Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-19
MONEY FOR AN ARMY.
Con- ressmeD thoroughly 10 Earnest
About Supporting The President
One Thousand Guns for Field Artii-
Iery-Five Thousand Heavy Guns
for Fortiacations-One Hundred
Million Dollars I'm Bonds.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., December H.
Several senator's are thoroughly In earnest
about the Presidents message, and pro-
pose to back him up in the most SUD-
stantIal manner. There have been hume
rous conferences Of senators, ana there
appears to be somewhat pract.cai
unanimity that an appropriation should
be made speedily that would enable the
administration 10 equip an army, III IL
were necessary TO call one into the heid'
With this idea in view Mr.. Chandler TINS
morning introduced bill which provides
that the President be, and he Is hereby,
authorized and directed to strengthen the
military armament, by adding thereto
equipped for use, 100000 Infantry rifles
1000 guns for field artillery. and not ex-
ceeding 5000 heavy guns for fortincatiohs'
to be procured by manufacture In arse
nails or by contract Tor manufacture, OF
by direct purchase In this country or else
where. according TO the discretion OF the
President, VINO shall conform. when prac-
ticable. without unwise delay, TO the
methods prescribed for making contracts
and purchases by existing laws. Inc
sum Of 500, 10000 is appropriated to carry
into effect the provisions of this act.
Mr. Grout (Reput cam, of Vermont,
offered in the House bill of the same
purport as Mr. Chambers. 1t appro-
PIRATES 500, 100000. to be Immediately
available, for the construction of fortl-
locations and other works of defence on
the sea coasts and along the Canadian
frontier and for their armament with
heavy ordnance.
To provide the moneys for the execu-
ton of the act, the bill authorizes the
Issue and sale. at not less than par, for
coin, of SlO0OO0,000 in 2 per cent. bonds,
running from one to thirty years, at the
pleasure of the government, TO be Of
fered to the public in sums of $50. $50,
500. and multiples of 800, not exceeding
i loo: and they may be used in payment
of Treasury warrants to such persons as
may choose to receive them at par.
SOLDIERS OFFERED.
After the bill appropriating 10000 for
the expenses Of a Venezuelan boundary
commission had been passed in the House,
Mr.. Harrison DemocraD, of Alabama,
endeavored to have read a telegram from
a citizen Of Alabama. but Mr.. Dalzell, OF
Pennsylvania, objected. 1t was from a
resident of Mr.. Harrlson's district. offer
ing to raise and equip a military com
pany in the event that the United States
went to war.
"The bill introduced in the Senate to-
day." said Senator Chandler, was not
intended specially TO apply to our present
foreign complications We need a new
armament for the army. and are sadly In
need of small arms. Several years ago
we began the enlargement and improve
ment of our navy, and the work has been
going on steadily ever since. The navy
is popular. and our people take a COM
rendable pride IN II. But, on the other
hand. what are we TO do with our land
forces. We could mobilize a million men
in short order: the South would under
take the contract of pouring 10000 men
INTO Cuba. If need be. and we could within
a few days send 900 900 men into Canada
But these men would need modern small
arms. We can raise regiments fast
enough. but to properly arm them requires
time.
my bill contemplates the securing 81
100000 infantry rifles and such field ar
tlllery as Will be necessary to properly
equip an army. Whether we have any
trouble with Great Britain or not, we
should have these modern implements OF
war for emergency cases"