The meeting of the Harvard Union was called to order last night shortly after half past seven, by President Thayer. After the secretary's report had been read and approved, the committee on a new shingle made a report which was accepted. The question for debate at the next meeting was then chosen; this question is, "Resolved, That independence in politics should be the rule and not the exception."

The question for the evening's debate was, "Resolved, That the United States should not materially increase its navy." The discussion was opened for the affirmative by A. H. Williams, '91; he began with a few remarks concerning the popular cry for a large navy. He defined the uses of a navy as three: to guard the coast. protect commerce, survey and police the seas. He granted that the navy of the United States in its present condition could not accomplish the first two of these things, but claimed that this is not necessary, and that our navy is sufficient for the third purpose.

M. B. May, L. S., opened the discussion for the negative; he said that he did not demand the increase of the navy as a means to reduce the surplus, nor because of rumors of war, but for purely economical reasons; that our commercial relations with the rest of the world demanded that our navy be largely increased. He quoted many authorities to show that the navy has never been in a worse condition, and claimed that by the testimony of the navy department, the navy is utterly inadequate to our needs. He dwelt particularly upon the necessity of a navy to lend dignity to our diplomatic relations with European powers.

Mr. Austin, L. S. continued the argument for the affirmative. He declared that the geographical position of our country was such that we do not need a large navy to guard our territory. He argued that a navy on account of the improvements in projectiles, guns and torpedoes is becoming more and more inefficient for either attack or defence. The fact that the United States has no colonies and that her commerce is very small are further reasons why the navy should not be increased.

T. Woodbury '89 continued the negative. He thought that a navy is imperatively needed to inspire respect for our flag and representatives abroad; that it is needed as a training school for seamen, as at present we have almost no American seamen.

The great majority of the speakers from the floor were for the negative. Nothing new was developed however, in the discussion by these speakers, ten of whom sided with the negative and four with the affirmative.

In closing the debate the leaders on the affirmative and negative did nothing more than reiterate their earlier arguments.

The first vote on the merits of the question stood: affirmative 13; negative 28; vote on principal disputants, affirmative 5; negative 47; debate as a whole, affirmative 6; negative 17.