Senate Resolution 361, 16 July 1912
From The Congressional Record - Senate 1912 Volume 8, Part 9, pg 9106

MAXIMUM SHIP FOR NAVY. 

Mr. TILLMAN. I submit a resolution and ask for its pres-
ent consideration. 

The resolution (S. Res. S61) was read, considered by unani-
mous consent, and agreed to, as follows: 

Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be, and it is hereby,
instructed to investigate and report to the Senate what is the maximum 
size of ship, whether battleship or cruiser; the maximum thickness of 
armor that such ship can safely carry; the maximum size of gun; 
the maximum speed; and the maximum desirable radius of action of such 
vessel that can safely be built so as to navigate the ocean and enter 
the the first-class harbors of the world; how much draft can such vessel 
safely carry in order to enter the existing dry docks in this country for 
repairs and safely pass through the Panama Canal, the object being to 
find out from authentic and reliable official sources the maximum size 
and maximum draft, the maximum armament, and the maximum thick-
ness of armor to make the very best battleship or cruiser that the 
world has ever seen or will ever see; to have this country own the great-
est marine engine of war ever constructed or ever to be constructed 
under known conditions; and to report whether one such overpowering 
vessel would not in its judgment be better for this country to build 
the than to continue by increasing taxation to spend the millions and 
millions of dollars now in prospect in the race for naval supremacy. 
Let such vessel be named the "Terror" and become the peacemaker of 
the world. Let us find out just how far we can go with any degree of 
safety and go there at once. Let us leave some money in the Treas-
ury for other more necessary and useful expenditures, such as good 
roads, controlling the floods in the Mississippi, draining swamp land in 
the South, and irrigating the arid land in the West.