People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1896 — BIG NAVAL INCREASE. [ARTICLE]

BIG NAVAL INCREASE.

FOUR NEW BATTLESHIPS TO BE BUILT. Llb.nl Allowance Made to Inereaee the Fighting Strength of the Dotted State. —Cnban Debate In the Senate Nearing an End. Washington, March 18. —The naval appropriation bill for the next fiscal year will contain the most liberal allowance for the increase of the navy carried by any bill since the war. Four battleships and fifteen torpedo boats was the decision of the committee on the question of new vessels, which had been the principal point of discussion. The democrats fought hard to secure six battleships, but the republicans stood well together and carried their point. The motion for six battleships was made by Mr. Cummings (N. Y.), and was lost by a vote of 6 to 7, but one republican voting for it. The four battleships will be of 11,000 tons each and the cost is not Jo exceed 13,700,000 each, exclusive of armament, which is thought to be an ample provision, as other ships of the same class have been built in recent years well within that figure. Five of the torpedo boats are to have a speed of 26 knots and to cost within $850,000 each: the other ten are to have a speed of 20 knots and their cost limit is SBOO,OOO each.

AMENDING TARIFF LAW. Action Taken by the House to Correct the Act of 1890. Washington, March 18.—The house devoted Tuesday to the bill to amend the administrative tariff act of 1890, and passed it without substantial amendment. The purpose of the bill is to strengthen the act of 1890, some weak spots having been developed during the six years it has been in operation. The hill was drawn after extensive hearings, and the advice and assistance of the treasury department, the board of general appraisers, importers and others with practical experience on the subject. One of the most important changes makes increased duties and penalties for undervaluation commence at the point of undervaluation, and not at 10 per cent above the undervaluation as provided by the present law. THE PACIFIC RAILROADS. Consultation of Committee, to Be Had on the Subject. Washington, March 18.—In about ten days there will be a meeting or consultation between the two steering committees of the senate to see if time can be given for the consideration of a bill for the settlement of the Pacific railroad debt. The request for time will come from the committee on Pacific roads and if it appears from the views of the two managing committees that time will be afforded then the committee on Pacific roads will make an effort to report a bill at a very early day and bring it up for consideration. If the steering committees do not agree that there will be time to consider the bill then all legislation looking to the adjustment of the Pacific roads problem and the government debt will be postponed for this session and go over until the short session.

RIVERS AND HARBORS. Several Changes Slade in an Important Rill. Washington, March 18.—It is expected that the river and harbor bill will be reported to the house within a few days. The first estimate of the bill was about $12,000,000, but it is now understood that the bill will not of itself appropriate more than $10,000,000, but it will put a large number of projects under the contract system. The committee in reporting the bill in favor of the authorization of these contracts will say that it has found in the past that about 30 to 50 per cent of the appropriations are saved by the system and that it has proved economical.

To Restr'ct Immigration. Washington. March 18.—The house committee on immigration on Tuesday decided to favorably report two important restrictive measures introduced by Mr. McCall (Mass.) and Mr. W. A. Stone (Pa.). The Stone bill establishes as a requisite for admission to the United States that the immigrant shall be provided with a certificate from the United States consul or other authorized representative of the United States at the place nearest his last residence that he is eligible to admission to the United States under the existing laws. The McCall bill, as amended by the committee, excludes all males between the ages of 16 and 60 who are not able to read and write English or some other language.

Cubah Debate Nearly Ended. Washington, March 18.—The Cuban debate in the senate is drawing to a close, and the expectation is that a final vote will be taken within a day or two —possibly to-day. Mr. Sherman is keeping the question before the senate continuously, so that the speeches are not likely to last much longer. Mr. Mills (Tex.) and Mr. Platt (Conn.) are yet to be 'heard, but their remarks will not be lengthy. 4'h« Seed Distribution Law. Washington, March 18.—Regarding the seed resolution, which has now become a law, Secretary Morton says he will execute to the letter the law as construed by the attorney-general. Secretary Morton reiterates his previous statement that he intends to buy the seeds all ready packed.