The times., 1898-02-17
THE AMOUNT IS DOUBLED.
BY Unanimous Vote the Coast De-
Tense Bill Is Increased

4
Tense BIZ Is Increased.
That the oninous situation. arising
from the destruction of the battleship
Maine in Havana harbor. has oecnsioned
alarm at the Capitol. even among the
most pronounced Administration econo-
mists, was much in evidence yesterday
| afternoon.
The Senate passed. by unanimous vote.
/ the appropriation bin for coast defcnses
and Notifications after its committee
had doubled the amount of money IL car
ried when II came from the House. The
action was taken Immediately after the
executive session.
MIR. Perkins. Of California. reported the
bill from the committee. and stated that
while ii was less than the estimate made
by the department. IL was twice the
amount the House had allowed. He
urged the necessity of not curtailng the
amount and said that the committee
would like to have reported the full
amount asked for by the department. but.
in view Of the fact that the House had
made such a reduction in II. II was the
sense of the committees that more could
he obtained In conference IL some con-
cession was made.
Mr.. Stewart. of Nevada. was OF the
opinion that the full amount of the esti-
mate should be appropriated. saying that
there was no doubt in his mind, or in the
mind Of any one In the whole country.
that this was the most important appro-
priaton bill of any He said that there
was a general feeling of insecurity on the
part of American citizens. especially In
the coast cities: that any one-horse
power with even one gunboat could come
over here and lombard New York. Balti-
more or any of the great coast cities.
and destroy more property than double
the amount of the appropriation.
Mr.. Stewart made Il motion to get an
expression of the Senate. to take one
item on the bill and make it the fun
amount asked for by the department.
On this motion Mr.. Teller addressed the
Senate Ever since I have been a MEM
Der of this body he said. II have voted
for everything in the shape of coast de
fenses. harbor defenses and ships, that
has come before it,"
He believed, he said. that this commit
tee had not INDUCED in economy in this
matter for a political reason, but that
it had acted wisely, considering that il
had TO encounter another branch of Con-
gress which was disposed to cut short all
appropriations.
There never has been a time when
there was more of a prospect of a great
war than today" he continued. "All the
indications throughout the country indi-
cate 10 large extent the probabilities Of
war. We may escape by crawling into
our shell. and adopt terrapin statesman
ship-pulling our head in when there is
danger Though / would not encourage
war. | think we should stand UP and do
what a great nation has a right to do.
and II I found a nation conducting war
on my borders contrary 10 the laws or
civiliZa ton and the laws OF war. / would
have the force and independence to say
to that nation: we do not intend 70 in
terfere improperly, but hy the laws of
nations and the rights Of humanity you
must conduct this war according t. the
rules of war; when you do not. We have
the right to interfere. and mean To inter-
fere.' we despisa Il man who fails % do
his duty. and he vino stands by and sees
a strong man Telling a weak child j.
coward. and the nation which is able and
strong enough 20 see that the laws Of
nations are observed and does not do il
is also a coward.
''I am for coast defenses and q reason
able amount OF ships and FOR using these
ships in 4 way that Will be compatible
with the dignity Of this great nation. (
am not in favor Of running them out OF
sight for fear some one-horsc power will
be offended. would send them wher,-
the interests Of the human race required
ilttIU 10 bt- L NOll0 SFlI tAtl4 " 4tfAt ta
ma tion that would starve its own people
would see that there might come time
when the great power ot this Govern
ment would be raised to see that they
should conduct war according to the laws
of nations. and that they had no right
10 take the insurgents and put them
where they could not obtain food. unless
they We're prepared to feed them II We
had said one word two years ago. as
begged that it should be said. notifying
Spain that this war should De conducted
according Ia civilized usages. there would
have been more than a quarter OF a mill
ion men who would have been alive. and
Il hundred thousand more now going 90
their graves who would have been saved.
Mr.. President" he concluded. Il did
not intend TO discuss the Cuban ques-
ton, but I think 1t is pertinent TO say
when We are preparing these great agen-
cies OF war that they are rot only the
agencies of war. but the agencies of
peace; they are 10 keep the peace and
maintain the dignity and glory of the
people who pay for them"
The measure will now go back to the
House and a conference will follow.