Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-04-09
Hero of Merrimao Wanted TO Build
Three Battleships.
NAVAL BILL PASSES MUSTER
Provides $l2s, 100000 for Mainte-
nance of the Department,
OTHER VESSELS ALSO ORDERED
PROV iSinn Mrde for -Four Submarines
and Two CoIIIcrs-Au Must ne
BuiIt Under EiRht-
Hour Law.

WASHINGTON April S.-By decisive
vote OF 162 to llO, fourteen being present aud
not voting, the house late today authorized
the construction of two battleships to cost
s6OOOOO each, Thirtythre democrats voted
for two battleships and twenty-four repub-
lioans against the proposition.
This action was taken just prior TO the
passage Of the naval appropriation biz,
carrying N2S, ,O37, co. This amount Is about
S3OOO,OOO less than was recommended by the
Navy department. In addition to the bat
tleships the bill also provides for the con-
struction Of two fleet GOLFERS and four sub
marine boats.
As amended on motion Of Mr., F1tzgerald
Of New York, the two battlcships and two
fleet coiers must be constructed by firms
operating under the eight-hOur law.
After fixing an hour and une-haf as the
time for debating amendments for the
authorization of batteships the house
wasted large part of that time In
parliamentary contention concerning the
manner in which the time would be divided
between the two sides The debate pro-
ceeded under the five-minute rule,
The committee on naval affairs had re-
ported in favor Of authorizing two bat
tleships. Mr.. Tawney of Minnesota, chair
man VI lllN app ohiiu iuNiOla NpilhltNNNH W.
fered an amendment providing for only one
battleship while Mr., IIobson proposed an
amendment providing for three.
MerrlmRc Hero Loses,
| Mr.. Hobart contended that three battle
! ships would give no increase but would
J provide only for the ordinary depreciation
! In tho naval force. BY an almost unani-
nous vote the house rejected the PROPOSE
! tiou.
| Mr.. Gronna Of North Dakota moved to
strike out the authorization for the con-
struction of any battleshlps, a viva yoce
vote showing there we're not a handful of
advocates Of a mo battleship" policy.
Speaking in favor of his one-battieship
plan, Mr.. TawneY reiterated his statement
that 7c per cent Of the revenue of the
country was being expended for wars that
had passed and for preparation for wars
to come. lie declared that one battleship
was sufficient to maintain the proper
strength of the navy.
Mr. Thomas of Ohio proposed an amend
ment for four battleships, but the house
voted it down, almost unanimously. Mr.
Tawneys amendment for one battleship
was also lost by a vote Of lO4 to 1888 At
least thirty democrats voted with the re-
pubicans against Mr.. Tawneys plan.
Mr.. Goldfogle offered an amendment pro-
vidng that at least one batteship should
be constructed at a navy yard, the second
to be built either by contract or at navy
yard. After extended discussion, Mr.. Mann
Of Illinois, who occupied the chair, de-
Clared the amendment to be out OF order
Norris Amendment Fails.
An effort was made by Mr., Norris OF
Nebraska an ,"insurgent," to amend the
Dl to provids for one batteship and six
transports, the latter to cost 81 900 900 each.
The amendment was ruled out Of order.
A strong speech against a two-battleship
policy was made by Mr.. Bartholdt of Mis-
souri, the house apostle OF p ace" VINO
briefly reviewed the progress Of sgoitra-
ton I'm the settlement Of the differt noes OF
nations.
representative ]. Hampton Moore OF
Philadelphia attempted to inGuyc ;.Ie house
; to limit the draft of the new battleshps
: o thirty feet, but his amendment for that
purpose was reject d. Various other
! amendments were offered to control the
building Of the battleships under the opera
tion Of the eight-hour law and within navy
, yards, but they were all ruled out OF order
A point Of order sustained elimnat.
ing from the bill authority given the sec.
retaTy Of the navy for the construction OF
, a 81 100000 fleet collier, to be built on the
, Pacific coast by private contract so tha
under existing law 1t will be constructed
, in a government navy yard on the Paclfi,
coast The appropriation of S1OOO,OOO fol
one repair ship was also stricken out on
point of order.
EgIht-HOur Law.
Mr. Fitzgerald Of New York offered az
amendment which was adopted by vote
of l3l to Is, under which the two battle
= ships and two fleet GOLFERS must he bull
by firms working under the oght-hour law
Following closely upon this action MIR
Hughes Of Nov Jersey attempted 20 lave
the same law applied To the building of fom
submarine torpedo boats authorized by the
bill The amendment was ruled out OF
order.
Mr Godfoglc Of New York offered ar
amendment directing the construction OF
one battleship in navy yard which was
defeated, 80 TO lO3
Tho provision permitting the cousolida-
tion Of bureaus Of the Navy department.,
according to the plan OF Secretary Meyer
was stricken out on point OF order
Mr.. Padgett Of Tennessee, senior demo
cratic member of the committee on naval
affairs, then moved to recommt the bill
With instructions that It be reported TO the
house to provide for only one battloshiP
This mu.iOn was defeated on "A roll call,
10 to 1852. fourteen voting present
n How They Voted.
II Ih!rty-throe democrats voted with the 70,
Ipublicans for two battleships while twenty
four republicans Joined the democrats In
favor OF one battleship,
II Democrats voting for two battlo5hips
were: Aiken O., O., Alexander tMo), Ans
berry COD, Bartlett (Nevl, Burleson CTexJ
Car IN CVa), Clark G'la), Cox tOD, Craig
| CAlaD. Cravsns CArkJ, y. a. Drlscoll (N.
II -, GIN CMd), Gillespie CTcxJ, Goldfogle
| IN -, Haml IN. 3D., Harrison IN. ",
Hobson (Ala), Hughes CN, JD, Humphrey
CMissJ, Jones (Va.). Martin ColoJ, May
nard Na) Moon CrennD, O'Connell
CMass) A. Mitchell Palmer CPaJ, Pou IN.
! c., PuJo La), Rauch Qndj, Robinson