Norwich bulletin., 1910-12-07

year, and included fin this 1s tho bulId- Ing program of the same amount as that submitted for your consideration last year. It is merely carrying oae the plan of building two battieships a year, with few needed auxiliary ves- sells. I earnestly hope that this pro- gram will be adopted
 Abolition of Navy Yards.
 The secretary of the navy has given personal examination to every navy yard and has studied the uses of the navy yards with reference to the ne cessfties of our fleet. With a fleet coll s1derably less than half the size of that of the British navy, we have shipyardS more than double the num- Der, and there are several of these sbipyards, expensively equipped with modern machinery, which after inves- tigation the secretary of the navy be- lieves to be entirely useless for naval purposes. He asks authority to aban- don certain of them and to move their machinery to other places where 1t eau be made of use.
 In making these recommendation Lllt ocCIeLdly ID LolloWlDk ulf6CGly along progressive lines which have been adopted in our great commercial and manufacturing consultations in this country-that is, of dtsmantling unnecessary and inadequate plants and disseminating their existence where it has been demonstrated that 1t is unproftable to continue their maintenance at an expense not com mensurate to their product
 The secretary points out that the most important naval base in the West i Indies is Guantanamo. in the south eastern part of Cuba. It's geographical situation is admirably adapted to pro- tect the commercial paths to the Pan anna canal, and he shows that by the expenditure of less than half million dollars, with the machinery which he shall take from other navy yards. he can create a naval station at GuantH- namo of sufficient size and equipment f to serve the purpose of an emergency naval base. I earnestly join in the rec [ ommendation that he be given the au. thority which he asks.
 am quite aware that such action i& likely to arouse local opposition, but I conceive it to be automatic that in leg islating in the interest of the navy and for the general protection of the corln- try by the navy mere local pride or pe- cuniary interest in the establishment of a navy yard or station ought to play no part The recommendation of the secretary is based upon the judgment AF iYO1o tia1 antfNnIr influenced by any geographical or sec tional considerations.
 I unite with the secretary in the rec ommendation that an appropriation be made to construct suitable crypt at Annapolis for the custody of the rs- mains of John Paul Jones.
 Peary.
 The complete success of our country in arctic exploration should not remain unnoticed. For centuries there has been friendly rivalry in this field of effort between the foremost nations i and between the bravest and most ac- | complished men. Expeditions to the unknown north have been encourage 1 by enlightened governments, and de- ! served honors have been granted to the daring men who have conducted I them.
 i The unparalleled achievement of Peary in reaching the north pole April 6, 1909, approved by critical examt- nation of the most expert scientists, has added to the distinction of our navy, to which he belongs. and reflects credit upon his country. His unique success has received generous ac- acknowledgement from scientific bodies and institutions of learning in Europe and America. I recommend fitting recognition by congress of the great achievement of Robert Edwin Peary.