be prescribed and established by the President of the United States, and any appropriation that may hereafter be available for the contingent expenses of the Navy Department is hereby made available for the purposes of this Act: Provided, That whenever a ribbon issued under the provisions of this Act shall have been lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use, without fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom it was issued, the Secretary of the Navy shall cause a new ribbon to be issued to such person without charge therefor.

force for the

To enable the Secretary of the Navy to enlist, at any Additional time after the passage of this Act, as many additional sea- Navy and Marine men, landsmen, and boys as he may deem necessary to man Corps. the ships of the Navy, or in use by the Navy, as a temporary force therefor during the existing war, and for pay of the same and of the temporary additional officers and warrant machinists hereinbefore authorized, eight million eight hundred and thirty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary; and to enable the Secretary of the Navy to enlist, at any time after the passage of this Act, the following additional force for the Marine Corps as a temporary force during the existing war, namely, not more than sixty gunnery sergeants with rank of first sergeants, not more than eighty corporals, and not more than one thousand five hundred privates, and for pay of the same, including the temporary additional officers hereinbefore authorized, and for provisions, clothing, fuel, military stores, transportation and recruiting, and for contingent expenses, on account of said additional force, five hundred and sixty-seven thousand nine hundred dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary.

of dry docks.

Toward the construction of four timber dry docks, two Construction hundred thousand dollars each; in all, eight hundred thousand dollars; said dry docks to be not less than seven hundred feet in length, and of other dimensions sufficient to meet the present and probable future requirements of the largest vessels of the Navy and auxiliary fleet. One of these docks to be located at the navy-yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to cost, when completed, not exceeding eight hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars; one at the navy-yard, Boston, Massachusetts, to cost, when completed, not exceeding eight hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars; one at the navy-yard, League Island, Pennsylvania, to cost, when completed, not exceeding eight hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars; and one at the navy-yard, Mare Island, California, to cost, when completed, not exceeding eight hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars; and the Secretary of the Navy is hereby authorized, in his discretion, to build one of said docks of granite or concrete faced with granite, and in such case the limit of the cost of said dock is increased two hundred thousand dollars.

Toward the construction of one steel floating dock of domestic manufacture which shall be a combined floating and graving dock, two hundred thousand dollars, said dock to be located at the naval reservation at Algiers, Louisiana,

Increase of the Navy.

to be capable of lifting a vessel of fifteen thousand tons displacement, and twenty-seven feet draft of water, to cost, including moorings and wharf, eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

The Secretary of the Navy may employ, and pay out of the appropriations for dry docks herein authorized, such additional expert aids, draftsmen, writers, and copyists as may be necessary for the preparation of plans and specifications, to an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars.

And the Secretary of the Navy be, and is hereby, authorized, under the limitations hereinbefore provided, to make contracts for the entire construction of said dry docks, and steel floating dock, and in each case the contract shall be awarded to the lowest best responsible bidder.

The Secretary of the Navy is hereby authorized and directed to appoint a board of naval officers to determine the desirability of locating and constructing a dry dock of sufficient capacity to take the largest naval ship in the harbor of Galveston or in the harbor of Sabine Pass, or the waters tributary thereto, Texas, and a dry dock of the same capacity in the waters of Chesapeake Bay above the mouth of the Potomac River; and to report such finding to the next session of the present Congress; and the sum of one thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to defray the expenses of said board.

That for the purpose of further increasing the naval establishment of the United States the President is hereby authorized to have constructed by contract three seagoing coast-line battle ships carrying the heaviest armor and most powerful ordnance upon a displacement of about eleven thousand tons, to have the highest practicable speed for vessels of their class, and to cost, exclusive of armor and armament, not exceeding three million dollars each, one of said battle ships to be named the Maine; and four harbordefense vessels of the monitor type, each having one or two turrets, and to cost, exclusive of armament, not exceeding one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars each; and sixteen torpedo boat destroyers of about four hundred tons displacement, and twelve torpedo boats of about one hundred and fifty tons displacement, to have the highest practicable speed, and to cost in all, exclusive of armament, not exceeding six million nine hundred thousand dollars; and one gunboat to take the place of the United States steamship Michigan, to cost, exclusive of armament, not more than two hundred and sixty thousand dollars, One gunboat said gunboat to be constructed on the Great Lakes or their connecting waters: Provided, That said construction of said gunboat shall conform to all existing treaties and conventions. And not more than two of said battle ships, and not more than two of said harbor-defense vessels, and not more than five of said torpedo-boat destroyers, and not more than four of said torpedo boats shall be built in one yard or by one contracting party, and the contracts for the construction of each of said vessels shall be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to the lowest best responsible bidder, having in view the best results and most expedi

for Great Lakes.

