The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1910-05-26
TWO new BATTLESHIPS
Senate Passes Naval ApprOria-
ton Bill Carrying $lS4,O 100000.
BY DEPEW
Senator From New York Makes Some Impor-
tant Historical Revelations Bearing on
Spanish Warand Venezuelan Dispute.

Washington, D. c.-Defeating by a
vote of 26 to 80 an amendment Of
fered by Mr. Burton to authorize only
one new battleship instead Of two,
the senate passed the naval appropri-
alton bill The bill carried an appro-
priation of almost $134,000,0Q0. Two
important amendments were adopted.
One of them, offered by Senator John
ston, appropriated $450,000 for the pur-
chase 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 de-
posted by contractors.
The naval increase for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1911, provided
by the bill, is as follows:
Two first class battleships, to cost
not exceeding $6,000,000 each.
Two fleet golfers, to cost not ex-
ceeding $1,O00,000 each.
Five submarine torpedo boats, not
exceeding a total Of $2,500,0G0.
Six torpedo boat destroyers, to cost
not exceeding $75O,000 each.
The house bill provides for only four
submarines, and no torpedo boat de-
stroyers. The senate also added pro-
vision that not more than one of the
battleships should be built by the
same company The provision insert
ed in the house requiring that the
battleships and fleet Golfers should
be built under the eight-hour law was
retained by the senate.
The closing hour of the debate serv-
ed to elicit two important historical
revelations by Senator Depew, which
were given from his own store Of in
formation One of them bore on the
war with Spain, and the other Vene-
zuelan embroglio with Great Britain
in the second administration of Pres
ident Cleveland The statement re-
garding the Spanish war was elected
by an assertion by Senator Hepburn
that people themselves did not want
wars, but generally were compelled by
their rulers to submit to them.
Taking issue with the Idaho senator
Mr. Depew said that the popular de-
mand had forced the war with Spain
on the country, and that President
Mckinley had been opposed to it. He
said that as favorable terms could
have been obtained from Spain with.
out as with war.
Does not the senator believe that
but for the pressure of that time the
president would have negotiated WITH
Spain off the American continent??"
asked Mr. Hale
1T do" responded the New York
senator. II knew of my own knowl-
edge that Spain was prepared to
~ 10
vent humiliation if she could be as
sured in advance Of the acceptance of
the proposition"
He said President Mckinley had not
been a strong enough personality TO-
resist popular will
Mr.. Depew also related some his.
tory concerning the Venezuelan cpl
sode Of the second Cleveland admin
istration
"An intimate friend of mine who
was also an intimate friend of Lord
Salisbury, then the British prime min
ister," he said, told me that when the
presidents message was promulgated,
Lord Salisbury said to him, I believe
that on account of the rancor coming
down from the revolutionary war and
accentuated 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 view of the prime minister was
averted by Queen Victoria, but if Lord
Salisbury had had the power possess
ed by some English prime ministers
the issue certainly would have been
tried out"
Mr.. Depew used the last incident to
enforce an argument in favor of a
strong navy and for the present au-
thorization Of two new battleships Of
fha DraadnoiIoht TYNE