The Yale expositor., 1912-12-26
SECRETARY OF NAVY is THOUGHT
TO GE TRYING MR. ROoSE.
VElT'S RUSE.
MAY GET TWO AS COMPROMISE
More Sailors and Marines Also Are
Wanted-Tariff Board May BE Re.
vived After the Democrats Have
Reviscd the Schedules.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


only one battleship and did not au.
thorlze that one until there had been
pretty warm controversy on the sub.
Ject In the house of representatives
AZ Is said that the Republican secre
'ary or the navy has been prompted
10 ask for three battleships by the
iact that the Democratic platform
adopted at Baltimore pledged the
party to care for the needs Of the
aavy.
Last year, when the naval bill was
oefore the house committee, 1t be
came known that the members of the
majority party were divided as to the
auVisability of adding battleships 10
the navy. Most OF the committee
members were in favor of the increase,
out the opposition was strong on the
hoor OF the house. and particularly
strong because some of the recognized
party leaders We're very much opposed
TO an enlarged building program. A
compromise was effected and one bat
tieship and several smaller ships were
authorized for construction.
'FJ'Ug nOoSeVCitS metnOC!
1t is believed by many members of
congress that Secretary Meyer has in
mind just what Theodore Roosevelt
had In mind some years ago Mr..
Roosevelt wanted two additional bat
tleships built for the navy, but he
knew that congress was opposed to
any great increase in the naval
strength at that time. So It was that
Mr.. Roosevelt. wanting two ships.
asked for four, and the two were
forthcoming in the nature of COM
promise, n compromise which proba.
bly, made the president chuckle. be-
cause he got just what he wanted and
Just what he was afraid he would not
get 1t is suggested that Mr.. Meyer
hopes, through the compromise plan,
to get two ships, whereas II he only
asked for two he might have to be
content with one.
The United States navy is today
third in strength among the naval
powers of the world. Great Britain
and Germany lead this country. and
France follows it as the possessor of
fourth place, although the French
navy is nearly as strong, on paper at
any rate. as the navy Of Uncle Sam.
The navy department wants more
sailors. and it has asked congress.
through Senator Perkins Of California
who has introduced q bill to that ef-
feet, to increase the enlisted strength
of the navy by one thousand. bringing
the total strength up to $1,000 sailors.
An increase is asked for the marine
corps OF 20 per cent, and II 1t is
granted there will within the next
year be ten thousand five hundred ma
rines IL the service Of the country.
May Revive Tariff Board.
The tariff board, which went out of
existence because Of a refusal on the
part OF congress to renew an appro-
priation for its support, may possibly
come back into being again after the
tariff has been revised by the next
congress.
There is a strong organization.
known as the National Tariff Commis-
sion association, which Is working
hard to arouse public sentiment in
favor OF a permanent commission.
which shall study business conditions
at home and abroad and make specific
reports on the schedules to congress,
with the view of having them adjust
ed, SO that from time to time the tar
if on certain articles may be changed
without disturbing the whole tariff
list.
Already congress is being memorial
ized by associations and by individu-
ais 70 give force and effect to a real
national tariff commission. It has Just
been announced that there will be a
convention Of the advocates Of the
tariff commission, to be held in Wash
ington, probably simultaneously with
the opening of the extra session of the
new congress.
Only One Minority Party?
There have been happenings
within a few days in congress
which point to the injection OF
trouble for the Republicans and Pro-
gressives in the next house. 1t is
now currently reported and believed,
from what the Democratic leaders
have said privately. that 1t is the in
tention of their party in the house and
senate. when congress meets in extra
session, to recognize only one minor
ity party, namely, the Republican.
On the face Of it, 1t would not seem
that this would create any particular
amount Of trouble. but when the mat
ter OF the committees is taken into
consideration and the present method
OF appointing members to them is
thought on, trouble looms large. Un.
der the present system OF committee
appointments In the house, the ma
jority party and the minority party
separately hold caucuses and agree
on committee membership The Dem
ocrats, being In control, can do just as
they choose In pretty nearly all mat
ters. and so II they recognize only one
party. thus leaving the Pro-
gressives entirely out of considera
tion, the latter will be wholly at the
mercy OF the Republicans in commit