Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-05-18
SD CONGRESS.
The Senate Considers the In
crease Of the Navy.
McPherson's Amendment to Change
Provisions of the Bill Lost.
New England Abandoned Farms mentioned in
the Debate in the House

WAsgisGteN. MAY i7.-In the Senate
the naval appropriation bill was taken up.
the pending question being the provision
for the increase of the navy. The House
bill provides for one armored cruiser of
about 5000 teas displacement to cost, ex-
elusive of armament, not less than s., 500
COZ The Senate anne ndment provides, in
addition. for one sea going coast line battle
ship OF about 91po tons displacement. To
cost not over 81 900 600 also for one
harbor defense double -turret ship, of the
monitor type. with displacement of about
900 tons, to cost not over 81 900 900; -four
light draugt gunboats and SIX torpedo
boats.
McPherson last Friday offered an amend
nent to strike out the House provision for
the, armored cruiser and the Senate pro
vision for ba:tleship; and TO provide for
three instead Of one barbor defense double
turret ships, monitor type, and modified the
amendment to contine il simply to striking
out that part. leaving the number of moni-
tors al one.
Villas made a recapitnation of the present
ships of the navy and suggested the ques-
ton neither those and the vessels under
construction did not present a sufficiently
strong naval force.
Hale reminded Villas that the naval forces
woull not give to the United States as high
a relative place among naval powers as it
held in 1850.
Villas thought il made no difference to the
nited States whether it occupied one place
or another among naval powers, as long As
it did not outstrip the best. If this country
is TO set out to compete for naval supremacy
with European nations England would have
to be the objective point. |, is hardly con
ceiyable that the II nited States would 90 to
war with any other European nation than
England.
Hale remarked that in order to have a
naval force sufficient 10 compete with Eng
land. it would only be necessary to be able
to cope with that small portion of her navy
that could be sent against this country.
When that polnt was reached, his Judgment
would he that the country was sufficiently
protected and that money enough had been
spent on the navy.
Villas said the idea that England is going
to war with the United States III this age of
civilization and good sense was simply pre-
posterou,.
Vest referred to Slierman's statement
some davs ago that the treasury is con
fronted with deficiency, and suggested
that the warning would have been much
more appropriate and of infinitely more
utility it given TO the last Congress. The
Senate knew the senator from Ohio had
not exaggerated the finangial condition of
the treasury and yet it now proposed To
settle upon the country a spectacular navy.
In bis judgment there was more necessity
for land defenscs and torpedo system
than for war ships.
You might Us WELL Hale broke in,
depend on poT guns. No European min
istry could hold office for an hour if ittold
the people that it depended upon torpedoes
for the protection of its great cities"
If you wanta naval war" said Vest
let Us construct Il navy and We will have
it,"
Allison. chairman of the committee on
appropriations, said the amendments
recommended by that committee increased
the House bill only about 500 900.
Cockrell / How about the pending amend
mcnt for new investments;
Alisun-Docs the senator understand
that We are appropriating in this hill for
those vessels:
Cockrell-Theu you do not consider that
when you put handouts ON the tax payer7
to pay for these vessels, You are making
any appropriation.
AlllSou-If the authorization to contract
for new vessels is an appropriation tn" hill
- it came from the House carried S5,5oo,
900 more than appeared in this discussion
and the river and harbor hill carries 500
200 900.
Vest remarked that the river and harhor
bill carried only So 600 900. Allison asked
the Democratic senators to indicatc what
statutes that would ike to repeal to reduce
the appropriation now necessary.
Vest replied he would repeal the sugar
bounty law and the postal subsidy law.
Allison calculated the amount thus saved
at about 5000 and said the country was
asked to elect q Democratic President and
Democratic Senate that the sugar bounty
and postal subsidy laws might be repealed.
The real expenditures for carrying On the
government that were paid out of the treas
urv amount to only about 500 900 600.
Instead of $500, 900 600 rs has been asserted,
The sinking fund stands 5000 900 ahead of
lS';2. when it was first provided for. |
discard the idea that we are to limit our
appropriations, to apply $40, 900 900 year
of the current revenue to the purchase of
bonds at premium of % per cent,
Cockrell-Are there moi S25 ,00o,hpo of
per cents ont. payable at par?
Allison-Yes: think the government
can very well afford to allow them TO re
main ont Does the senator want to tax
people to pay these s2J 600 900 of . pei
cent bonds?
Cockrell-Not nj all Reduce the cx-
penses and leave surplus enough to pay
them.
Alison-The present administration paid
every dollar of surplus money that coulC
be spared (and think too muCh), 80 thai
more than 900 900 900 interest bearing
debt has been paid since il came into power
At this time the sinking fund has s34 900
600 10 ts credit and the chances are thai
before the end of the fiscal year every dol
lar that ought To be applied to It for the yea
tor within few millions at least will b,
applied to it, When this fiscal year end
every requirement of the treasury has beer
satisfied. vet there will be s2j 900 900 sur
plus.
The discussion was continued by Mills
Hawley AMI Hiscock. Mills said the re
p'tt VI III" e''ft'iN VI 'ht hta'''F NV
not coincide with tllisons statement rs I,
the surplus. lIawIey said that none of on
war ships were ships that could 20 ont v
open sea for battle.
+ \ vote was taken on McPherson's amend
ment as modified, and it was rejected
yeas. Is; nays 30. Frye and Hale vote,
nay.
Morgan offered an amendment providin.
that if the harbor defense ship he built OF
the Pacific coast. an allow ance of three
per cent may h. made on its cost to thu
contractors, in addition to the contrsC
price, to cover the cost of transportation
of the material Agreed to without division
the question rccurred on the ameudmen
reported hy the committee on appropria
tions. Without coming to vote the Sen