New-York tribune., 1886-05-14
DEFENCELESS AMERICAN COASTS.
PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH POLICY
MR.. RANDALLs INACTIoN--wIsE MEASURES DE-
YEAIEn nEMnCRAIIC OpRnsIIION.

| MIR. RANDALL's INACTION--wIsE MEASURES DE-
FEATED by DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION.
WASHINGTON, May 13 (Special.) )-Notwith-
standing tho largo amount OF valuable Information
officially laid before Congress the question OF pro
ydiDg adeq OF defence In case OF war; there
seems TO be little probability of accomplishing anything
in tn. way OF legislation 10 that end. Mr.. RandalTs
comm 'ssion Ordnance and GDnnery took some I'M
portant testimony showing the necessity OF making an
appropriation provide the plant to manufacture guns
and armor It will take two or three years 10 get inc
plant in condition TO begin the manufacture OF heavy
steel guns and armor; but Mr. Randall made no recom-
meudaton on the subject and seemed only to take Trde
I'm re Ioriing that the commission expended only So70
and turned 020 into the Treasury THO movement III
the House wBrd providing means or defenre chdcd
apparently with Randall wien he was able to save
few thousand dollars on tic expense OF his committee
though the Honse has already wasted many times as
uch In useless expenses OF other committees Mr.
Randall IL chairman OF the committee which has OK
elusive charge OF reporting fortHcatons BILL lie has
not reported any bill yet, and IT Il un errood Goes not
intend report further than to provide fo tho care
OF tho useless Notifications now In existence lle
heaviest granite wall in these fortbcatons Is eight fee
thick while English vessels carry guns which thiow
projectlle through twenty five feet OF granite ana
cement and through seventy five ct OF earth Ihere Is
rifed steel gun In any Of the fortcations OF lhs
country and there is plant here to manufacture he
All modern fleets carry these guns The heaviest OF
these steel guns throw pIOjecte fifteen miles, thus
fleet could anchor of Con~y Island and destroy New
York City, which has property valued at $2OOOooOOoO'
In "A report made by the House Naval COMMITTEES IL
says there is not to 1n or city along the whoie
coast this country from which tribute could not DC
exaced by such a Power as Brazil or GIN. Inc
committee unanimously reportei The Nation Is
absolutely heples, against an invasion from the sea- so
helpless that your committee would hesitate To puoiish
the fact to the it not already else
better known than to the people OF America" The
OF the Fertilization Board the Gun Foundry
Buard Select Committee OF the senate and ordnance
aud War Ships and other official bodies also before
Mr.. Randalls committee conveying Ike Information,
but it refuses to do Bything on the subject.
Not only is this tho but evory other movement
toward defence meets with like treatment The organ.
ization the infantry branch OF .he Army admitted
by every soldier in both houses to oe OF an obsolete
character. All European armies abandoned long ago
this system OF organize But every move toward
change though involving tlc or no additional expense,
meets with Democratic OBJ oSltlon ID both hDuSe For
several years 100000 nas been Annually appr0,
pUa;rd for tue manufacture OF arms at te spiigned
ArdOry The cost to the Government OI man acturihe
the srrine6e rifle has been l2 each. OF the
sum appropriated 6i per has been expended Tor
labor. In the Army Appropriation Dill no" Deoio Tue
House the appropriation this purpose has been cut
down one fourth, which will cause tie discharge OF
skilled worSmen Employed for many years AT tn" prnx
field Armory and cripple that institution Ia looo. when
the population OF tie country was only eOVOoOo, an
annual approI ration Of 100000 WAS nade Tor provh-
lug arms and equipments Tor the iili VOW .n'u @ tno
population is seven times as great the APPROXIMATION ior
that IurpOse tue Recommendations
h, been made by the President ana TIE % retafy oI
War TO enlarge thus sum- and tue Chef or ordnance mas
forcbly urged ~ To provide proper arms
euupnents the dlcr III states ana lertitolles
the militia about all tue country has 10 rely upon
as a means OF defence and a. TINS money would De
distributed tho SOillh. III
th, would Induce tue House 10 take some action on
this matter IL the veterans OF lhe late war are III
ic militia. The OF tue 50 diers mustered out
of the would be iOItH- at Tie present.
time according TO the Chief OF Ornance-an age about
the maximum required for the militia IL thus appears
that the last remnant of that Grad Army VIII soon nave
haNn fhA n Att
simple and plain. Many states have no militia force 10
speak OF because unahl- or unwilling 10 eNpend the
money necessary for equipment fsecosnIing tneee
recommendations of the heads OF
the Government Senator Sewell, early III thr sessiuh,
intro Iuced "A bill in which passed tnat body
ncrea sing the approI riaOn for the militia 10 SbooOOo
When the lii reached the lIolse, the committee 10
which ref,rred agreed 10 cut down the appropra-
ton Ou-th and that the last that has been heatd
the subject 1t is doubtful II 1t receives any consider
ailOn y the House. ,.
Tie Hill to increase the Naval establishment though
unanIuo reported from the committee, j. also IN
danger OF failure through Demo( ratio opposition on
March g. 1883, Congress made an Appropriation Tor
constructing two cruisers and two gunbOats. Under
Democratic Administration work has not yet DeSun
on tnese II is doubtful II anything VIII be done
until about election tme when the same IheDolnenal
activity witnessed in the Navy Yards Just before
the will obably be repeated TO be followed
by another large reduction of force after the DaOs are
counted. This kind OF indifference about everything
relating the NaioDa defence is carried into the ques
The Democrats have nothing 10 propose themselves,
they are to defrat everything offered by RepuO
it Ia not outlook that can be regarded Win
satisfaction by any true patriot