the adoption Of a
naval programme which will involve the
expenditure of more money than we have
under existing revenue laws and a policy
which will virtually put out Of commits
sion at least half OF our war vessels by
making them inferior in size and eff
cheney by comparison with these giant
battle ships now proposed.
The number of years of the life OF
these vessels will not be as great as the
number of millions it will cost TO build
them. They viii depreciate at least $1,000
600 a year. and it will cost at least sew
eral million dollars a year 20 operate
these monster battle ships in time of
peace