The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-04
WANT TO SAVE.
Senators Pare Down Naval ApprO-
priation Bill.
MEASURE PASSES In A MODIFIED
FORM.

Parsiinony Rather Than Patriotism Seems
to Prevail-NationaI Protection a
Secondary Matter to Saving Money
Bankruptcy Bill Passes House.
| Washington. May 2.-The naval appro-
priation bill was taken up in the Senate
today, the pending question beng on
Mr. Chandler's amendment, appropriate
ing $4,000, 000 for 20 torpedo boats and
torpedo boat destroyers.
Mr.. German, Democrat of Maryland,
argued against the amendment. He said
the provision reported by the committee
on appropriations allowed 81, 500, 900 for
torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers,
and he thought that In the present con-
dition of affairs. was ample. He added
that if the submarine boat now being
built of the Holland type was successful,
it would revolutionize the whole system
of torpedo boats all over the world.
| Mr.. Chandler advocated the amendment
and said that the national saving effected
by it in view of striking out two battle
ships and some torpedo boats would be
SIS, 275 900.
| Mr.. Wolcott, Republican of Colorado.
saidi 81 was very much Impressed with
the argument of the Senator from Mary
land, (Mr. Germany who showed us that
this country was gradually drifting into
| insolvency. l was impressed by the
chamber should keep down expenditures
| to the absolute necessities until we had
| revenue enough to pay the running ex-
| penses OF the government. Ii it was true
| that this government has run behind in
| it's expenditures, if it is true, and no
Senator has yentured to dispute it, that
this country is marching OH to the issues
| of additional bonds, and that no power
under heaven can stop it, then l ask !:
In the name of what patriotism are we
putting on the necks of the people inter-
est bearing securities in order that we
may build 20 additional torpedo boats to
cruise around our harbors? II these bonds
are 30 be issued year after year, what
/ need will we have for torpedo boats? Our
country will present no glittering at
tra2tiyeness for other countries. We will
have enough to sustain the life of the
| people, overtaXed and overwhelmed, who
live within our borders; but the love
and display and the love of competition
| will not justify those expenditures for
which the people must pay, in added bur-
dens, year after year. II any Senators will
| tell me that additional bonds are not to
come, that every dollar put into new
ships does not mean an absolute necessity
fer new bonds to be saddled on the Eeo-
pie of the United States, will be glad
to sink my individual Judgment and
vote for the additional boats. But If
that be fact, then I say that every in
stinct Of patriotism us we'll as every duty
OF craftsmanship requires us to forego
something of our national vanity and let
our ships, already creditable, stand as
sufficient navy until the government
is put back on paying basis, where it's
receipts equal its expenditures.
MIR. HAWLEY REPLIED
to Mr.. Woloott and supported Mr.. Chand-
ler's amendment. He thought there was
no danger of the nation embarking in
a policy of aggression and conquest. He
did not recall a single person, ambitious
of being supposed statesman, who fav-
ored such policy. Long before the tor
pedo boats would have to be paid for, he
hoped the treasury would be on pay
ing basis. 1t was absolutely ludiorous to
talk of the United States undertaking a
war of aggression. The proposed increase
of the navy was simply reasonable
protection against attack, a reasonable
attempt to guard the country's shores,
to be able to repel and delay the attack
of hostile fleets. just now the country
was shamefully deficit in that which be-
longed to nation of such power.
"Will not these torpedo boats" Mr..
Wolcott asked, require the issue and
sale of government bonds to pay for
them?'
"If the Secretary Of the Navy" Mr..
Hawley replied, 'makes the date of pay
ment for these boats Is months hence,
1 have strong hope that, within one year
from this time, we shall secure from legis-
latiun, sufficient revenue to give us u sur
plus in the treasury and to pay the debts
we already have.'
Mr.. Lodge spoke in favor of the Chand.
Ter amendment. He sneered at "the
explosion of economy, coming agains,
the navy, against the defense Of the coun-
try.o
"We do not" he said, require g
great navy for aggression. No ono pro.
poses that this country will enter on q
career of aggression or conquest. But
we do need navy and we do need ma
tional coast defenses which shall act az
a guarantee of peace. When the diff
Guilty came about Venezuela we had 6
crisis in this country. People were cry
ing out that we should not stand up fol
tho Monroe doctrine because we were
not in position to resist aggression
because the city Of New York was moi
fortified and because we had not enough
ships in case