The Washington herald., 1913-02-12
big navy Wins
in committee
Two Battleships, to Cost $780,
100000, Authorized by
House Body.
BUDGET OF $146,S18,3l4
Deshoyers, Submarines, Transport,
and Supply Ship Pro-
vided For.
BUDGET OF $146,S1S,314

BY vote of II to the House Com
mtttee on Naval Affairs yesterday adopt
ed an amendment TO the naval bill,
authorizing the construction of two
| battleships at a cost of S30.0oo0oo. The
committee also authorized the building
OF six destroyers, four submarines, a
transport and a supply ship. The ad-
ditions to the navy thus provided for
were recommended by Secretary Meyer
OF the Navy Department Announcement
was made by the committee that the
bill soon TO be reported will authorize
expenditures footing up to sl4s.sls,s14.
This is the biggest naval budget ever
framed by a committee Of Congress.
The appropriation allowed for the pur-
poses Of the navy this year was a little
ir excess OF slcs. 10000. The estimates OF
the amount required by the navy for the
fiscal year that will begin on July
next. as submitted by Secretary Meyer,
called for an appropriation of slss, ,s+s1 17s.
The committee reduced the estimates by
So, 900. oO0.
For the purposes of maintenance only
the committee allowed sl0S. .5S7. as as COM
pared with Sl0o. .655. .s34, the amount author
lied on this account for the current year.
This is an increase of nearly s3.00o01O.
For the construction of vessels previous
ly authorized an appropriation Of 81, ~
vided an appropriation OF SIS, s4s. 6e5 to be-
gin work the coming year on the new
vessels authorized by the pending bill.
This makes a total of sf.c3O.Ils for new
construction.
While the bill on its face authorizes
appropriations OF s14s.slS.3s+. the amount
that ultimately will be expended under
the authorizations will go far beyond
the sum named. Only a dribble of the
~ hat x.-tlI 90 h. -
on the two battieships is carried in the
bill soon to be reported to the House.
Big Navy Men Elated.
The big-navy men are elated over the
action OF the House committee in au-
thorizing two battleships. They admit
that the fight for this addition to the
navy has just begun, but they profess
to be confident of the outcome. a can
vass OF both sides OF the House is now
in progress. and the big-navy men insist
that II will result in the committee pro-
gramme being sustained. Much TO the
surprise OF the Democratic leaders, seven
members OF the majority on the COM
mittee voted for two battleships. Efforts
made by the small-naIy members 10
prevent certain Democrats on the com
mittee from going to the support Of the
big-navy men failed utterly. The
big-navy men put through the amend
ment by a vote of two 10 one.
A resolution that was offered by Rep
resentative Hobson OF Alabama, provid-
ing for three hattleships, was defeated
by vote OF 10 ~ Representatives
Talbot of Maryland. Macon or Arkansas,
Lee OF Pennsylvania. Riordan OF New
York. Estopinal of louisiana, Hobson of
Alabama, and Bathrick OF Ohio were the
Democrats who voted for two battleships.
The Republicans who voted for two bat
tleships were Representatives. Foss OF
Illinois, Roberts of Massachusetts,, But
Ter of Pennsylvania, Loud OF Michigan.
Bates Of Pennsylvania, Kopp OF Wis
consin. and Browning OF New Jersey.
The naval bill contains many items OF
general interest. For example. an in
crease OF nearly S2,O0o.OoO is allowed for
the pay Of the navy. and an increase of
S1l6.l75 for the pay of the Marine Corps.
One million dollars additional is author
lied for the purchase OF coal. and also
100000 for taGet practice. An increase
of SI56.ooO is authorized for the equip
ment OF vessels, and an increase OF SS21-
ll3 for supplies and accounts.
The naval bill will he reported to the
House this week. Owing to the increas ase
in the budget. 1t is certain to stir up
one of the livel,est fights of the session.