The Sentinel=record., 1911-02-22
FOR two new
BATTLESHIPS
UNITED STATES WILL BUILD TWO
3o,0oo-ToN MONSTERS OF THE
LATEST TYPE.
Sister Ships VIII be the Largest and
Most Powerful Ever Constructed
in This Country-NavaI Bill
Complete.

washington, FeD. Thine mousse
late today completed the naval appro-
priation bill and will pass 1t tomorrow
morning AS agreed 20 when read for
amendment today 1t provides for the
construction of two new battleships,
two fleet colliers. eight torpedo boat
destroyers and four submarine tor
pedo boats
The two battleshps are TO be the
largest ever constructed In this coun-
try and while the authorization fixes
the displacement of this superdread-
naughts at 2700O tons, there is pos
sibility that they may go up to S0,-
600 tons.
The new battleships will have twelve
l4-inch rifles--the heaviest battery
ever placed on a ship in the world.
These guns will be arranged on tae
four terrets, three guns in each tur-
ret. This arrangement is new. RUS
sia is building such ship, however.
and Japan has ordered battleship-
cruiser carrying similar battery.
The decision in favor Of two bat
tleships came on test vote on mo-
tion to cut the number down to one.
This motion was defeated, 139 to 116.
A motion by Mr.. Hobson, Of Alabama,
VINO was referred to by Chairman
Tawney, OF the appropriation COM
mittee as "the high priest Of war
to increase the number Of battleships
to three. was defeated 161 to o.
Mr.. Hobson sought to add battle
ship-cruiser OF 2s knots speed to the
building plan, but again was defeated.
The vote in favor OF the two bat
tleships program was nonpartisan. A
large number of republicans voted
against it, and considerable number
of democrats voted in favor of 1t,
Numerous amendments were tackled
on the measure while 1t was being
considered for amendment, most OF
them against the points Of order made
by members OF the naval affairs CON-
mittee in favor of economy. When the
reading was completed, botn Mr.. Foss,
of Illinois, chairman and Padgett, Of
Tennessee, ranking democrats OF the
committee, in brief statements an
nounced that by the changes made to
the bill today. between $8,000000 and
SO, 100000, had been added 10 the cost
of constructing the vessels authorized
in this bill or heretofore authorized.
They hoped this additional cost would
not be charged up to the credit OF the
next congress.
The egiht-hour day amendment OF
fered by Mr.. Hughes. of New Jersey,
a democrat, that part of the money
set apart for constructing the four
submarines should be expended with
any firm or corporation which had not
at the time OF beginning work on the
boats, established an eight hour day
for all Aaborers and Nemployes who
were to be employed on the boats.
The house adopted an amendment
forbidding the naval authorities from
transporting coal from the Atlantic
coast to the Pacific coast for naval
purposes, striking out the limiting
words ''of domestic manufacture from
the appropriation OF $s90.o0o for ar
NOR and armament. so as to leave the
government free to buy arfnor any
where in the world; that no part OF
the appropriation is to be spent with
any firm or corporation. which. should
1t reasonably appear, has entered into
a ccpabination to restrict competition
and in no. case should the government
pay In excess of 100 per cent above
the cost CT production.
The house adjourned without pass
ing the bill on motion Of Mr.. Foss, the
idea being to have the measure pass
tomorrow when larger attendance of
members is expected.