The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-04
COAST DEFHNsEs.
The Senate Committee Found Itself
Between Two Fires.

WASHINGTON, Feb. SIN the Senate this
morning among the petitions and memorials
presented and referred was one from the
banks Of New Orleans. depreoating any
further discussion Of the free coinage
scheme.
The House bill to amend sections 47SS and
54S6 of the Revised Statutes, providing pen
alties for the embezzlement Of pensions by
the guardian of pensioner. was reporte
back from the Judiciary committee and
passed.
GARNET VACANCIES.
The House bill TO amend section $50 of the
Revised Statutes in reference to temporary
designations TO fill vacancies in case Of
the death, sickness or absence of the head of
a department., was reported back with q
substitute. The substitute amends three
sections of the Revised Statutes on that
subject and limits to thirty days the period
Of such designation, except where the duties
are exercised by an assistant secretary, in
which case there is no limitation. The dis
cussion showed the prevailing sentiment to
be in favor Of the House bill, so the subssi-
tute was rejected and the House bill was
passed.
THE FoRTIFICATIoN BILL.
Consideration Of the fortihcation bill was
then resumed. The first clause that attract
ed notice was one appropriatlng 81 900, 900
for the purchase Of oil-tempered and an
nealed steel for high-power coast defense
guns of eight, ten and twelvs-inch caliber.
The committee on appropriations recon-
mended a reduction of the amount to
$500, 900; and Mr.. German moved still
further reduction to $3.50, 900, and made a
statement to show that the amount should
be reduced.
BETWEEN TWO FIRES.
Mr.. Dawes opposed Mr.. Gorman's
amendment and advocated that Of the COM
mituee on appropriations. Referring to
Mr.. Hawley's speech Of yesterday as to the
absolute necessity of coast defsnses, he said
that the committee on appropriations was
in harmony with it, to the utmost limit of
prudence. But the committee found itself
standing between the devil and
the deep sea-" On one hand it found itself
confronted by the sentiment proclaimed by
the senator from Missouri (Mr. Cockrell)
that there was no necessity for any
Notifications whatever and that nobody
would approach the Uuited States in
hostile attitude, however exposed the
coast may be; and allied with
that senator was his distinguished
friend from New Hampshire (Mr. Blair
who proposed to turn the fortifcation bill
into missionary enterprise in Africa. On
the other hand was the proposition of the
senator from Oregon (Mr. Dolph) to appro-
PIRATE at once $l21, ,000, 900 to be expended
over several years for coast Notifications.
THE COMMITTEES CONCLUSION.
While the committee did not come to the
same conclusion as the senator from Mis-
souri, that nothing should be done, it did
not believe in the policy of the proposition
of the senator from Oregon. The committee
deemed it wiser TO make the necessary ap-
preparations year by year.
After another long debate upon much the
same lines as that Of yesterday, and partici
pated in by the same senators, Messrs
Dolph, Hawlsy, Allen and Blair, Mr.. Cor
mans amendment was rejected.
Then the discussion upon the general SUBJ
ject Of coast defense was continued by
Messrs. Plumb, Higgins, Chandler. Reagan
and Dawes. The discussion having a,
length closed, the committee amendment
reducing the appropriation for oil
tempered steel from 81 900 600 to $500. .00C
was agreed to-yeas 80. nays Z, Messrs.
Chandler, Cullom. Dolph, Frye, Hawley,
Stewart and Teller voting nay.
BREECH-LoADING MoRTARs.
The next amendment reported by the
committee on appropriations, was to in
Sert the following paragraph: "For
Dreecn-IOaQlnR sea coast mortars, cast Iron,
hooped with steel, Of twelve-inch caliber
S400, 900; provided that contracts may be
made for not more than one half Of the
mortars herein provided for to be con-
struoted on the Poetic coast. in the discre~
tion of the Secretary of War"
Mr.. Chandler moved to amend the para
graph 80 as to make it read: "For breech.
loading rified steel mortars OF twelve-inct
caliber," etc. The amendment was dis
cusssd at much length, but ne action was
reached.
Mir. Morgan gave notice that on Friday
morning he would ask to take up the bill tc
amend the act incorporating the Nicaragua
Maritime Canal Company and would sub
NIT some remarks upon 1t.
The Senate concurred in the House
amendment to the Senate bill for public
building at st. Paul, Mimi, reducing the
amount from 81 SOC, 900 to $500, 900. The
bill now goes TO the President.
The military academy appropriation bill
was reported and Mr.. Allison said that hs
he would ask the Senate tomorrow TO take
it up and pass it.
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