Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-02
Closing Sessions Of the Fifty-Third
Congress.
Mr. GORMAN TALKING ECONOMY
Various Matters Considered in the
House.
WAR AND IT'S FEC T

today with the prospect of sitting con-
tipuously until Monday noon. There was
a rush of private bills, as this was the last
chance of many eager claimants.
Mr.. Call (Fla) presented the following
telegram from DR.. Moreno at Tampa, Fla:
1.-TWO American Enthusiastically and
Agufrre-have been incarcerated in Ha-
vana. Enter a protest and have the case
Investigated at once"
Mr.. Call asked that the committee on
foreign relations act promptly and COM
mrnicate with the State Department with
a view to American intervention.
The I'OrtiHcntiOn Bill.
Final action was taken confirming the
conference agreement on tho fortifcatons
appropriation bill, which has been con-
tested in conference for more than a
month. Mr.. German. in charge of the
naval appropriation bill, cut off the rush
of private bills by urging the need Of
speedy consideration of this, the last of
the appropriation bills His plea prevailed,
and the naval bill was taken up. The first
item caused a spirited debate. AS pro-
posed by the committee. the number of
extra seamen to be enlisted by the Secre-
tary of the Navy in times of emergency
was reduced from 1000 to l,OO0. Mr.. Lodge
(Mass) earnestly opposed the reduction.
He said that at such times as the Chilean
able to properly man our ships.
1t was remarkable that this Senate loaded
appropriation bills with millions for sugar
bounties and all manner of claims. and yet
sought to cripple the navy.
Mr.. Lodge and Mr.. Aldrich paid high
tribute to the present Secretary of the
Navy (AIr. HerberD.
MIR. German on the Naval Bill.
Mr.. German said this naval bill was one
of the most extraordinary measures that
had ever come to the Senate from the
House. Not only we're the full amounts of
the estimates followed. but at least three
items of the estimates We're exceeded by a
million. The Navy Department had esti-
mated its total expenses for the year at
S3o.952,OOO. The House had increased this
to s3l, GS6.0DO. including three battle ships.
So that 1t was the most exceptional bill
ever sent here The Senate committee had
thought it desirable to allow fair extern
sion OF the navy, as in the administration
of Secretary Whitney or Secretary Tracey
without going to excessive extensions. The
committee, therefore, reduced the bill S.
tlS6,0oO, also reducing the number of battle
ships from three to two. AS it now stood
the Dill made every proper extension, in
view of the emergencies Of the treasury.
Mr.. Hale (Ale) of the committee said
there was no purpose to cripple the navy
and the reductions had been the result Of
wise economy.
Mr.. Hunton (va.) urged the building up
Increase the number OF vessels and of sea-
men as provided by the House.
The debate took a wide range, and the
initial item served as a text for general
discussion of the new navy, and as a test
of the strength of the committee In car
rying out its plan of reduction.
Needs of Strong Navy.
MIR. Morgan (Ala) spoke of the needs of
a strong American navy. We could not,
he said. have great commerce with the
world unless We take care of it by a navy
worthy of the name. Nothing could be
done for our foreign commerce that would
yield such rich results as the establish
ment of strong navy.
Mr.. Hill (NYD spoke from carefully pre-
pared manuscript on the needs of an
American navy. He differed. he said, from
the distinguished naval authority, Mahan
great seagoing navy. Mr.. Hill reviewed
the achievements of the United States,
showing that many of them were at a
time when the United States had no sea-
going navy. They were achievements of
diplomacy unaided by physical force. Mr.
Hill deplored the policy of turning from
law books and reason to cannon balls and
force"
He urged that alongside of the plan for
Strengthening the seagoing power should
be policy of strengthening our State De-
Parthlent, making strong and permanent
corps of diplomatic officers.
world increased or decreased according to
the naval strength of a nation. 1t was
this that gave Great Britain her prestige
and was now bringing Japan rapidly to the
front as great power. Commercial SUI
premacy could not be maintained without
a navy The United States did not seek
foreign complications. but If they came as
result of our spreading commerce we
this readiness was the surest guaranty
against conflict and bloodshed If there
was to be any navy. it should be ade-
quate one. AS yet our navy did not rank
above those of second or third rate powers
If there was to be parsimony the American
people did not want it directed against the
navy.
Mr.. Chandler N.H). formerly Secretary
OF the Navy urged that the most practical
means of permanently building up the navy
was in judicious economy on the lesser
items
The Most Expensive Congress-.
Mr.. German gave in detail the number
of new ships to be fioated in the near fu-
ture. and said the most ample provision
had been made for them. With great ear
nestEess he added:
But it is time for Senators to consider
the vast sums they have appropriated
within certain days. Senators should know
that If these sums remain in the bills, this
Congress will be the most expensive that
ever assembled since the adoption of the
Constitution You will have appropriated
$50, 9OOOO-a greater sum than was ever
before appropriated. You have done it in
the face of a depleted treasury"
The committee amendment, reducing the
number of emergency seamen to 1000 was
then adopted-S1 to %.
The Agricultural Bill.
Final action was taken confirming the
conference agreement on the agricultural
appropriation bill.
THE HOUSE.
A drizzling rain was falling outside and
the flags on the Capitol tapped Imply
against their poles when the House entered
upon the last legislative day of the Fifty
third Congress. Tomorrow Sunday is a
dies non in legislation, and when Speaker
Crisp's gavel dropped at noon there was
the prospect Of a forty-eight hours session
ahead. Fully two hundred members were
on the floor.
Senate Bills and Resolutfons.
About twenty-five Senate bills and resolu-
lions were laid before the House and most