Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-12-16
HOUSE
Retirement of Legal Tenders.


Mr.. Belford, of Colorado, introduced
| bill for the retirement OF small legal ten.
der notes. Referred.
Pension to the Widow Of General Taylor.
On notion OF Mr.. Goode the Senate
bill was passed granting pension OF
500 q month to Mrs. Julia G. Taylor,
widow OF the late President Taylor.
InCommittee on Fertilization Bill.
The morning hour having expired
Mr.. Fernando Wood moved that the
House 60 into Committee on the Fund.
ing bill.
Mr. Baker, from the Appropriations
Committee, reported back the Fortifica.
ton lill and antagonized Mr.. Woods
motion with motion to 60 into commit.
tee on that bill.
MIR. Wood making no objection, Mr..
Bakers motion was agreed.
The House then went into Committee
of the Whole, Mr.. Converse in the
Chair on the Fertilization bill.
Mr.. Baker explained the provisions OF
the ill, stating that with a single ex.
cepti,n it was identical with that OF
last year. He said he preferred that the
incoming administration should perfect
comprehensive plan OF coast defense
Mr. Ehls, OF Louisiana, said the nited
States had H. 900 miles OF sea coast abso.
lutely and utterly defensaless. Any OF
the war vessels OF Austria, Brazil, Den
marx, England, France, Germany, Rus
sia, Spain or Turkey could ride safely
into New York harbor without being in
jur,d and levy on that city contribu.
tior one hundred thousand times as
great as the amount which the chlel OF
ordnance asked for making great guns to
defend the coast. When would the
time come for the consideration OF this
important question? A good defense
ami navy capable OF coping with
other nations Of the world
was the first and best ambassador
of peace Would the gentleman
from Indiana Baker, wait until some
man .of-war should levy a tribute at the
principal towns of the coast before he
would legislate on the subject?
The gentleman from Pennsylvania,
(Randall) has said that there would be
nc war. Who could tell? There was
speck of war between the great North.
era nations OF Europe. Poor Ireland
was also about to put on the board again
the scalpel Of the British policy. There
was a desolating war raging between
,he governments of South America and
Cuba was firing on tn. commerce
ut this country every two or three
months. lie hoped the incoming ad.
m nistraton would listen to no more
apologies, and would enter upon
policy which would teach
all nations, and particularly
Spain, that American commerce must
be secure and the American flag must be
respected wherever it floats. In conclu-
sion he referred TO the proposed con,
struction OF an inter oceanic canal and
the possible complications arising there
from rs additional reason Tor seacoast
defense.
The general debate closed soon after
and the bill was read for amendments.
Mr.. Johnston, under directions from
the Military Committee, offered an
amendment making the first section
read as follows:
"That $4,000 be appropriated for the
modification, protection, preservation
and repair OF the Notifications and other
works of defense, the same to be ex.
d ended under the direction OF the Sec
retary OF War at the most important ard
exposed harbors.'
Me-. Randall opposed the amendment.
He said that under Tie cover OF a fan
cied apprehension that this country WAS
likely 10 be engaged in 1 war with
foreign power, the House was asked to
find a justification for an increase OF ex-
penditures on one regular appropriation
bill. On this bill the House would
show what ought to be expected on all
other bills, and ii the Representatives
were not 10 pursue the policy that they
had promised the people they would
pursue, they failed TO come up to the
agreement they had made when they
had made when they sought reelection.
There was no danger from any source
OF a foreign war. He would rath rely
on the diplomacy. The gentleman
from Louisiana Ellis had told the
House that Spain had recently made
assault on an American ship. Why
8 lain had made full and ample apollo
gv therefore. The gentleman had also
referred 10 the construction OF the inter.
oceanic canal. Did he not know that
European tinanciers and the European
governments had refused to take any
step in reference to that canal unless it
had absolute commendation OF the
American government? Did he not
know that in reference to the war in
! South America that other governments
had sought the United States TO take
initiative steps for bringing about peace?
| The European governments IN this IN
stance had practically acknowledged the
Monroe doctrine, and instead OF un-
| dertaking 10 make peace themselves
they had come to the United States and
asked that the United States should be
arbitrator. lie maintained, in view OF
history, that the apprehensions hat
were attempted TO be raised here that
this country was TO have foreign war,
and that therefore appropriations should
be made which were not essential, and
which, ii the policy was continued
would cause large increase OF expend
lures, were not wise, and he appealed
to the House, without regard to party
for this was not party question. te
meet this attempt TO increase the apPro
priation on the threshhOld, and prevent
that policy being inaugurated as th'
| oncf,.d(d On Fourth Pale,