Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-21
Warm Debate Opens in
Senate Over Proposed Two
Dreadnaughts.
AMENDMENT OFFERED
FAVORlNG 0NF VESSEL
Fight is Launched tn Upper Branch OF
Congress During Consideration Of
the Naval Appropriation Bill-Sens-
tor Clay Declares Country Has
Gone Wild Over Armament.

(By Associated Fress.)
| WASHINGTON, d. C.. May 90
That the United States. as nation,
has gone wild In the matter of arma-
ments and especially in the construc-
ton of batueships. was asserted in
practical concord by Senators Hale.
Clay and Gallinger. in the senate to-
day.
These statements we're made I'm
connection with the consideration of
the naval appropriation bill which
occupied the attention of the senate
throughout the day. The bill carries
sl3S, O00. 900 and Senator Hale pre-
dicted that within five years the an
nual naval appropriation would not be
less than s175,000.000.>
The opinion was expressed freely
that the promised reduction OF ex-
penditures would not take place dur
| ing the present session of congress
and Senators Hale and Gallinger. both
members OF the committee on appro-
priations, united in the statement that
/ for the next fiscal year the expendi-
tures would exceed the revenues. An
other feature OF the debate was the
citation OF Ex-President Roosevelt as
an advocate of reduced armaments.
Favors One ship.
! II was also brought about by an
amendment introduced by Senator
Burton providing for one battleship
of the "dreadnaughtr type, instead of
> the two. authorized by the bill as
passed by the house.
Mr.. Clay was the first 10 assert
that the country had gone wild in the
matter of ornaments.
I'VE have lost our heads" he said.
and IL we do not stop we will bank
rupt the nation"
Asserting that the appropriation
: for the navy proposed for the present
J year avers ges 50 per head for each
> man. woman and child in the county.
He said:
In the past twelve years congress
has passed laws authorizing twenty
new bsttleships. We are now expend-
ing almost sI40eO0.OoO a year as
against s2s.00o.0O0 twelve years ago.
Apparently we have not the courage
to stop. We are going wild-abso-
luteIy wild. In this day Of high
Christien civilization. the nations are
lexhsusting in these military expendi
lures the resources that ought TO go
to feeding the hungry. We ought TO
stop and think
Arouses General Interest.
BY quoting Senator Hale as author
ity for the statement that each of the
proposed battleships each would cost
not less than sI6.o00.0Oo. Mr. Clay
aroused general interest.
i Mr. GaIlinger advanced figures to
show that the cost would not exceed
] $40. 900 900.
! Mr.. Hale not only sustained Mr..
Clay. but spoke of the vessels as com
pletely armored and cq1cpped. and
said the cost Of putting one Of these
vessels in the water probably would
be nearer $4,000 900 than $1,000. O00.
he declared that the fallibilitv of the
naval board was such that there
could be no guarantee for the future.
II That board never has been able
TO make a recommendation of type
in these ships that has been good for
two years in succession" he said.
Mr.. Hale estimated that there
would be a deacit at the end of the
year.
Mr.. Clay con;iEuing. declared that
one Of the big bstfIcships cost twice
a. much a. the cost Of governing the
J entire state % Georgia for q year.
4 Mr. Gallinger pointed out that
there had been substantial reduction
this year In bcih the army and the
J. navy bills. but be also found that a
j dcfici; would be shown AZ the end Of
the year.
While agreeing that the country
had been running Wild In the matter
81 The size Of ships. he expressed the
/ opinion that the safest plan vas TO
carry out the present program tor
! shiDbuliding lie thought the United
States should have an adequate
navy
/ Mr. rurton's speech was in support
NJ dimirifion ~ military EFFORT lie
/ conicndcd that that in her civil ~
4 lion. isolation and resources. the
] Unitcd states had ample protection.
n Consideration e the bin vii be re-
sumed tomorrow.