Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-07
FOR BIG GUNS
ON ALL BAHLESH|PS
Tells House U. S. Should Keep Pace
With the Other Nations in
Armament.

Speaker Clark came out for the
heaviest guns extant aboard all Ameri-
can dreadnaughts during a lively con-
troversy over battleship construction
methods in the House today when the
administration bill to appropriate $780,
600 for building ways and equipment
at the Mare Island and New York navy
yards was brought up for passage.
Speaker Clark. from the floor. asked
why it was that the United States gov
eminent did not build battleships as
rapidly as foreign governments. Rep
resentative Butler said that the Cali
fornia, the best of all our Ships" in
cent completed.
You say the California is the best
ship of all. How do you know that,
when she's not yet been launched?"
Mr.. Butler replied that she was de-
signed by the best Navy Department
experts. had everything new and was
supposed to have the most modern
ideas.
"Do Not Agree on Anything"
us there any battleship afioat," per-
sisted the Speaker. which all these
naval experts agree Is the best battle
ship?'
They do not agree on anything"
said Mr.. Butler.
as there any way to build battleships
over this slow, poky way" insisted
the Speaker.
Yes put up the money"
We'll, we have put up the money, and
what has become of it?' replied the
Speaker.
eff we can ascertain which 10 tho
best battleship. then Congress ought
to pass a resolution that all the rest
should be built on that model. and it
would shorten up the process Of con-
struction month or more
DO you know" declared Mr.. Butler,
shaking his finger at the House. that
the English propose to. and perhaps
the Germans already do, put seven
teen-ineh guns on their battleships.
while we have fourteen-inch guns?"
Then we should put the seventeen
INCH guns on our ships" replied the
Speaker. I'VE should have the biggest
guns obtainable on every battleship
we have"
Speaker Arouses Enthusiasm.
The discussion developed into the
first real debate on naval policies and
signalizes the first entry of Speaker
Clark into debate during this Congress-
His declaration in favor of making the
best battleship a model for duplication
in other battleship construction with a
view to avoiding delays in building
warships and that IL the seventeen-inch
guns are being implaced on foreign
ships the United States should have
them as well-the best guns attainable
now or hereafter-aroused enthusiasm
in the House.
incidentally, Representative Hill Of
Connecticut wanted to know about the
Mare Island approach facilities.
The Speaker knows" said Repre-
sentative Butler, that IL we want
things better in the navy We have to
pay the price demanded"
That is true" replied the Speaker,
but suppose we paid the full price,
what is the reason we cannot build bat
tleships as quickly as England CAM"
I'VE can" Mr.. Butler replied.
1--WE never have done So" replied the
Speaker.
If we will begin to build and take
the money and push aside private con-
struction." replied Mr.. Butler, who Is
a member of the naval committee, I'VE
can build twenty-five ships in two
years and put them to sea II we can
find the men to put on Them"
Mr.. Gardner. Massachusetts,. suggest
ed that while in the United States I'VE
say 1t would take US three years to
construct, we mean three years from
the laying of the keel to the commits
sioning of the ship, whereas the Brit
ish call the last part of the process the
completion and Quitting"