New-York tribune., 1891-02-05
sEd.COAST DEFENCES IN THE SENATE.

| SEi-COASI DEFENCL 10 ~ mn p'-'' ''>'
Ii does seem as Senator llawley remarked
the other day, an extraordinary thing thaI
several days of every Congressional session
mu>t be spent in each House arguing the
simple propositions that wars are not ended,
that humanity is still selfish and peryclSe, ana
that 70 be sure of getting and keeping one 5
rirhts il is essential 10 be able to defend them.
IT. docs seem as if these facts ought TO be
patent to everybody, and especially to the
students of history and affairs whom we send
TO Congress. And yet bill is never presented
in either the House or the Senate to add to the
Navy or to put our naked coasts in dcfenSibic
condition without the consumption of hours ana
often days by Representatives and Sena'orS
from the interior CT the country iii argument
seeking to prove that nobody is going to offend
us. and that we shall never fire another angry
cun. When The CockqellS and The llolmanS,
who can spare millions for anything in their
own little districts but not one cent for the
integrity and safety of the coasts, have talked
themselves tired in this strain, we finally get
down u legislation
Investigation after investigation by Senate
committees, by House committees ana by
boards of experts in this and that branch OF
engineering and ordnance has inquired, during
the last six years, into the condition oi the
coasts and the beSt methods OF fortiicahon
If we don't know now what ought 10 be done
and how we should proceed in doing it, we
never shall know. The late report OF the
Board on FOrtiticltionS and Other De1cnccS
named 12I places on the Scaboard ana along
tho Gulf ard the Great Lakes where anna
mcnts or Instructions of some kind should be
fixed. The most important Of these places are
New-York. Boston, san Francisco, Hampton
Roads. Washington City and PUGET Sound. II
is conceded by every one whose opinion is
worth regarding that these cities and harbor'
should be put in proper condition immediately
The people without a di-cOrdInt voice, are
anxious 10 see the work 90 forward. Bu' Con-
greSs. perfectly aware OF these circumstances j.
debating the general subject Of whether any
body will ever be good enough or bad enough
to fight us. and from it's trcSome debates Moth
ing more useful can be drawn than small
grant for experimental purpoScs-Olen in OBJ
soc,e guns and juiube paste explosives.
There is no economy nor wisdom in this. on
course we should proceed with dclbcralon
and care but neither OF those virtues nor any
other i, TO be found in proposition To waste
the public funds building caSt-ilOn moltliN
against all recent experience here and abroad
and in he face Of the protests OF Cen
eral Bcnct and Colonel Abbott. The appro-
priatiOn as j. stands is small and not a penny
Of it should g. where it will not be req
sonably sure to produce the best results accord
ing to the opinions OF our qualified experts.
In the character Of the works undertaken. II
not in their extent the counsel Of our GlSin-
tcrcsted and able officers should be conclusive.
especially when it is supported by experience.
The country i, now in a position by reason Of
ell-madc investments in the machinery ncc"s-
sary for building hr~t-clas, ordrancc, 10 pro
coed rapidly in its duty 10 the selbOard cities.
II will find its cheapest aS we'll aS It's safest
plan in appropriations sufficiently large t. in
sure the continuous prosecution OF the work
at as fast a rate aS i, consistent with thorough
ness.