The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-12-18
Ths roriiaOatIonn Bill.
speaker RnndRII's Resistance 20 am A.
tempt TO Increase the Appropriations.


WASHINGTON, Dec. l5.--'rhe first Of the
appropriation bills was considered by the
House ia Committee OF the Whole to-day.
Il was the one making appropriations for for
tifcations. Speaker Randall knew that a de.
termined efforts would be made to get very
large additional appropriation tackled on.
He therefore took his seat in the centre aisle
that he might be ready TO fight it. Some
earnest work had been done by the lobbyists
and members who were anxious to get au In
creased appropriation, and il was feared that
there might have been enough log.roliing to
accomplish it.
The first section Of the bill appropriates
100000 for the protection, preservation and
repair OF forts. Gen. johnson Dem, Va. J
moved that the appropriation for this purpose
be increased to 100000. He said that he
had been instructed to do so by the Military
Committee. Gen. Johnston became quite
earnest in his advocacy Of the increased ap.
preparation. He told the Committee that the
United States were absolutely defenceless
against foreign ironelad navy. He said that
the irouelads Of single European power
would pass up New York harbor without diff
ficulty He therefore thought that the Gov
erdment ought TO do something Mt once in
the way of preparation for defence. Gen.
Johnston's advocacy was regarded as having
influenced members who would otherwise
have voted against the proposed increase.
Gen. MeCook rep, N. Y, skillfnlly tried
to strengthen that influence by reminding the
House that Gen. Johnston was one OF the
leading soldiers Of the world.
Mr.. Randall at last got the floor. He
spoke very briefly, but he spoke with very
great earnestness. He told the House in the
panest terms that the people were in no mood
tor those awNanAffnraa and ba
counselled the members not to be frightened
by the insinuations that had been made that
we might be on the eve OF q foreign war. Mr..
Randall reminded the House that the slight
specks Of war which had frightened some 10
recent years were quickly dispelled. He ar.
gued that there was no danger Of war with any
foreign country, and that IL there was, our
system Of Notifications would not strengthen
us. why" he said, ''the guns that voted
appropriations to pay for ten years ago are
useless now. II would simply be money
thrown away TO vote this extra amount. +"
He urged members to crush this first effort
TO secure huge sums of money from the Treas.
ury, so that il might be understood at once
that this expiring House was in favor of the
most rigid economy consistent with the pub.
lie service. lie limited at the rumors OF as
saults to be made on the Treasury this session,
by saying that there might be disposition
to do so, by the defeated party on account of
their depressed spirits, by the successful party
because Of their exultRtion. He implored
the House, Democrats and Republicans, not
to be generous and extrayagant with the money
Of the people
Mr.. Reed rep, Me- in his savage way,
intimated that Mr.. Randall was merely max.
ing one Of his campaign speeches over again
Mr. Randall simply said in reply that his course