The herald., 1896-05-01
THE F|FTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
Lengthy Debate Regarding Ma
val Appropriations
NO CONCLUSION is REACHED
Allen R0asts the Old Parties for Three
Long Hours
IT,
NO CONCLUSION is REACHED
The House Concludes General Debate on the
Bankruptcy BilI-A Report Relating
to Contempt Cases
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated PreSS special wire.
WASHINGTON April SO.-The SEN
ate spent another day on the naval ap-
preparation bill without completing it.
Mr.. German further opposed the item of
four battleships and expressed the opin-
ion that the appropriations already
made would consume the balance in the
treasury.
A determination of the number of bat
tleships has not yet ben reached. MIR.
Chandler has proposed substituting
thirty large and fast torpedo gunboats
for two of the battleships. Mr.. White
of California spoke of the need of coast
defenseS before further naval vessels
were built, and Mr.. Allen of Nebraska
made q speech of over three hours ar
raigning the two old parties.
The bill was taken up soon after the
senate opened. Mr.. White, Democrat of
California spoke of the need of an ade-
quate navy, but urged that this should
not exclude the consideration of land
defenses He presented the views of
military and naval authorities, includ-
ing Gen. Miles, Gen. Craighill and Ad-
miral Walker showing the defenseless
condition of our harbors, particularly
the Pacific coast. The senator said the
United States had been ION the fight"
of late, but the result of contest with
any great power was not open to much
doubt in view of our defenseless coasts
1t would be unpleasant to have New
York and Boston placed under tribute
for a few hundred millions. While not
ojjosing the building up of the navy.
yet he wanted to call attention to the
need of some harbor of refuge for them
in case of war.
Mr.. Allen, Populist of Nebraska, said
the Venezuelan scare had been started
to divert attention from the financial
question, and all the lingo speeches on
the Monroe doctrine had gone for
naught. 1t was all political play for
party purposes.
Mr.. Allen spoke until o'clock, over
three hours.
Mr.. German urged the adoption of his
amendment reducing the number of bat
tleships from four, reported, to two,
pointing out that each ship with its ar
mament would cost about $7.000,0G0.
making a large aggregate expenditure in
view of the treasury conditions.
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia favored four
battleships.
Mr.. German said that. while conccd-
ing a full treasury, yet there stood
against this balance $116,000,000 appro
priated before this congress assem-
bled, and not yet paid.
Mr. German spoke of the urgency re-
ouiring payments of gold to pay sal
aries and other ordinary. expenses.
whereupon Mr.. Tillman, Democrat of
South Carolina. interrupted to say that
he would like to know how the prest-
dent dared under the law to use gold.
the proceeds of bonds, to pay current
expenses.
Mr. Chandler said that two battle
ships would employ the armor factories
to their full capacity He suggested.
therefore, that in place of the other two
battleships, the senate should substi-
tute large, fast torpedo gunboats. For
this purpose he proposed an amendment
for thirty torpedo Soats to cost an\Sgre-
gate of $4,300,000
The bill was then laid aside.
Mr.. Hale stated that he,would endeav-
or to get a vote by 6 o'clock tonight
otherwise. he would seek to secure a
night session.
The bill was passed increasing the
pension of Brig. Gen. William Cross, of
the volunteer forces, to SIS per month.
At o'clock, after brief executive ses-
sion, the senate adjourned