Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-19
OPINIONS OA THE MESSAGE It Is Thoroughly IndorSed on
 All Sides WITHOUT AN EXCEPTION The Sun, Nashville's New Paper, Ridicues
 the Idea of War.
OUTHERNERs ARE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC
Senators and Congressman Propose to Back Up the President in the Most Sub stantial Manner-Are Ready to
 Appropriate Money.

Washington, Dec. 1S.-Several senators are thoroughly in earnest about the pres idents message, and propose to back him up in the most substantial manner There have been numerous conferences of senators and there appears to be some what practical unanimity that an appro- priation should be speedily made that would enable the administration to equip an army if 1t were necessary to. call one into the field.
 With this idea in view, Chandler this morning introduced a bill which provides that the president be and he Is hereby authorized and directed to strengthen the military armament by adding there to. equipped for use, 1,000,000 infantry rifles, 1000 guns for field artillery and not exceeding 5000 heavy guns for fortifica- tions to be procured by manufacture In arsenals or by contract for manufacture, by direct purchase, in this country or elsewhere, according to the discretion or the president who shall conform, when practicable, without unwise delay. to the methods prescribed for making contracts and purchases by existing laws.
 The sum of $100,000,0O0 is appropriated to carry into effect the provisions of this act.
 The bill was referred to the committee on military affairs.
 Mir Grout, republican, of Vermont, of- fered in the house a bill of the same pur- port as MT. Chandler's. It appropriates $1O0 000 000 to be available Immediately, for the construction of fortihcatlons ana other works of defense on the sea coasts and along the Canadian frontier, and for their armament with heavy ordnance.
 To provide the moneys for the execu- tion of this act, the bill authorizes the is- sue and sale, at not less than par for coin, of $10O,000,000 in per cent bonds, running from one to thirty years at the pleasure of the governmet, to be offered to the public in sums of $20, $50 and $1OO and multiples of $100, not exceeding 5000. And they may be used in the pay ment of treasury warrants to such per sons as may choose to receive them at par. ..ooooo
 After the bill appropriating $100,0O0 for the expenses of a Venezuelan boundary commission had been passed in the house today, MT. Harrison, democrat, Of Ala bama. endeavored to have read a tele- gram from citizen or Alabama, put NIT. Dalzell, republican, of Pennsylvania, ob- jected It was from resident Of MT. liar rison's district offering to raise and equip A regiment in case the United states went to war with Great Britain.
 "The bill introduced in the senate to- day." said Senator Chandler tonight, twas not Intended especially 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 ana improvement of our navy. and the work has been going on steadily ever since. The navy is popular and our people take a commendable pride in 1t. But, on the other hand, what are we to do with our land forces? We could mobilize 100000 men in short order; the south would un- dertake the contract of pouring 100000 lN ayad within few days send 100000 into Can ada But these men would need modern small arms. We can raise regiments fast enough, but to arm them requires time. My bill contemplates the securing or l. 000, ,O00 infantry rifles and such field artil- iery as will be necessary to property eo,Iip an army Whether we have any trouble with Great Britain or not, we should have these modern implements or war for emergency cases"