The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-01
HOTTEST KIND OF
ROW IS PROMISED.
Fight Imminent in House Over
Recommendation for
Battlcships.
OPINIONS OF Mr.. TAWnEY
He Will Lead Forces Against
Two 27,ooo-Ton War
Vessels.
OPINIONS OF Mr.. TAWnEY

Washington. d. c., February IS
There promises to be the hottest kind |
OF a row in the House of Representa-
tives over the recommendations to be
made by the House Committee on Ma
val Affairs that. Congress authorize
two 2T,o00-ton battleships at this ses-
sion. Representative Tawney. of Min
nesota, chairman of the House Appro-
priations Committee, will lead the
fight against the program of naval in
crease.
In a statement opposing what he
calls the governments competitive
shipbuildins scheme" Mr.. Tawney
says:
II have read OF the governments
tentative naval program with pro-
found astonishment. One reason for
my surprise at the more ambitious
| naval program which is suggested is
the fact that it involves a great in
crease in our now enormously large
| appropriations for naval purposes
without basing IT on any necessity
whatever as a means of national de-
| tense, and also without any regard
| whatever to the fact that in this fiscal
year we are facing deficit and next
| fiscal year we will be near our aggre-
| gate revenues in the amount appro-
priated this session
| WIN N1t1ODk.
IF our naval policy is to be deter
mined by our ability to compete with
/ other nations in the number and size
of our battleships. then the naval policy
in question should be adopted and car
A ried out without reference either to
our necessities for national defense or
the adequacy OF the public revenues TO
meet the expenditures necessary TO
II crafty our national ambition.
IN view of our geographical isola-
ton, which as a means of national de-
,, Tense is worth more to US than the
largest navy any nation in the world
. possesses, and also in view Of the fact
| that in the fiscal year ended June 80
1909, we expended II per cent. OF our
, government revenues on account OF
!, wars we have had and wars we are
! preparing for, it is rather amazing to
2 find naval program proposed that
> will SO greatly increase our appropTia'
lions under this head.
Increase in Eight Years.
s IN the last eight years the increase
in naval appropriations amounted II
0 the aggregate to s600.000,0o0 in eXces!
! of our naval appropriations for th'
: eight preceding years. The increase:
/. in our appropriations for the arm!
during the same eight years were
. $47e0oo0O0 in excess of army appro
priations for the eight preceding years
In other words, the aggregate increas'
in naval appropriationsNd during the pas
eight Years is alone more than TN
total appropriations for all concelVa
BILE government purposes IN any ON
year during the history of the govern
ment prior to 1898.
"The increased appropriations fof
the army during the same time Woule
build the Panama Canal, according Z
the latest estimates, and would leave
a balance of sl0o,000.00o. while the to-
Y tai increase in appropriations for botf
the army and the navy during thes'
last eight years is in excess OF th'
bonded debt of the United States.
No Prospect of War.
3 we are at peace with all the world
mere is not even "a prospect or our
becoming involved in war with for
eish nallon, II seems almost lncredl
: BILE that any one would suggest thu
!, adoption of naval program whie!
l VIII involve the expenditure OF nmor'
money than we have under existing
revenue laws and policy. too. whici
at least half Of our war vessels b.
making making them Inferior in size and CT
| sian an, na'lleships now proposed
| Mhen Ems gland launched her mrs
nl o, four years, ago last NO
vemher there was no thought of gu
on r err into competition with, he
Of our our p ba nation In number ana sia
u aol,Sress y WAS proposed that we bnii
preadnought which would exceed y
G Ionnase that built ny England b,i
1Iohsress refused 10 authorize any sue
az AZ The The next session, as the resni
n thor,s japanese war scare. Congress au
~ ,m er. two Dreadnoughts. Then "