The San Francisco call., 1896-04-15
Not in a Condition to Withstand
Attacks by the Navies of
Foreign Powers.
NO TIME TO CRY FOR WAR.
In the House the Bill Providing for
Improved Forti6cations Is
Passed.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 14.-After
speech in the Senate to-day by Squire of
Washington, in support of his bill making
large appropriations for seacoast defenses,
the rest of the session was taken up in the
consideration of the Delaware election
case, Chandler of New hampshire arguing
at great length in favor of the claim of
Mr. Dupont TO the vacant seat in the Sen
ate. The other side OF the case is to be
sustained tomorrow by the Senator from
Delaware, Gray, who holds that Governor
Watson was entitled TO cast his vote in the
Legislature as State Senator and Speaker
OF the Senate, and that having so voted
there was no majority for any candidate.
Gray animated that his speech would
probably close the case on that side. Hoar
OF massachusetts, gave notice, however of
purpose TO address the Senate in support
OF Mr.. Dupont's claim, so that a decision
OF the question is not yet in sight.
The TACT of Senator Morrill, of Vermont
having attained his eighty-sixth birthday,
with more than half his life spent in Con-
gress, was recalled to the Senate in the
chaplain's opening prayer, in which the
Senator was truthfuIly described az hale
in body and clear. sound and vigorous in
intellect.
After some routine business, Squire (R.l J
OF Washington addressed the Senate Oh
the subject of the National defense. He
said:
What an absurd spectacle has the Con.
gress OF the United States presented
during the present session by its persistent
talk In favor of the Intervention by the
United States in behalf of Cuba and Vene-
zuela. Every man who has informed him
self on the subject of National defenses
knows that as nation we are not in con-
dltlon to undertake war or suffer war.
Our courage and mum hers would not avail
and 1t IS folly to depend upon the resources
and inventions OF the hour. The people
don't know how shamefully their interests
are being banded and played with bv
those who represent them in the halls OF
Congress. They suppose in the simplicity
OF their hearts that we are prepared to
protect ourselves in case of war with any
or the second or third class powers or even
against irst-rate power. They know
that the Nation has millions of brave and
patriotic men who would gather at the call
to arms. But they don't know that there
is no means OF arming these hosts upon
the emergency that NAV arise. They
don't know that the great seacoast cities
through which extend the arteries of trade
and commerce with each other and with
the people of foreign lands-populous
though these cities may be and teeming
with wealth-are yet exposed and defense
less against attack by foreign navies with
vessels far outnumbering ours in strength.
foro t.A ],
on Coast Defenses is intended to meet the
wants OF the Nation in this respect. 1t
has received the approval OF the Secretary
OF war and OF the chiefs of the two great
departments of engineers and ordnance.
II 1t shall be adopted provision will be
made for the construction of the fortifca-
tlons necessary for the defense of the prin-
clpal seacoast cities of the United States.
The aggregate number of direct fire high
power guns OF all calibers REQUIRED is 517.
the aggregate number of mortars is 1896
for the construction of these guns en-
placements and carriages about eight
years will be required, and the sum of
at least 100000. This sum cannot be
Judiciously expended in a less time except
under great stress and at an additional
cost to the Government, and even in that
case 1t Will be very difficult to complete
the armament in much shorter period.
1t is provided in the bill that the sum of
only SlO,0OO,OOO be appropriated for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1897, and
that an expenditure be authorized of
Slo,OoO 200 for each of the succeeding
seven fiscal years ending June 80, 1904.
Thus the tax would be comparatively
light for each year, not equaling that
OF the river and harbor bill, which
for the past ten years has averaged annu-
ally between $13,OOO,O0O and $4,000. .O0o
Think of it; $279, ,916, ,317 90 has been appro.
priated since 1872 for the improvement OF
rivers and harbors-that is, for the benefit
of commerce-and yet we have been so
afflicted with coast defense blindness,
that we have expended only SIC. 900, 900 or
$l1, 1,0OO, 900 for the protection of these
harbors during the same period''
At the close of Squire's speech the Du.
pont election case was taken I'D, and
Chandler (R.) of New Hampshire ad-
dressed the Senate in advocacy of Dupont's
right to the vacant seat in the Senate from
the State of Delaware.
At 2:15 P. NJ. the unanimous consent to
have Mr.. Peffer's "bond issue" resolution