The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-04-15
UNITED STATES
COAST DEFENSES
Senator Squire, Of Washington State,
Says This Country Is Exposed
to Foreign Attack.
WAR TALK is MOST ABSURD
Tea Billions Of Dollars Worth Of Property
Is Opea 20 Capture or Destruction, and
Unprotected Arseasls Are Liable
70 the Hostile Pokefs.

Special 10 the Aatorian.
Washington, April Ex-senator Squire.
OF Washington, addressed the senate to-
day on national defenses."
what an absurd spectacle" said
Squire. has the congress Of the United
States pressnted during the present ses-
sion by It's persistent talk In favor OF
Intervention by the United States in be-
half OF Cuba and Venezuela. How cheap
Is all this talk. since every man who has
Informed himself upon the subject OF ma
tionai slefenses knows that. as a nation,
We are not In condition to undertake war.
We can talk loud and long and pRpfess
sympathy. pass resolutions and make
believe TO ourselves that we are actually
taking a hand In diplomatic affairs and
International questions of great moment.
but those who are not deceived by the
egotlstical glamor. and who know the
nets. are perfectly aware OF the painful
truth that this demonstration is mere
talk and bluster and vapid sentiment,
for. at the most Il Is a sympathy that
is easily satisfied with merely verbal ex-
pressions.
The people" he contlnned, 10 not
know how shamefuliy their interests are
being banded and played with by those
who represent them In the halls OF con-
gress- They do not know that the great
sea coast cities. teemiuE with wealth,
are exposed and defenssAess against at
tack by foreign nayies f1r outnuTn bering
ours In strength. They do not know
crippled by me destruction OF our un-
defended navy yards. @sspots OF supplies,
dock yards. powder mills and arsenals
From such Investigation as has been
practicable. II Is evident that a large
amount OF destructfble property esti-
mated AT not less than ten Billions OF
dollars In value. is exposed TO attack. or,
at least, 10 heavy assessment for the
purpose OF securing immunity from de-
struction. The president OF the Cham
Der OF Commerce OF New York informed
me that he has given careful attention
TO the question OF property risks in the
cities OF New York. Brooklyn and New
Jersey. He has consulted with many
OF his colleagues IN the great business
Institutions OF New York, and ne esti-
mates that property valued nj four bill
Ions OF dollars In those cities Is subject
10 destruction or TO the imposition OF
ransom. In case OF capture Of the port
The senator argued that the suggestion
TO defend our coasts and seaport cities
by fleets Is impracticable. for It will. he
said. require expenditures running up
into several hundred million dollars to
do the work effectively. Tue navy Is
designed for aggressive operations There
Is no doubt that the money expended
for coast defenses will bring "a better
return in protecting our country than
the same amount OF money appropriated
for ships.
In closing. the senator hoped that the
bill providing for the expenditure OF
81, 900, 900 for seacoast defenses would be
adopted without serious modification.
INoCIRY INTO BOND ISSUES.
Washington. April A-It was made ap-
parent, after lively colloQuy In the SEN
ate today, that there was no disposition
among the silver and Populist senators
to allow the resolution for the senate
Inquiry into the recent bond issue to re-
lapse. By unanimous consent 1t had
been set for consideration at 2:lb today
but at that time Chandler was proceed-
ing with a speech on the Dupont case
Gray was waiting TO follow. and Cullom
had an appropriation bill In reserve
This precipitated clash in which
PETER. reinforced by -Wolcott and Stew
art. asserted. with emphasis that the
bond resolution could not be crowded
out either by design or inadvertence.
An agreement was finally reached 10 the
effect that the bond resolution would
come up Immediately after Chandler and
Grey concluded their speeches.
FoRTIFICATlON BILL PASSED.
Washington. April 1.-THE house today
FNna a WUaHNA NAs..w
iicauons appropriation bill, carrying .ap-
preparations ans authorizations involving
the expenditure OF $ll,3S4,6lS The appSo-
priations for fortihcationes since the En-
dicott commission, in 1856, reported its
plan for the defense OF twenty-seven |
seaports. at an approximate cost of $lOO,- |
bhW0 have averaged something over
:, 100000 annually. During the debate to- |
day there were a number of references |
to our foreign complications and the
OF preparing for any possible |
TALKING THROUGH HIS HAT.
Washington. April 1L-Livingstone,
Democrat. of Georgia. a member of the /
house appropriations committee, speak
ng of the fortificationS bill in the house |
oday, said:
congratulate the country that II is |
low conceded that Mckinley Will be the |
aext Republican nominee and that the A.
P A. will beat him. 1t Is also acknowl-
,dged that Jeffersonian Democrats will
control the Chicago convention. After
March next the country will be safe"
FoRNINST PRIZE FIGHTING.
Washington, April Ex-senator Platt
oday introduced a bill to prohibit the
OF reports of results or bets
IN prtze-hghts or races from one state
o another, and making such transmits
lion q mlsdemeanor to be punished by
Inc or imprisonment.