The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-04
ENGLAND MADE WAR

pie who made that argument came for
ward and opposed anything looking &c
a suitable national defense. We are told
we are going to settle the Venezuela
question; but surely the lesson which
that situation taught US should not be
lost. We are told there is no danger Of
| war with Spain. / hope and trust not
| but let ne say that the Cuban question
| is not going down because gentlemen
say so. I read from day to day in the
| / ewspapers the hideous atrocities going
on in the island. They pile up and nile
up, from disinterested witnesses, and we
sit here with folded arms with annie
strength to put stop to all this and we
| do nothing"
| MIR. Lodge thought the national defense
involved in a navy and coast defenses
| is the very last point at which economy
| should be exercised
| Mr.. German, Democrat of Maryland,
spoke in q tone Of ridinule Of the parti-
otto speeches of the Senators from Con-
necticut and Massachusetts,, and said
as a matter of course. appropriations
We're always behind the waving of the
flag on such occasions. The Senator
from Massachusetts, he said, had been
so absorbed in his lingo policy he had
tailed TO look OF the condition of the
treasury and of the appropriation bills.
This naval appropriation bill was the
first of the appropriation bills where
There was an opportunity of exercising
economy. In oil others the amounts ap-
propriated were required to rum the
government under existing laws. Naval
expenditures, he said, were attacked
because that bill appropriated the first
great extravaganza, the first great useless
appropriation of this Congress-
Pafarpirr tO tha puvv ba da,1oro5
Secretary 81 ,rbert had been too carefully
cared for by the Democrats. ''He resent
ed my course two years ago." said Mr.
German, because the bill did not suit
him. Weak men always want power.
Weak men always want money and men
at their commando Continuing, Mr..
German Gaid he had always dealt with
Secretary HerberU as he did with Secre-
taries Whitney and Tracy. The trouble
was that when the Secretary was taken
from the House and placed in high
position under the administration, he
parted from the rules and practices OF
legislative body in connection with
appropriations. Congress was as liberal
now with the Secretary of the Navy as
it had been with any Of his predecessors.
Whether Secretary Herbert acted wisely
remained to be seen. However, he was
as honest, Mr.. German believed, as any
Of his predecessors.
MI Gallinger, Republican of New
Hampshire, offered and discussed an
amendment appropriating $780, 900 for q
DRY DOCK AT PORTSMOUTH.
but it was vuled on a point of order
made by Mr.. Cookrell, Democrat of Mis-
| souri,.
AT o'clock the consideration of the
bill under the five minute rule was be-
gun. Short speeches were. made by Messrs.
Chandler, Call, Peffer Sherman, Hale
| and Villas, the latter protesting against
the extension of the navy to such an ex-
tent that it would want to go a-jingoing
! and become a national swash bucxler.
| Mr.. Chambers amendment was defeat
| ed--39 to 20.
| The further amendments made by the
committee to the provisions for the in
| crease Of the navy were agreed. The
| House provision for five torpedo boats at
a maximum speed of not less than 2t
knots is changed to three torpedo boats
at maximum speed of not less than &c
knots and the total cost reduced from
1875, 600 to $500, 600. The House provision
| for ten Or more torpedo boats in all not
exceeding $500, 000 to have the highest
practicable speed, was also changed te
not exceed ten torpedo boats of this class
to cost in all not exceeding $500, COO. Al
| amendment was agreed to providing that
three of the torpedo boats instead of one,
shall be b1ilt on the Pacific coast. One
torpedo boat was ordered built on the
upper Missouri river.
The next committee amendment was tt
insert an item for two submarine torpe
do Euats Of the Holland type, not to cost
over $175, 900 each. 1t was agreed to will
out challenge.
The bill rs amended was reported from
the committee of the whole and passed
| without division.