Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-24
Monsters Will Be of Dreadnaught
Type and Cost Millions.
SUBMARINE SQUADRON APPROVED
Torpedo Boats and Destroyers Are
Included in Provisions.
CONDITIONS ARE Tackled TO BILL
Work of Construction is to He Dis
tributed and Must He Built
Under the Eight-Hour
Inv,


WASHINGTON, May 2S.-voting down.
26 to 80, an amendment offered by Mr.
Burton to authorize only one new battle
ship instead of two, the senate today passed
the naval appropriation bin ~The bill
carries an appropriation of almost $1S4OOO-
0OO 1t was before the senate for two days.
the debate being confined almost exclu-
slvely to the battleship question.
Two important amendments were adopted
today. One of them, offered by Senator
Johnston, appropriates $3.50, 600 for the pur-
chase of torpedo boats whose vitals are
below the normal load line" the. other by
Senator Jones. eliminating railroad county
and municipal bonds from the securities
which may be deposited by contractors
The naval increase for the fiscal year
ending June 3O 1911, provided by the bill,
is as follows: Two frst-class batteships,
to cost not exceeding $6,OOOOOO each, and
when equipped with armor and armament
about $l2,5O00 600 each; two fleet colliers, to
| cost not exceeding $l,0OO,OOO each; five sub
marine torpedo boats, not exceeding a to-
tai of $2,50O,O0O; six torpedo boat destroy
ers, cost not exceeding $75OOOO each
Senate More Generous.
The house bill provided for only four
summaries and no torpedo boat destroyers.
The senate also added a provision that not
more than one OF the batteships should
be built by the same company. The provi-
sion Inserted in the house requiring that
the battleships and fleet colliers should be
built under the "eight-hour law" was re-
tained by the senate.
The closing hour of the debate served
to elicit two important historical revelations
by Senator Depew. which were given from
his own store of information. One of them
bore on the war with Spain and the other
on the Venezuelan embrogio with Great
Britain In the second administration OF
President Cleveland The statement re-
garding the Spanish was elected by ar
assertion by Senator Heybarn that the
people themselves did not want wars, but
generally were compelled by then rulers
to submit to them.
Taking issue with the Idaho senator, Mr.
Depew said that popular demand hat
forced the war with Spain on the country
and that President Mckinley was opposed
to It.. He asserted that terms as favorabl,
could have been obtained from Spain with
out a conflict as with war.
Does not the senator belief that bu
. for the pressure of that time the presi
) dent would have negotiated Spain off tn
American continent?" asked Mr.. Hale,
do" responded the New York senator
} Il know of my own knowledge that Spail
was prepared to abandon Cuba and Port
Rico to prevent humiliation If it could b
assured in advance of the acceptance Of tn
proposition.
He said President Mckinley had not bee
strong enough personality to resist tn
popular will. Mr.. Depew also related som
history concerning the Venezuelan episod
I Of the first Cleveland administration.
AN intimate who was also an intimat
friend OF Lord Salisbury. then the Britis
prime minister he sad. told tina
when the presidents message was promul
! gated Lord Salisbury said to him.. be
lieve that on account of the rancor comm
down from the revolutionary war and ac
centuated by certain occurrences in tn
civil war, America means to have a wa
with Great Britain at some time and l be
lieve now is the best time, when Americ
has no navy.
THE view of the prime minister wa
overruled by Queen Victoria. but If Lor
u Salisbury had the powers possessed b
some of the English prime ministers tn
issue certainly would have been tried out.
Mr.. Depew used the last incident to Ell
force an argument in favor of stron
i navy and for the present authorization
s two new battleships of the Dreadnougf
i type
n Mr.. Hepburn expressed the opinion thG
d there should be continued increase
the navy until the completion of the PaI
J. anna canal
e The democrats voting for two battl
ships were Clarke of Arkansas, McInery
a Louisiana and Taylor. The republican
s voting for one battleship were Bristoy
s. Burton. Clapp, Crawford. Cummins, Dixo