The Washington times., 1911-02-22
NAVAL BILL PASSED
WITH MANY CHANGES
House Demands Two Battle
ships and Bars Steel Trust
From Contracts.

The naval appropriation bill, provid-
ing for two new dreadnaughts, passed
the House this afternoon after Repre-
sentative Padgett, of Tennessee, had
failed in his effort to recommit the bill
10 the Naval Committee with instruc-
tions to change it to read 'one battle
Ship"
Mr. Padget demanded and obtained n
roll call vote on his one-battleship plan.
il was defeated, l67 to 132. The COM
parative closeneSs of the vote, how
ever, indicates that the Democrats may
refuse to authorize more than one new
dreadnaught a year when they take
possession of the House. The Demo-
cratic leaders. including Champ Clark
and Representative Unuedwood, voted
Tor the Padgett amendment today.
The naval bill was so riddled with
amendments in committee of the whole
yesterday that it was expected that a
separate roll call vote would be de-
manded upon each of the changes when
the bill was put on its passage today.
The more drastic of these amendments,
procured through Democratic votes re-
quires that all battleship construction
must be under the eight-hour law.
Steel Trust Barred.
The Naval Committee was overridden
again by the adoption Of a motion made
by Mr.. Rainey of Illinois, permitting
the Government to buy its steel plate
and armOr abroad, and Mr.. Stanley of
kentucky obtained a prohibition that no
steel must be bought from any combi-
nation which exists in restraint of trade.
Both of these amendments were aimed
at the Steel trust.
Mr.. Stanley declares the Steel trust
has been making 400 per cent profit on
the armor sold the Government and he
had inserted in the naval bill clause
prohibiting such purchases from any
company charging more than 100 per
cent.
For some reason no one demanded a
Cight-hour law and other amendments
inserted during the debate Yesterday,
and the naval bill was promptly dis
posed of after Mr. Padgetts one battle
ship proposition had been voted down.
The members of the Committee on Ma
val Affairs, doIefuuy told the House that
il would cost about 81 100000 because OF
the restrictions which had been thrown
about the construction of the increase
Of the navy.
Not OIL. did the House insist on re-
tanning the eiGht-Eour law, adopted last
year. which requires that the rev bat
tleshps shall be built by eight-hUur la
hur. but it imposed the same restriC
tivns about torpedo boat destroyers and
submarines.
The Navy Department told the COM
mittee that it costs a million or so eN-
ira, per ship, when such short hours
have to Je observed by contractors.
Hughes Wins Fight.
Representative Hughes of New Jer-
soy was successful in inserting the la
bor law amendments On the first trial
q point of order was made against the
Hughes amendment. and the Chair sus-
1ained it. Mr.. Hughes promptly ap-
pealed, and the Committee of the Whole
overruled the chairman, III to 96. There
after the Hughes amendments slipped
through on CREASED ways.
Navy Yard to Build Ship.
Representatives Fitzgerald and Calder,
who were COntending for the Brooklyn
navy yard, were successful in their ef
forts to defeat the Naval Committees
plan to repeal the existing provision
that at least one battleship each year
should be built at Il navy yard.
The naval increase as approved pro-
vides for two new DdearnOughts to cost
$llS35, COO each; two fleet Golfers, eight
marines, a total of about $34, 100000 The
naval appropriation bill carries a total
of approximately 1925, 100000