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Show NAWftL Sen. Perkins Defends the Expenditure of Millions Washington, May 23 Taking up the naval appropriation bill Immediately after convening today, the senate continued con-tinued the consideration of the Burton Bur-ton amendment, providing for one battleship bat-tleship Instead of two, as provided for by the house. The advocates of the amendment generally conceded Hint the amendment would be lost. Senator Perkins was the first speaker of the day. He Is chairman of tho committee on naval affairs by which the bill was reported and b? advocated two ships as iu the Interest Inter-est of an adequate navy, Ho said that when the Panama canal was completed com-pleted all tho vessels of the navy would be available, on either coast. He controverted tho contention of Senators Hale and Clay that the proposed pro-posed ships would cost J16.ouo.0iio each, saying that the highest official offi-cial estimate he had been able to dls-cocr dls-cocr was less than $12,000,000 each Agreeing with Mr. Perkins that the ships would not cost so much as Mr. Hale had estimated, Senator Ixidge admitted that the cost would ho heavy. Still, he contended that the proponed Increase of the navy should be made because of the necessity for the maintenance of a-ayuftLcJcot to protect American) interests. He U ok the position that a strong navy was necessary for the prevention of trouble. The navy was the last place to begin to economize, he said. Senator Burton's amendment to the naval bill providing for the construction construc-tion of only one Di cad naught battleship battle-ship instead of two, was defeated 2G to 39. |