Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-04
NATIONS CAPITAL.
Coast Defense Discussed In The
Senate.
House Blu On hllils Vlealess Given
PaSsa6a.
sundry Civil Appropriation Btu tos
434. $40 reported to Commit
tee OF Whole.

WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-The House bill
to amend section 1870 OF the Revised Sat,
ute Gin reference to the temporary disigna.
tons to fill vacancies caused by death,
sickness or absence Of heads Of depart
ments) was reported back with substitute
The substitute amends three sections Of
the Revised Statutes on that subject and
limits to 80 days the period Of such desig.
nation. except where duties are exersiset
by the assistant secretary, in which case
there is no limitation. Hale preferred the
simple bills Of three lines passed by the
ported back from the finance committee.
Evaits. said he had made a careful ex.
animation Of the clsusss in the statute and
on relating to the subject he had come to
the conclusion. without regard to the House
bill, which he had not seen, that all that
was necessary Was to enlarge the period
within which temporary authority might be
exercised. That had been, he understood.
provided for by the House bill which
simply substituted 80 for ten days.
Edmunds thought it important, while
Congress was legislating on the subject. il
should epdeavor to make the law perfectly
clear.
1t has been doubted In the Attorney
Generals office, and in other departments,
whether the assistant secretary (the Presi-
dent not interfering at alD could exercise
the functions Of secretary for more than 10
days. Sometimes he held he could, some.
times he could not, A substitute was pro-
posed to settle thst question 60 that the ~.
sistsnt secretary in dischsrging the duties
of secretary without epecial designation,
but by force of law might continue to do
90 indefinitely.
Further discussion showed . prevailing
sentiment in favor Of the House bill. Sub
situte was re elected aud House bill passed.
Consideration Of the forttication bill was re.
The frat item that attached potice
was one appropriating one million dollars
for the purchase Of oil-tempered and an
nealed steel for high power coast defence
guns Of S, 10 and IL inch calibre. Com
mittee on appropriations recommended
of the amount to $500, 900. and
German moved still further reduction to
$3.50 900.
Dawes advocated committee on appro-
priatlons anne adment. Blair said . mics
ionsry was of greater force than q warrior
and had accomplished more good in the
world. He desired that the coasts be put
in a condition of defence. But he believed
if 9 system of international arbitration
should be established, thus war would be
pu. an end to.
He said il ever the United States was
seriously attacked it would be by land in.
vasion even supposing the city of New
York was bombarded and substantially
destroyed lin supposaole suppositionl
that would be but flea bite on
The resources Of the country, and would
only serve t, stimulate the war feelings of
The United States. II would create such
rage that armies Of invasion would be
arms until the insult and injury be thor
oughly satisfied. 1t the United States
ever invaded it would be by land line.
Canada. he believed, would be great basis
in warlike operations against the United
States; therefore Canada ought to be
secured, and made part of the American
Union. The northern liue Of the United
States ongbt to be pushed back to the
North Pole, then it would be fortified by
seas and icebergs.
Hawley expressed astonishment that the
senators would make such extraordinary
and would differ so totally from
men who has given their lives to study ali
that business. Nobody who studied the art
OF warfare would agree with the senator
from New Hampshire, when he said that
the destruction OF the city Of New York
would be mere flea bite as compared with
toe power and wealth of the whole country.
New York vast the carotid artery Of the coun-
try of commerce and its finances To blockade
New York by foreign fleet would be felt iu
Wars, uowadsys, are BRIEF, short, sharp
and decisive; their aim was to make the
conquered party pay the bill-s terribly
expensive and terribly destructive way.
There was within the range Of long guns
in eight haibo along the coast (including
New York and Boston . grand tosai Of four
and half billions OF dessructible property,
without any adequate security sgainst the
viclsstudes OF war. IhAt was very large
traction Of the total wea'h OF the coansry.
No power was going to venture on land
INVASION OF the uni1ed STATES. lie object
ed to the amendment recommended by the
committee on appropriations, reducing the
appropriation for tempered steel from
81 ,OoOOO to ssoo,ooO, more sfiii to the
amendment onered ny Gorman, reducing
1t $3.50, 600.
Blair imagined the possibility OF China
with 400 ,0O0, 600 peop'e) allying herself
with Great Britain and using Canada ss
dumping ground ana as bass OF was
operations. He referred to Gen. Beale as
one military man who did not deride the
idea OF land Invasion, but who did derids
the idea OF great armored ships crossing
the ocean to lombard New York, aod
opposing to them such mud works as II Is
proposed TO erect; and who held that " hst
,peoo .y,N'
Plumb did not believe any man now liv'
ing would hear hostile shot hrei IN the
American republic, san 1t was exceedingly
important thh congress should 90 on pro