The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-15

WASHINGTON, April 14-Senator
Morrill, Wt) reached the age of So
years today, and the event was re-
ferred to in the opening prayer of the
chaplain, who spoke of the white hair
ed senator as hale in body, clear, sound
and vigorous in intellect, esteemed by
his brother senators, by his state and
by the whole country At the conclu-
sion of the prayer Mr.. Morrill, received
congratulations from many of his as
sociates.
Shortly after the session opened Mr..
Morrill, announced that ON Thursday
next he would speak on the necessity
of additional quarters for the National
museum.
Mr.. Squire CWash) was then recog-
nized for a speech on the need of coast
defenses.
NATIONAL 'DEFENCES"
was the subject of Senator Squire's
speech and as a preliminary to a more
detailed discussion OF the topics, the
senator said in part.
What an absurd spectacle has the
congress of the United States present
ed during the present session by its
persistent talk in favor Of the inter
vention by the United States in behalf
of Cuba and Venezuela!
How cheap is all this talk sincere
enough it may be on many occasions.
Every man who has informed him
self on the subject of national defenses,
knows that as nation we are not in
condition to undertake war or suffer
war. We can talk loud and long and
profess sympathy, pass resolutions. and
make believe to ourselves that we are
actually taking a hand in the diplo-
matte affairs and international ques-
tons of great moment, but those who
are not deceived by egotistical giamor
and who know the facts are perfectly
aware OF the painful truth that this
demonstration is
MERE TALK AND BLUSTER
and vapid sentiment, or at most, it is
a sympathy that is easily satisfied with
merely verbal expressions.
The people, he continued, did not
know how shamefully their interests
are being banded and played with by
those who represent them in the halls
of congress.
They do not know that the great
seacoast cities, teeming with wealth.
are exposed and defenseless against
attack by foreign navies with vessels
Tar outnumbering ours in strength
They do not know that our navy it
self may be hopelessly crippled by the
destruction of our undefended navy
yards depots of supplies, dock yards,
powder mills and arsenals."
The senator said all the evidence ia
ken by the committee on coast defen-
ses had gone TO show that the condi-
ton of our coast defenses is
LAMENTABLE IN THE EXTREME.
The defensive works are of a charac-
ter Incapable of resisting modern ar
tillery. The evidence is overwhalm-
lngly that IN case of war our whole
people would suffer immeasurably.
From such investigation as has been
practicable, ii is evident that a large
amount of destructible property, es-
tlmated at notices. than ten billion dol
lars in value. is exposed to attack or
at least to heavy assessment for the
purpose of securing immunity from de-
struction. The president of the cham
Der of commerce of New York has in
formed me that he has given careful
attention to the question Of the prop
erty risks that would at present be
sustained in the cities of New York.
Brooklyn and Jersey'C:Cy. He has con-
suited with many of his colleagues in
the great business institutions of New
York, and he estimates that property
valued at four billion dollars in those
cities is
SUBJECT TO DESTRUCTION
or to imposition OF a ransom in case
of capture Of the port of New York by
a hostile feet"
AT this point the senator presented
a statement showing a comparison of
our navy with that of England. and
also a statement of all the steel YES
seis in the American navy. inclu6inp
those authorized by law; also some
data as to the naval fighting of other
nations. He then said:
This summary is believed to be the
most favorable to the United States
that can be made from the records and
still it shows this country to be
FAR BEHIND
the great nations of the world in naval
strength Moreover, it leaves out of
sight our deficiency in torpedo boats
and torpedo boat destroyers, of which !
latter we have today one small YES
sci in commission. whereas Great Bri-
tain has III, Germany 116, France los. /
Italy log. Russia 49, and even Spain
has Is torpedo vessels; all in the list
j have given being lis feet in length |
and over. Sixty-two of the British
vessels are torpedo boat destroyers.
having superior tonnage and speed /
The senator argued that the sug-
gestion ITO defend our coasts and sea
port cities by fleets is impracticabie.
for it will, he said, require expendi- /
lures running up into several hundred /
million dollars to do the work effec-
lively. The navy is designed for ag- I
gressive operations. To return IFS
mobility and its power to make often
sive return, ii should not be fettered
10 our great cities for the purpose OF
protecting them
If the policy of building up the navy
is to be continued at the expense IF
having
DBFENsELEss SHORES,