The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-25
Economy Nav Hit Navy.

An important change in the naval
policy of the United States may come
as a result of a Democratic house of
representatives, when congress takes
UP next winter its consideration of
the annual appropriation bills. For
several years now this country has
been operating on what is called a two
\ battleship program. That means the
authorization each year and laying
/ down of two first class battleships.
The advocates Of this policy claim thut
| it is absolutely necessary if this coun-
| try is to keep anywhere near abreast
CT European naval ornaments and to
maintain a strength for offense and
| defense adequate to its large posses =
sions and extended coast lines.
Four battleships a year are none toe
| few, according to the great experts OF
the navy department and to some
members of congress, who believe in
| heavy sea power as a guarantee of
peace. One battleship year is amply
| sufficient in the view of other congress
men, who contend that it f. folly for
| this country to attempt to keep pace
| " tn European armadas and who say
| that the future peace and safety of the
United States cannot rest upon powder
and cannon balls.
| Now it happens particular
representative in the present house
who will have the most to say about
this matter for the next two years is q
/ one DdLllSSHlp man. lie Is Lemuel r.
Padgett, of Tennessee, chairman of the
committee on naval affairs. This com
mittee handles the naval appropriation
| bill, which originates, like all other ap-
pfopriatirn bills, in the low er house.
Representative Padgett, if he acts in
| accordance with his past record in
naval matters, will make a fight for
| the authorization of only one dread i.
| Fought, or superdi ear nought, which is
what n battleship means in these mod
ern days of highly developed death
| dealing devices.
AS the modern battleship costs. when
finally put into commission, about
Sc, 100000, the ne-battleshlp program
is very likely to appeal to the econom-
zeal instincts of the present Democratic
house. To save $4,000 900 at one stroke.
| by simply emitting to construct q shin
is an easy wav of making a consider
able hole in the running expenses of
| Uncle Sam. The house made a great
fuss and feathers over the saving %
| ut SlS0,000 in its own current ex-
/ penSeS. Yet that amount is only
| about IA per cent of the cost of a
dreadnought. If the house naval COM
mitlee can cut a big slice out of naval
| expenditures, its work will be cordially
welcomed by the Democratic leaders. if
| they are sincere in their announcement
| that thew propose to show how much
more cheaply they can run the govern
ment than the Republicans.=Wa
ton dispatch to the Brooklyn Eagle
Peacock Lost at Sea.
! The disappearance of a $500 white pea
! cock on the voyage of the North Ger
man Lloyd liner George washington
caused much uneasiness for a time
among the men having in charge a val
liable consignment of animals and
birds.
The peacock was one of six on theil
way from India to the zoo in st. Louis
The peacocks were between decks aIons
with two lions, two elephants, 10000 ca
naries and about $50 monkeys.
The peacocks were in an Enclosure
under a skylight amidships. When the
vessel struck the warm wave this sky
light was raised to admit the fresh air
venturesome peacock became loosened
and the bird got out. hoped to the
top of a box of freight, and reached
the deck by way Of a skylight. It was
missed at feeding time. No one could
be found who had seen the birl. Tho
lions fell under suspicion, but they
proved an alibi.
| Night had fallen when the man or
lookout was startled by a strange bird
| that twice circIed the bow, then few
white shape as it passed near the
crows nest. He saw nothing more
but he duly reported what he had seer
to the officer on the bridge.
| N.Y. remarked quartermaster
| what strange sights are seen at sea .
This closed the incident.
Next morning the white peacock was
still missing. The boundary of the
search was widened, and diplomatic
questioning of those in the smoking
| room resulted in an indignant denial
| that any one had seen either a white
| peacock or a pink monkey One truth
full passenger, who frankly admitted he
| thought he had seen green mouse
| the night before, was frowned upon
| 1t was near nightfall when man
going up to the crows nest discovered
| a bedrag gled. gray-looling bird under
| a waterproof hood over an unused
searchlight. It was the white peacock
| shorn of its glory and looking all the
worse for its night out
/ The peacock seemed very glad TO be