New-York tribune., 1911-02-22
NEW DREADN0UCH7S TO
COST S1O,OOO,OOO MORE
House Democrats Vote Eight
Hour Law Restrictions Into
Naval Bill.
APPROVE TWO BATTLESHlPS
Armor May Be Bought Abroad
Certain Ships Must Be Built
at Navy Yards, but No Ad-
ditional Money Provided.
Irrom The Tribune bureau. !

From Inc lrlbNle tuftdN
washington. Feb. PA thoroughly
emasculateo naval appropriation bill, SO
amended by the Democrats, in pursuance
Of an eight-hour-law policy. that II VIII
COS, the government about 100000 ad-
6itional 70 construct the increase autnor-
ized, passed bv the House in Committee
of the Whole late to-day.
When the bill is presented to tho House
-roper tomorrow and is put on final pas
sage II will hardly be recognized by the
Naval Affairs Committee, nor will II be
measure which will bring any gratihca-
ton 10 Secretary Meyer.
Not only did Representative Hughes, OF
New Jersey, o Democrat. succeed in keep
ing in the bal the provision authorized
last session that all battleships must be
built under the eight-hOur labor law, but
in addition he secured amendments hat
forpedo boat destroyers and submarines
built hereafter must also be constructor
by contractors who observe union hours
The Navy Department has shown that
such a programme costs the government
hundreds Of thousands additional and the
Committee on Naval Affairs recommended
the repeal Of this provision.
separate rollcall probably will be de-
nanded in the House when these amend
ruents come up for final approval Chair
man Foss secured consent this afternoon
that the bill should not be put upon IFS
final passage until tomorrow.
Representative Padgett, who will be
chairman Of the Naval Committee in the
next House. arose az the close Of the de-
bate and said.
4 wish 10 announce that. in view of the
amendments just adopted. II will cost the
government prehaps s9,0o0.000 additional
70 carry ont the naval increase planned
this year and next ! sag this in order
that this amount may not he charged up
against the incoming Democratic admin,
istrotion."
'Why not?" demanded Mr. Mann. The
Democrats are responsible for the adop~
tion Of these amendments"
Chairman Foss predicted that the eight
hour law restrictions would cost perhaps
s1OOoo 900 additional. the Navy Department
having shown before the committee that ii
the New York and the Florida. authorized
last year, are to be so constructed they
will cost considerably more than the
amount authorized.
May Buy Armor Abroad.
The so-called Steel Trust also had a bad
that armor and armament should he Of
domestic manufacture" Representative
Rairey. Of Illinois. offered an amendment
providing that this arnor might he pur-
\ cs9aoI abroad. ana il was adopted by
NJ .,+.. Of 20 % GO.
VI -len Representative Stanley. who attacks
., steel Trust on every opportunity, pro-
.y..1 All cmendment that no arnor or
steel plate used in battleship construction
aall be bought OF any nrm or corporation
1gsged In monopoly OF trade under the
herman antitrust law The amendment
'-ss adopted by a viva voce vote.
Repre- sentatives Fitzgerald and Calder
20 we're contending for the Brooklyn
navy yard. were successful in their efforts
20 Gefeat the Naval Committees plan TO re-
,3l the existing provision that at least
me oattleship each year should be built
az 3 navy yard. The Naval Committee
declared thar private contractors can build
,he Dreadnough1s far cheaper, but the
House rejected its plan 10 have both bat
tleships built by private contract.
Likewise. the House declined TO permit
the construction Of the Florida, begun at
the Brooklyn yard. 70 be transferred 10
a private contractor, or 10 increase the
appropriation authorized therefor last year.
The increased cost will amount 20 about
l,5O009.
The coal fight again came UP, and Repre-
sentative Humphrey. OF Washington, ASSIST
ed by Representatives Hobson and Under
wood Of Alabama. inserted an amendment
prohibiting the government from paying for
trar rsportation Of coal shipped from the At
lantic seaboard TO fleets stationed in the
Pacific. Coal for the latter fleets must be
and II
combination results among the Pacific Coast
dealers the department rs authorized 10 buy
coal in British Columbia.
Two Gigantic Oresdnoughts.
After being tagged with the eight hour
law prohibition, the naval increase recon-
noended by the committee went through. 1t
provides for two Dreadnoughts. planned TO
cost sll,S95.000 each two feet ccllers.
eight torpedo boat deStroyers and -four sub
MARINES, at a total cost Of about S3i,OOO.OoO.
As forecast by Mr.. Foss and Mr.. Pad
eett. however the cost will be much greater
in consequence Of the labor restrictions i'm
nosed by the Democrats. The naval bill
carries total of approximately N25,co"p
The two battleships are TO be the largest
ever constructed IN this country, and while
the authorization fixes the displacement at
fwenty-seVen thousohu tVhs t"'ir - =" '-i'
linood that they may 30 up TO thirty thou
sand tons The new battleships Will have
twelve l4-inch rifles. the heaviest battery
ever placed on snip in this country or IN
the world. These guns will be arranged IN
four turrets, three in each. This arrange
rent is entirely new Russia is building
such a ship. however, and Japan has or
cered a battleship-cruiser carrying a SIM
liar battery.
Representative Parker, Of New Jersey told
the House that Germany and other nations
arc building faster battleships than those
constructed by the United states, and he
obtained an amendment authorizing this
government 70 make its new battieships as
fas, as any ahoot and capable of the Nara