drawings.

and

Vessels in all

parts must be of

tious delivery; and in the construction of all said vessels all of the provisions of the Act of August third, eighteen hundred and eighty-six, entitled "An Act to increase the naval establishment," and amendments subsequently made thereto as to materials for said ves-. sels, their engines, boilers, and machinery, the contracts under which they are built, except as to premiums, which are not to be offered, the notice of any proposals for the same, the plans, drawings, and specifications therefor, and Plans the method of executing said contracts, shall be observed and followed, and said vessels shall be built in compliance with the terms of said Act, save that in all their parts said vessels shall be of domestic manufacture except that no proposal for the torpedo vessels shall be considered unless domestic manuthe bidder is already in possession of adequate plant, and facture. that the advertisement relating to the proposals for such vessels may be published for three weeks only; and, subject to the provisions hereinafter made, one and not more than one of the aforesaid seagoing battle ships, and one and not more than one of the aforesaid harbor-defense vessels, shall be built on or near the coast of the Pacific Ocean or in the waters connecting therewith: Provided, That if it shall appear to the satisfaction of the President of the United States, from the biddings for such contracts when the same are opened and examined by him, said vessel, or either of them, can not be constructed on or near the coast of the Pacific Ocean at a cost not exceeding four per centum above the lowest accepted bid for the other battle ships or harbor-defense vessels provided for in this Act, he shall authorize the construction of said vessel, or either of them, elsewhere in the United States, subject to the limitations as to cost hereinbefore provided.

On account of the hulls and outfits of vessels and steam machinery of vessels heretofore and herein authorized, thirteen million six hundred and forty-eight thousand four hundred and seventy-three dollars: Provided, That section. two or the Act entitled "An Act to increase the naval establishment," approved August third, eighteen hundred and eighty-six, be, and the same is hereby, amended so as to read as follows:

"SEC. 2. That in the construction of all naval vessels the steel material shall be of domestic manufacture, and of the quality and characteristics best adapted to the various purposes for which it may be used, in accordance with specifications approved by the Secretary of the Navy."

Toward the armament and armor of domestic manufacture for the vessels authorized by the Act of July twentysixth, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, of the vessels authorized under the Act of March second, eighteen hundred and ninety-five, of those authorized by the Act of June tenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, of the three torpedo boats authorized by the Act of March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, and of those authorized by this Act, including the completion of ordnance outfit for the four harbor-defense vessels, the sixteen torpedo-boat destroyers, and twelve torpedo boats named herein, seven million one

Construction and machinery.

Armor and armament.

hundred and sixty-two thousand eight hundred dollars: Provided, That the total cost of the armor according to the plans and specifications already prepared, for the three battle ships authorized by the Act of June tenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, shall not exceed three million two hundred and ten thousand dollars, including all cost of nickel in the same, and exclusive of the cost of transportation, ballistic test plates, and tests, and royalty for steel face-hardening process, not to exceed one-half cent per pound, and which can not be made use of without the payment of royalty, and no contract for armor plate shall be made at an average rate to exceed four hundred dollars per ton of two thousand two hundred and forty pounds, includNames of ves- ing nickel as aforesaid. That hereafter all first-class battle ships and monitors owned by the United States shall be named for the States, and shall not be named for any city, place, or person until the names of the States shall have been exhausted: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to interfere with the names of States already assigned to any such battle ship or monitor. Toward the completion of the equipment outfit of the new vessels heretofore and herein authorized, three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars.

sels.

Equipment.

