Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-24
Naval Appropriation Bill As Passed Car
ries Appropriation Of Almost 1884,
OOO,000---S DepeW Says
Spanish WarWas Forced on Us.

Washington, May 23.-Voting down
by rs to 80 an amendment offered by
Burton to authorize only one new bat
tleship instead of two the Senate to-
day passed the naval appropriation
bill. The bill carries an appreciation
of almost $134,000O0O. 1t was before
the Senate for two days, the debate
being confined almost exclusively to
the battleship question. To import
ant amendments We're adopted today.
One of them offered by Johnson APP
propriates $450,000 for the purchase of
torpedo boats whose vitals are below
the normal load line" the other by
Senator Jones, eliminates railroad,
county and municipal bonds from the
securities which may be deposited by
contractors. The naval increase fol
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1911,
provided by the bill. is as follows:
Two first class battleships to cost
not exceeding $60OO.OOO each and
when equipped with. armor and ar
mament about $12,500,000; two fleet
golfers, to cost not exceeding $1000,-
600 each; five submarine torpedo boats,
not exceeding a total of $500, 900; six
torpedo deStroyerS, to cost not ex-
ceeding $750,000 each.
The House bill provided for only
four submarines and no torpedo boat
destroyers. The Senate also added Il
provision that not more than one of
the battleships shall be built by the
same company. The provision insert
ed in the House bill requiring that the
battleships and fleet Golfers shall be
hnilt "a taioht hpllr Law
retained by the Senate.
The closing of the debate served to
Gillette two important historical revel-
atoms by Depew which We're given
from his own store of information.
Ono of them bore on the war with
Spain and the other on the Venezuelan
embroglio with Great Britain in the
second administration of Presiden;
Cleveland.
The statement regarding the Span
isil war was elected by an assertion
by Hepburn that people did not want
wars but generally We're compelled by
the rulers to submit to them.
Taking issue with the Idaho Senator
Derew said that popular demand fore
ed the war with Spain on the country
and that President Mckinley was op
posed to it. He said also that as favor
able terms could have bene obtained
fro m Spain without war as We're OBJ
tanned with war.
Does not the senator believe that
but for the pressure of that time the
President would have negotiated Spain
of the american continent?'
Il do, responded the New York sena-
tor l know of my own knowledge
that Spain was prepared to abandon
Cuba and Porto Rico to prevent humil-
iation, if she could be assured in adj
vance of the acceptance of the PROPOSE
ton" He said President Mckinley
was not strong enough personally to
resist the popular will.
Depew also related some history con-
corning the Venezuelan episode of the
second Cleveland administration.
AN intimate friend of mine who also
was an intimate friend of Lord Sails
bury, then the British prime minister.
he said, TOLD me that when the Presi-
dents message was promulgated Lord
Salisbury said to him: L believe that
on account of the rancor coming down
from the Revolutionary war and aeon
tuated by certain occurrences in the
Civil War, America means to have a
war with Great Britain at some time
and | believe now is the best time,
when America has no navy The views
of the prime minister We're overruled
by Queen Victoria, but if Lord Sails
bury had had the powers possessed by
some of the English prime ministers,
the issue certainly would have been
tried out"
Depcw used the last incident to force
an argument in favor of building up
the navy and for the present authorize
| ton of two battlcships of the Dread
| nought type. Owen offered an amend
| ment for the direct purpose of promot-
ing international peace, but 1t was
ruled out on point of order