The morning call., 1891-01-12
FOR COAST DEFENSE.
The Proposed Gun Plant at
BeniCia.
Why the Prospects Of an Appropriation Ire
Doubtful.
Tne Silver SiluatlOl-SpeCulatiOl REGARDING
the Fate of the Free Coinage
Bill.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-Secretary Proc
tor. Malor-General Schofeld and General
Benet appeared before the Senate Com
mlttee on Appropriations yesterday and
submitted strong arguments in favor of the
establishment of gun foundry on the Pa
chic Coast They expressed the opinion
that the Government should build its own
guns In its own factories and not depend
upon private enterprise for the steel forg-
lngs. They said that the completion of the
Watervliet arsenal and the establishment of
another on the Pacific Coast was to us very
important. 1t is not probable that an ap-
preparation can be secured for this purpose
during this session of Congress. One reason
Is because the board appointed TO examine
INTO the facilities for producing steel forgngs
was dllatory in submitting its report. The
report recommending Benicia was handed
IN Just one day after the Military Fortifca-
tons Bill passed the House. If it had been
filed several days sooner an appropriation
might possibly have been passed sufficient
to begin work at Benicia. The appropria-
tion might be secured in the Senate, where
the Miiitry Fertilization Appropriation Bill
Is now pending but Messrs. Morrow
and Mckenua say that the Senate
Appropriations Committee will not appr0-
pirate money TO establish a foundry at
Benicia or anywhere else until the facilities
Tor producing steel forgngs are matter be-
yond doubt The Commission in its report
recommending an appropriation for the
works at Benicia promised to submit re-
port on steel forging soon, but they seem to
be taking their time. 1t is asserted that a
powerful lobby is at work here in the inter
est Of private manufacturers, who are seek
Ing to obtain private contracts for the man
ufacture of guns of sufficient amount to
warrant them putting in the very expensive
plant required, which would probably cost
million or more dollars. 1t is charged
that they are doing their utmost to disCour-
age the Government from its purpose of es-
tabiishing a Government foundry ON the
Parific Coast The California Associated
Press correspondent is not prepared to con-
ilrm these charges, but 1t must he confessed
that affairs in this connection look very
suspicious. Why did the Commission delay
its first report so long? Why was it sent in
just day after the Military Appropriation
Bill passed the House? Why does the com
mission not dle its report on the facilities
for producing steel forgings so that the Sen
ate can take action?
VANDEyERs IRRIGATION BILL.
4 California Associated Press correspond
ent learns that although the Irrigation Com
mIttee has agreed TO report ' andever'S 1rri-
cation Bill, the prospects fo' its passing are
very slim. In the first place, owing to the
many important measures now pending be-
fore Congress, it would be difficult if not
impossible to have day set for It's consid-
Grafton by the Committee on Rules, which
is composed mostly of Eastern men, who
care nothing for our all-absOrbing question
of the irrigation of arid lands. Then again,
if it came up in the House the Committt e
on Public Lands would antagonize it in the
belief that under its provisions it should
more properly come under its own jurisdic-
ton rather than under that of the Irrigation
Committee, but even if it passed the House
it COULD never pass the Senate. Senator
Stewart. Chairman of the Senate Committee
on Arid Lands, believes that it was designed
wholly in the interest of Powell of the Geo.
logical Survey. The old fight between Sena-
tor Stewart and Powell would be renewed
and it would be impossible to secure any ir-
rigation legislation. If the Republican Con-
gresS fails to look after its constituency in
the arid land region, what can be expected
Of Democratic Congress? The only repre-
Sentatives of the arid land region in the
lower House of the next Congress, who will
have any influence with the Democrats
will be Dixon of Montana ana Marcus Smith
of Arizona. The outlook is certainly not
encouraging.