Electric plants.

may make appro

For the installation of electric plants in gunboats numbered ten, eleven, twelve, and thirteen, forty thousand dollars.

The President It is further provided that whenever in the judgment of priation immedi. the President, the public inrerests may require he is authorately available. ized and empowered to make any or all the provisions and appropriations of this Act immediately operative and available.

Columbia.

talion.

May 11, 1898. That in addition to the companies of volunteer militia Naval battalion now authorized in the District of Columbia there may be in District of organized not more than four companies of naval militia, which shall constitute a battalion to be known as the naval battalion of the National Guard of the District of Columbia. Officers of bat- SEC. 2. That the officers of the naval battalion shall consist of one commander, and a staff to consist of one executive officer with the rank of lieutenant-commander, one navigating officer with the rank of lieutenant, one signal, ordnance, and equipment officer with the rank of lieutenant, one chief engineer, one paymaster, and one surgeon, each with the relative rank of lieutenant.

Composition of company.

General routine of duty, etc., of battalion.

SEC. 3. That each company shall consist of one lieutenant, one lieutenant, junior grade, two ensigns, and not less than sixty nor more than one hundred petty officers and enlisted men.

SEC. 4. That in all matters not otherwise specially provided for, the provisions of law which provide for the organization of the militia of the District of Columbia shall apply to the naval battalion.

SEC. 5. That general routine of duty, discipline, and exercises of the naval battalion, and parts thereof, shall conform with the laws, customs, and usages of the Navy, as far as the same apply, and where they do not apply then such routine of duty, discipline, and exercises shall con

form to the laws governing the volunteer forces of the District of Columbia.

Force.

That a United States Auxiliary Naval Force is hereby May 26, 1898. authorized to be established, to be enrolled in such numbers United States as the President may deem necessary, not exceeding three Auxiliary Naval thousand enlisted men, for the exigencies of the present war with Spain, and to serve for a period of one year, or less, and shall be disbanded by the President at the conclusion of the war.

force.

SEC. 2. That the chief of the United States Auxiliary Chief of the Naval Force shall be detailed by the Secretary of the Navy from the active or retired list of the line officers of the Navy not below the grade of captain, who shall receive the highest pay of his grade while so employed.

the force.

SEC. 3. That eulistment into the United States Auxiliary Enlistment in Naval Force shall be made by such officer or officers as the Navy Department may detail for the purpose, who shall also select from merchant vessels and other available sources such volunteers as may be deemed best fitted for service as officers in said force, and shall report to the Secretary of the Navy, for his action, their names and the grade for which each is recommended.

vided

SEC. 4. That for the purposes of this organization the Shall coast line shall be divided into districts, each of which shall tricts. be in charge of an assistant to the chief of the United States Auxiliary Naval Force; and such assistant chiefs may be detailed by the Secretary of the Navy from the officers of the active or retired list of the line of the Navy, or appointed by him from civil life, not above the rank of lieutenant-commander.

be di

into dis

and men.

SEC. 5. That the officers and men comprising the United Pay of officers States Auxiliary Naval Force shall receive the same pay and emoluments as those holding similar rank or rate in the Regular Navy; and all matters relating to the organization, discipline, and government of men in said force shall conform to the laws and regulations governing the United States Navy.

may be mustered

force.

SEC. 6. That the chief of the United States Auxiliary Naval Militia Naval Force or such officers as the Navy Department may into auxiliary detail for such service, may, with the consent of the Governor of any State, muster into the said Force the whole or any part of the organizations of the Naval Militia of any State to serve in said Auxiliary Naval Force, and shall report to the Secretary of the Navy, for his action, the names and grades for which commissions in said United States Auxiliary Naval Force shall be issued to the officers of such Naval Militia, and shall have the power to appoint and disrate the petty officers thereof.

from

SEC. 7. That the officers, warrant officers, petty officers, Paid "Pay of the and enlisted men and boys of the United States Auxiliary Navy." Naval Force thus created shall be paid from the appropriation "Pay of the Navy;" and the sum of three million dollars, or so much thereof as may be required, is hereby appropriated, from any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purchase or hire of vessels necessary for the purposes of this resolution.