The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-01

nance items for the forts, the ordnance
plants at West Troy and w~atertown, and
the Sandy Hook proving grounds.
But In the making ana the mounting Of
new gums and mortars the reductions are
very great. The Ordnance Department has
charge Of the former work and the En-
gineers OF the latter. For steel mortars
and their carriages the War Department
asked $1,920.000 and got only $286, 700,
or less than one-seventh. For heavy guns,
with their forgings and their carriages,
the reduction was not 90 severe, yet It
wat from $2,433, 500 to 100000. The
provision for small rapid-are guns to DO
mounted In the forts IL cut down to nearly
one-afth, and that for powder and projec-
tiles more than one-half, or from $943,891
to 1891 900. The allowances asked for
new field pieces and their carriages are re-
duced nearly to one.third.
The Engineers suffer especially in the
proposed economics. The War Department
asked 3 100000 with which IL might
construct gun and mortar batteries, and
the bill gives only 81 900, 00o. For the
purchase Of new sites the cut 10 far less,
namely, $4,000 to $500, 900. 1t being
desirable to secure betlmes any new ground
needed for forts, IS prices are apt to 60 up
rather han down.
To what must we attribute this policy
Of the Fifty-hfth Congress, which at frst
seems to put 1t into . striking contrast
with Its predecessor9 One element in tho
case probably is that our foreign affairs are
not rs threatening as they were two years
ago., when the Fifty.fourth Congress set a
new standard for coast defence work. The
am influence 10 observable in the ad.
ditions now proposed for the navy.
But probably this Ii not the only expla-
nation. There is nc doubt, we think, that
the actual number Of guns and mortars
mounted at this time IL far less than Con-
gress expected that IL would be when It
made the liberal appropriations Of the last
two years. Not only does 1t find large un.
expended balances, but 1t sees that the
amount of work done, especially on EN-.
placements and gun carriages, within the
limits Of a twelvemonth, L. less than had
been thought practicable. And II this is
the fact, Congress may think that smaller
appropriations will keep up the current
rate Of work.
That this view, rather than any disposi.
tion to undervalue the Importance of coast
defence. may have influenced the Commit
tee on Appropriations, which drew up the
pending bill, IS suggested by the character
OF the reductions. One Of our most press
Ing needs, for example, is that Of carriages
for the heavy guns; but these have been
coming forward so slowly during the last
year that only $424,OOO is now provided
for them, as IL this sum, with the unex-
ranHa1 halornn. Vnt,I Ia Ill L-A -,--1r
be actually needed, at the present rate of
manufacture, during the coming fiscal year.
Again, the small number of emplacements
completed in the last and the current fiscal
years and the outlays on them furnish
grounds for intimating what will be lone
in the new year provided for; and there.
again, comes the reckoning of the balance
on hand and the new requirements.
One very clear duty, therefore, remains
for the friends of coast defence. II in any
item of the bill, whether the making of
heavy guns or Of carriages, or the building
of emplacements. the amount now appro-
priated, with the prospective balance on
July /, will not cover the rate of actual
outlay OF the current year on the same
Item, 1t should be increased. Any such
shortcomings can be shown during the
House debate. Under the liberal appro-
priations of the last Congress. the Engineer
Corps n Ordnance Department have had
practically a free hand, and the money
they have expended is q fair measure of
what can be laid out to advantage under
their systems and with their appliances.
More thar that amount the present Con-
gress need not feel called upon to supply
for the coming fiscal year, yet not a dollar
short Of 1t should be withheld.