The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-15
OUR SEACOAST DEFENCES.
THE HOUsE PROMPTLY PAss Es THE
FORTIFIClTIONS MIL.

II Authorizes an Expenditure OF s1I.asAc
a1B the CominE Squire
Advocates Nis BiI ApproprintInr $780,
OOO,OOO, 60 Bo Expended In Eight Years.
WAsHINoToS, April 14.-The House 10. day
passed without division, and practically with.
out objection, the bill making appropriations
ior Notifications and coast dcfcnces. Its pas
sage was advocated by Messrs. Hnlncr tIiep.,
Nebl. saycrs Dem, Tex. bartlett CDcm..
N. h), Livingston dem, Gal, Hcmenway
'fep., lnd.), and Cannon rep, I'LL, all
members of the Committee on Appropriations,
anu DS MIR. Baker rep. y. H.. The lat.
Yer criticised the committee for not going fur
.her anu appropriating NIL the money asked
ny uehs. Flhgler and Craighill. Mr.. Berry
VDem', kyo was the only opponent OF the bill.
He said tho money would 10 better spent In
building ships than in nxed batteries.
The Secretary Of War cstimatcd that ss,Oib,.
1903 could be expended in the coming year. The
Dill carries specific appropriations amounting
10 so.S4|,33T, and authority Is given to tho
secretary OF ar to make contracts involving
the further expenditure of So. 3lo,o7O, making
the total authorized expenditure in tho bill,
S1l 1884. Ola.
The following shows tho aggregate amount
appropriated and authorized by contract under
each subdivision Of the bill, namely Gun and
mortar batteries, So, EGO. 900; sites for forti-
h%cations, s250.000; preservation and repair of
fortifcations. $4,000; plans for Notifications.
$4,000: sea walls and embankments, SIT,075;
torpedoes for harbor defense. SlOO, 900; arma-
ment OF Qualifications, So 800, O73; proving
ground. Sandy Hook, n. j.. $4,000: Water
town Arsenal, Mass. $40. $500; watervliet
Arsenal. n. Y. S3,105; Benecia Arsenal. CAL.
$4,000; Ordnance and Fertilization Board,
Sl00. 900; Fortress Monroe sewerage system,
So.s0o.
In the Senate Mr.. Squire rep. ,Wash.l spoke
In support Of his bill making large appropria-
tions for seacoast offences. He showed that
we are encircled as a nation with n chain OF
foreign fortresses and coaling stations imper.
vious to attack, while our rich seacoast cities
and ports, commencing at Portland, Me-. and
extending to San Francisco, Portland. Or,
and PUGET Sound all lie dominated, exposed.
and helpless against the attack of any foreign
power that possesses a navy, Fabulous wealth
lies, ut the mercy ola freehooting enemy. II
such shall AZ any time eludo our small and
refuge behind land defenccs; Our great dry
tories and powder mills near the coast are sub
tect to easy destruction. and our own navy is
and for affecting the repairs that are con-
stantly required; and yet we plume ourselves
The bill presented by the Committee on
Coast Defences." he said. lis intended to meet
the wants OF the nation in this respect. II has
received the approval Of the Secretary OF War
and OF the chiefs OF the two great departments
adopted. provision will be made for the con-
struction OF the Qualifications necessary for the
defence Of the principal seacoast cities of the
United states. The aggregate. number of d.
CURED is 5l7; the aggregate number of mortars
is 900. For the construction OF these guns.
emplacements. and carriages about eight years
will be required and the sum OF at least $780,
pended in II less time except under great stress
and at additional cost to the Government: and
sven in that case It will be very difficult to com
plete the armament in n much shorter period.
$40. 900, 900 be appropriated for the fiscal year
ending June 80. 1897, and that an expenditure
be authorized of so, 900. 900 for each OF the
succeeding seven fiscal years. ending June 30,
light for each year. not equalling that of the
River and ii ,rbor bill. which for the past ten
years has averaged annually between thirteen
and fourteen million dollars. Think of It'll
1872 for the improvement of rivers and har-
bors, that is. for the benefit of commerce.; and
yet we have been SO afflicted with coast de-
fence blindness that we have expended only
ten or eleven million dollars for the protection
of these harbors during the same period.
Il hope the bill will be adopted without seri-
Gus modification. either as "a separate measure
or in the Notifications Appropriation bill. An
economic. sound system of national defence is
the rock upon which rests permanent safety
and successful diplomacy. The agitation and
unrest on this subject throughout the United
States are reflected in the many petitions and
memorials addressed to the Congress by respon-
sible representative bodies and by thousands OF
editorials in the American press. The people
are being heard from in no uncertain tones and
expect this Congress to act"