Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-26
NO FORTS FOR THE COAST
AfIS, TILDEN'S LETTER HAVING
LITTLE EFFECT.

The House Committee to Advocate Only
the Customary Amount for Defensive
struetures--Mr. FOrney Declares that
Good Guns ia the Greatest Present
Need-DAkota and Montana as Offsets.
., WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-Samuel j. I'll
den's letter urging the necessity OF appro-
priating large sums of money for coast
Notifications seems to have very little
weight with the House Committee on APP
propriations, which has the preparation
of the Notifications appropriation bill
Mr. Forney, of Alabama, of the sub-cOm-
mittee on fortifcations, said to-day that
he thought the committee would report
only the usual appropriations Of 100000
or $500, 900 for the maintenance and repair
ofthe Notifications instead of recommend
ing the appropriation Of $75,O0O,OOO or a
100000, 900 for new fortifcations as the
army engineers desire.
No NECESSITY FELT.
He is also quoted as saying that he
thought there was no necessity for large
appropriation. The country was IN no
danger. The moral force Of fifty million
people was strong defense. 1t was not
Il fortihcations we needed nOw-it was guns.
There was no use of a fort without ord
a nance. We could prevent any hostile
vessel or fleet from entering any OF our
rivers if we had guns that could sink
vessel at thousand yards. No fleet could
\. get up the Potomac to take " ashington.
III SHELLS FROM DISTANCE.
1.-THE only thing" he said, ''was that
they might stand outside the harbor and
shell New York or Boston or .Phlladel-
phia. But tie danger Of this" he
thought, ''was greatly exaggerated.
Shelling don't amount to anything" he
SAID. 81 was boy at the battle of Vera
Cruz. We poured shot and shell into the
city for three days. and when we took the
place, driving the MeXicans out, we could
not see that any damage had been done.
The Mexicans got frightened. Americans
would never have given up the city,
saw then that good deal of bombarding
might be done without much damage"
''DO you think we will get some new
guns" asked the NEWS correspondent.
"Undoubtedly. We must have guns.
We shall probably start on 10 and Pinch
guns, and then to get making l8-inch."
"Will there be a government gun found
ry established Nt WashingtOnP asked
the cores pOndent.
"Oh, yes, think so. We must have
some modern guns"
DAKOTA's CHANCES.
The plan to admit Dakota or half of it
as the State OF Dakota and Montana, with
the possible admission OF Washington
Territory at the same time, mentioned in
these dispatches some days ago, seems to
grow in favor with the leaders on both
sides OF both Houses. The Republican
? 1Ssuate could, OF course, pass the bill now
pending IN the Senate admitting south
Dakota, which would be a Republican
State; but the Democratic House would
not pass it. At the most the House would
only pass an enabling act, under which
Dakota would not be admitted before 1883
But II the Senate at the same time should
pass bill to admit Democratic Montana,
the House might pass both bills.
APPROVED BY HARRISON.
This plan has the approval OF Senator
Ben. Harrison, Chairman of the senate
Committee on Territories. About two
years ago Montana adopted a cOnsutu-
tion but it was not then presented to Con-
gress. Recently this constitution was
regularly for warded to Washington, aed
Senator VOrhees has introduced a bill
for the admission Of the State OF Montana
in accordance with that constitution.
Senator Harrison says that the Montana
c0nsttutiOn is all that is required and
that there need be no more delay in grant
ing admission to that Territory than IN
the case of Dakota. 1t is probable that
the Senate Committee on Territories will
report the Montana bill favorably at an
early day.
SHIPPING BILLS.
The House Committee on Shipping will
on Friday next consider the free shipping
} bill, introduced in the House by Mr..
Dunn, of Arkansas, q member o. the com
mittee. 1t is substantially the same as
the free shipping bill offered in former
Congresses by ''SHnset' Cox. The COM
mittee will report the bill fayOraDly to the
House, and Mr.. Dunn thinks the House
will pass it.
The Dingley bill, abolishing compulsory
pilotage, was to-day referred to sub
committee, who will give hearing TO
anyone interested who applies to be heard.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.
The Senate adopted this afternoon in
Executive session, on the motion OF Sena-
Tor Edmunds, a resolution asking the At
tOrDey-GeneTal 10 communicate TO the
senate all information in his possession
relating to the removal OF the United
states District Attorney for the Southern
District of Alabama, and the appoint
nent Of his successor. The resolution
was voted for by all the Republicans and
was not contested By the Democrats. IL
was regarded by both Republicans and
A Democrats as atiOrding test OF the 0pin-
IONS of the administration on the ques-
/ ton presented by 10. The AttOrnoy-Gen
| eral will, it is believed, reply that he
has no information touching the removal
1.-THE United States District Attorney for
tae Southern District OF Alabama. He
may be able IN furnish some Information
a 20 70 his successor
n THENIFOR THE PRESIDENT.
Then il is expected that the Senate will
PROFOUND to the President the same in-
quiry which II has prOpOunded TO the At
torney General. II the President does
not furnish them the information they de-
sire. they viii be just where they are now
u face 20 face with the simple nomination.
IL will be the part Of wisdom ipg them Gu
confirm IL, because its rejection would
II simply be followed by the nomination OF
another Democrat, aud they probably will
confirm II. But they viii then claim thai
II Ene Suspension and nomination were made
III In violation Of ciyil service reform.
II Meanwhile there Will be very few changes
All Ia the Offices.