The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-03

on methodlcally. and money also should be
available for buying additional sites, boz
cause tho prices OF land are forced up whom
the Government wishes to purchase and
delay occurs. Yet the armament is, after
all, more important. and accordingly the
current bill Is mostly based on Gen. FLAG
LER's recommendations, while Gen. CAsBY's
mostly drop out.
Gen. FIAaLER's estimates assume, first.
that the country has expressed It's de-
sire. through Congress and the press. that
the coasts shall be defended promptly and
adequately; and. secondly. that existing ia
cilities for providing the armament should
BIO us~d to their fullest capacity. Both
these propositions are sound. Accordingly.
the first item Of his estimates called for
$22s.00 as the sum required to keep the
Watervliet gun factory fully occupied DUR
ing the twelve months from July /, 1898, TO
July 1, 1894. upon forgipgs that would be
ready for 1t. He testified that any reduce
ton In that work meant that some machines
would stand Idle and some men would be
discharged. The calculation was q simple
one: and yet the committee, greatly desir-
ing reduction, put Into their bill for this
item the sum OF $4,000. To their credit 1t
must be said that they did not dispute the
estimates Of Gen. FLAaLER. but declared in
their report that 1.-The proposed appropri-
alton will suffice to keen the factory so en-
ployed until about the first OF April. 1894"
In other words, u bill intended to cover
twelve months Of work makes a saving by
providing for only nine months.
Reductions have beer made in the estl-
mates for new forgings from 81. 1870. 900 to
5000. 900; In carriages for guns and mortars
from 81. 1885,. 900 to $500. 900; in certain pay
ments due under the last Notifications bill
from 81. OO6. OO6 to $500. 900. Even in the two
former items. which call for $500. 900 In all,
the actual expenditure OF only $500, 900
during the year is authorized. Still, there
Ia a certain method in these reductions,
since the sum for outstanding contracts
will. it is said. "cover the expenditures due
after March or April, 1894" while the pro-
viding Of additional forgings and Of car
riages is evidently left to some Congress
less distressed about the probable aspect OF
it's balance sheet. An estimate of $500, 900 for
new Pinch steel mortars Is passed over
entirely. on the same principle. as also are
items a~ggregating $780, 900 for ten 5-inch
siege rifles. ten Finch siege howitzers. and
WI ANVIL AoSo AhoA al ViOh tlVLl CdI-
riages. The rifles and howitzers we're in
tended mainly for artillery instruction. but
can wait.
1t is fair to say that there has been an
obvious consideration Of Gen. FLAaLER's
views In the action Of the committee. and
perhaps the chief criticism to be made on
its bill is that Of yielding too much to the
pressure for retrenchment. Assuming that
tho measure will pass the House substan-
TALLY as reported. possibly the Senate may
suggest a little greater iberality in certain
directions which the House may be able to
concur In. After the experience OF some
former years. it is perhaps a matter Of con-
graduation that the present measure has
not suffered still more. under the call for
frugality. But the fact should always be
kept in mind that adequate provision for
the public defence is always the truest
economy.