The times., 1898-03-06
PITNEY ON THE PRESIDENT
The New Jersey Congressman
Approves of Conservatism.
HE IS REEDS CLOSE FRIEND
Significant Remarks of a Member
Of the subcommittee on Fortlfl-
cationx-"Thc President Wants
to Know the Truth lie says
The Secretary of wars Course.

Mr.. Pitney of New Jersey Is one of the
most active members on the House Com
nittee on Appropriations. He is mem
Der of the subcommittee on Fortihca-
tions and the District of Columbia 1t
was because of the warm friendship en-
tertained for him that Speaker keed
placed him on this important committee
and that same friendly feeling continues
today. In all the House there is, per
haps. no member who, by his utterances
and votes. more fully represents the SEN
timents of the Speaker than does Mr. Pit
ney For this reason what he SAID 10 d
Times reporter yesterday respecting the
Spanish situation has more than Ofdlna-
ry weight. for it is reflection Oh ths
thoughts of Speaker Reed.
I'm nv opinion" said Mr.. Pitney, the
attitude of the President in respect 10
the Spanish and Cuban question has been
eminently dignified. conservative and pa
triotic There occurred in the Havana
harbor a great disaster to an American
naval vessel. which was either the result
of an accident or the act of desperate
or fanatic, or the act OF treachery on
the part of an avowed friendly power
Nobody can tell what caused this disaster
without holding an investigation. The Ad-
ministration promptly ordered an lnVestl-
CATION into the sad affair. and it Is being
thoroughly prosecuted and all the facts
relating to the disaster Will be had II OBJ
tainable.
s THE Pre- Sident wants to know the truth.
He does not take it for granted in ad-
vance that anybody is guilty, least OF all
that the government of Spain is guilty.
but as it is possible that such guilt on the
part of Spain may be developed, or. at
least. that there may be a guilty cause
for which Spain would be responsible,
even without direct cOnnivanCe on the
part of that government. the President
is strengthening our Army and our
Navy and our coast defenses as rapidly
and as thoroughly as the nature of the
case will permit.
The President is not threatening or in
viting war, but he is making ready to
meet war if it must be met.
When asked about the unusual amount
/ of powder and projectiles the Secretary of
/ War had ordered by permission of the
/ Committee on Appropriations, Mr.. Pitney
/ said:
THE Secretary of War and the chief of
ordnance have found it To be important
/ to make immediate contracts for powder
/ and projectiles for our seacOast defenses
/ and to have the same charged to the ac-
/ count of appropriations for the next fiscal
/ year. These appropriations are carried
/ in the fortitcation appropriation bill
which was made up in the House before
! the disaster to the Maine The amount
/ allowed under the House appropriation
| was 1891 600 for powder and projectiles.
After the catastrophe to the Maine the
/ bill was amended in the Senate so as TO
/ increase the House appropriation to $500.
900. This amendment. with others. be-
came the subject of conference between
Senate and House committee and the con
ferees agreed TO recommend that the in
creased appropriation should stand.
Gen Flagler chief of ordnance, ap-
| peared before the conferees while the
| subject was under consideration and in
! formed them of the pressing needs for
powder and projectiles, and he was as
| sured by the conferees that the increased
amount asked for would be assented to.
whereupon he took it for granted that the
! House and Senate would indorse the ac-
tion of the conferees. and he is proceeding
to make contracts on the basis of an ex-
| pected appropriation of $3.50, ,O00' %
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois. Chairman Of the
Committee on Approp -iations, good-na-
| turedly declined to be interviewed on any
| subject relating to warlike preparations
| or the Cuban situation, saying that it
/ would be time enough for him 10 talk df-
! ter the Court of Inquiry has rendered 4
report.
Mr.. Clark of Missouri declared: The
| Presidents : course Is enigma teal. but
believe the War and Navy Departments
are getting ready Tor tussle.