The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-14
OPPOSED TO PARsIMONY.

Senator German Makes Notable Speech,
Considering He Is u Democrat.
WASHINGTON. May 13.-The proceedings
of the Senate to-day were marked by rota-
bic speech by MIR. German on the proposed
amendments to the enaval-appropriatio bill
for the continuance of the work of recon-
structIng the navy. When consideration of
the naval bill was resumed to-day, Mr.
Mcpherson, from the naval committee, Of
ferred an amendmenu to the Senate amend
ment providing for three harbord efense
d0uble-turret ships of the monitor type, in
stead of one ship. After long discussion
Mr.. Mcpherson modified his amendment SO
as to strike out the House provision for one
armored cruiser and the Senate provision
for one sea- going coast-line battle ship, and
for one harbor-de fense double-turret ship
of the monitor type, and to substitute
therefor q provision for three harbor-de-
fense double-turret ships of the monitor
type.
Mr.. German spoke of the great advance
made in recent years in establishing steel
ship building plants in this country. SO
that now, he said, great steel war vessels
could be built here tor within per cent. OF
the cost of building them on the Clyde.
That progress had been made under the
policy of buildin up new navy lnaugu-
rated under tho last administration. lie
was. therefore, prepared to vote for pro-
portionate increase of the navy under tho
present or next administration. Since tho
Induction of Mr.. Whitney into the office OF
there has not been breath of suspicion as
to the economical and wise ex-
penditure Of every dollar placed I'M
der the control of these two ADMINISTERS,
tons He knew that the financial
being criticised In the public pross and
elsewhere abOnt the money expended. and
he thought it could be demonstrated that
the expenditures OF the government exceed,
cd the revenues. The point had been reached
when the expenditures would exceed the
revenues by S2O.0O0.000 or S25. .000, 900 An
expenditure of $500. .000. coo year was i'm
mense. and yet that sum would be less than
the amount that would be appropriated at
this session. These expenditures had grown
from year to year, and now economy and
careio, appropriation would have to be the
order of the day. If not, an increase of
taxation would have to follow.
The pension system had been swollen be-
yond the dream of any man in Congress.
It was there. 1t was fixed. He knew of no
way by which it could be now reduced. So
1t Was with other expenses 81 tho govern
mint He know that there Ind been great
expectations that there would be decrease
of from $50 600 600 to $l00 0OO 900 at this ses-
sion. But the answer, and perfect ans
wer, to that was that the laws now on the
statute books made this large expenditure
absolutely necessary If the great works OF
the government were not stopped. and the
| steel industries of the country paralyZed.
| He. Tor one. was not prepared. now. or at
any time until the country should have
navy to be proud of, to let the cry OF econ
omy prevent him from voting for proper
| appropriation for it,
MIR. Mcpherson intimated that if Mr.. Cor
fan nj nf
appropriation might bo struck from the
| pending bill and ten millions more from
| the river and harbor appropriation bill.
MR.. HALE MAKES A POINT.
Mr.. Hale-Where does the river and
harbor bill come from but from the House
| that was elected. pledged to ecOnomys
Mr.. German presented q table showing
the figures of appropriations for several
Congresses and said: There has been on
| increase every year. no matter what ad-
| ministration has been IN power And, as
the country grows and you 60 on with the
| construction of your navy, and open the
great guns for the army and navy these
| expenditures must increase. The Senator
| from Mississippi MIR. GeorgeI. asks how
| can they be reduced. They can be re-
| duced when wayeach the point. which will
be within ear or two. of stopping
further construction of the navy. When
| you have OH hands guns enough to place in
| the forts, when you have enough torpedo
boats to look after your harbors. aud when
| you stop your appropriations for rivers
| and harbors. When you come to the pen
| siOns. the expenditures for them-out-
raRe0us 90 1t was to increase pensions to
such en- extent-must continue until time
operates to reduce them. Both sides of
| the chamber must face these stubborn
| facts.
''The Senator from Texas [Mr. Millsl has
| reminded me that the treasury would be
without money to-day but for the fact that
| it has taken the money set aside for the re-
| demption of national bank EOtes and for
| the sinking fund. AS the surpius is a
| thing of the past how can the matter be
| bettereds There is not O Democrat. and,
hope, but few Republicans. who do not
| know that 1t can be bettered when the
| Democratic party comes into power and
| remodels the revenue laws. But this can
not be done now. 1t can be done only by
telling the people the truth. We are pow.
| erless now. in this Congress. TO give relief
| from eXtravRgant appropriations or from
| unjust tax laws. That relief can come
/ only when when we shall have every
branch of the government. As anxious as
am for economy and as firmly as my party
| believes In ecOr)my. do not understand
| it's history if supposed that it would be
| an obstacle, q do-nothing. or " ould paralyZ Ze
| the government by striking 1t at vital
| points. understand my party to mean by
| economy and retrenchment that it Is In
| favor of every proposition that looks 10 tho
development and glory of this great coun-
| try"
Mr.. Villas asked the number of ships now
under contract Tor construction, what was
! the estimated cost of the vessels under con-
| structIon, and how much remained to be
| appropriated.
| Mr.. Hale replied that the nmount re-
| Ouired would be about S59.000.000.
| Mr.. Villas asked If 1t were correct that
after the vessels should have been COM
! pleted which were now under contract. We
should have thirty-nine war vessels. some
] of them of very fine character and most Of
, them of modern construction.
| Nr. Hale-Yes; we shall have q littl6
| more than that.
Mr.. ViIas-There is no immediate war
anticipateds