New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-01
TWO BAHLESH|PS ARE
AUTHORIZED BY SENATE
Transport, Supply Ship. De-
stroyers and Submarines ADD
ed to House Bill List.
BIGGER NAVY UNOPP0SED
Only IL Democratic Senators
Voted Against Increase
House Expected to De-
feat Programme.
From The Tribune Bureau. :

Washington. Feb. 2S.--By a vote Of IS
10 l6 the Senate tonight overturned the
economy programme OF the House Demo-
Gratis and authorized the construction OF
two batteships, at a cost not exceeding
s. 49, 00 each. exclusive OF armor and
armament, and added 10 the list OF YES
sells provided for in the House bill a
transport. to cost sl.S5oO00 one supply
ship. 10 cost $l.425,0 900; six torpedo boat
destroyers and four submarines.
/ The Senate amendment was adopted
without even a show of opposition and
I hardly the formality OF rollcall. Only
twelve Democratic Senators were re-
corded against the wo-battleship plan
Senators Bacon. Gore. Johnston. Kern
| Lea. Myers. Pittsman. Pomerene. Shive-
ly Smith (of Georgia.. Smith (of South
! Cardinal and Thomas. The four Re-
publicans who Joined with them were
Senators Burton. Bristow. McCumber and
La Toilette.
Two Democrats. Senators Chamberlain
and Thornton. even went 10 the extent of
voting for three battleshps. the amend
ment to that effect offered by Senator
Brandegee being voted down by IS to 81
1t was obvious when the two battleships
amendment came up that there was no
enthusiasm on the Democratic aide for the
plan of the House to economic at the cS-
pense of the navy. Senator Paynter. the
only one to make a speech on the subject.
advocated an effective navy. The amend
ment was about TO be slipped through
when Senator Brstow suggested that 1t
might be we'll to have a rollcal.
When q quorum OF the Senate had been
SUNNI oned and Senator Frandegee offered
his amendment to increase the number or
hattleships 20 three. in order 70 maintain
the policy of laying Gown two year. the
galleries which were crowded with visit
ors. broke out in a storm of applause.
As an explanation of the attitude OF the
committee Senator Perkins presented
letter from the Secretary OF the Navy
calling attention TO the rapid increase OF
the navies Of other world powers In 1917.
Secretary Meyer said. Germany will have
twenty-secen battleships Of the modern
type. while the United States will have
only fifteen. He also pointed out that the
guns of such ships as the Iowa. the Ken
lucky and the Kearsarge will be no match
for the armament of these modern yes
sells.
The bill. carving appropriations ap-
proximating sl50co,oco. finally passed the
Senate just before midnight. after Sena-
tor Thomas. of Colorado. had made
final and unsuccessful effort to secure the
adoption OF a one-battleship amendment.
In order 10 enforce It's two-battleship
programme and TO hasten the settlement
Of the issue with the House. the Senate
named Senators Perkins. Penrosc and
Tillman as conference committee to
meet House committee. in case the
House refuses to accept the two battle
ship amendment.
The defeat of the two battleship pro-
gramme In the House is looked for by
| many members OF that body. The House
voted one battleship after a long strug
gle. and the one battleship advocates de-
! clare they will hold up the entire appro-
priation bill rather than accept Senate
amendments adding the second ship.