The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-05
OEFENsEs FOR OUR COASTS
Debate ON the Fertilization Bill
Takes a Wide Range.
FINANCES MIXED UP In 1T
Several Members Assert That the
Condition of the Treasury Does
Not Warrant Extraordinary Ex-
penditures For the Navy or Kin
dred Purposes.

The bill carrying an appropriation Of
s4l44.9l2 for Notifications and other
works of defense was the pending mat
ter Of Importance before the House
when il met this morning. 1t is an inn
portant measure and suggestive of a
long and protracted debate on inciden-
tai matters involving foreign relations
and possibilities, and particularly as TO
"A conflict with Spain. and where the
money was to come from.
The Republican majority killed the
first amendment offered by Mr.. Clay
ton of Alabama to increase the $4,000
for sea walls and embankments at Mo
bile. to s55, 600. The provision of $780,,
coo for submarine mines, ETC., was pass
ed
Mr.. Lewis of Washington introduced
the money question by an amendment
which involved the method of raising
/ the revenue, against the retiring Of
| greenbacks, and other related financial
questions.
The chair, Mr.. Hopkins of Illinois,
ruled the amendment out.
Mr.. Lewis appealed from the decision
of the chair.
Mr.. Pitney Republican of New Jer-
sey, interjected that il was a frivolous
amendment, and while Mr. Lewis was
still on his feet Mr.. Skinner of North
! Carolina took the floor to explain bin
on coast defences, which he introduced
some time ago.
Mr.. Sayers of Texas made a speech
in which he said that this country was
at peace With nearly all the countries
! of the world, and that the chance of
| war with Spain was about l in 10000.
He did not believe that any of the great
| armored vessels of foreign countries
could cross the ocean for war purposes.
He believed that the present appropTi-
atiOns were amply large in view of
present foreign relations. An increase
of ships meant an increase of men.
And when we had them, what would
we do with them? He didn't think
there was any danger of war. He
hoped that no Democrat would add one
cent to the appropriations and that
none for such purposes should be made
except where absolutely necessary.
When Mr.. Sayers was speaking thir-
ty or forty members gathered around
him.
Mr. Sayers charged extravaganza in
every branch of the Government.
The appropriation for assembling
coast defense guns was passed.
Mr.. McRae made the startling propo-
sition that this Government would sub
NIT to any indignity or insult to the
flag before il would engage in a war
He believed in the least possible ex-
penditures in all matters. We could
not afford TO spend large sums of money
with the great deficiency confronting
the Government. If the Republicans
continued at the present rate they
would be responsible for the next bond
issue if in fact, another issue had not
already been contemplated.
A motion was made to reduce the
price of oil-tempered steel for high
power coast defense guns from % cents
per pound to % cents.
Mr.. Foster of New York contended
that % cents was fixed by the depart
ment of the Government, which knew
what il was talking about
Mr. McRae said it was impossible
to conceive that the material could
not be obtained for % cents.
Mr.. Mahon CRep) of Pennsylvania
said that the reduction meant either
reduction in the wages of labOring men
or an inferior article. He was opposed
to the House fixing a maximum price
for anything The Government tried to
IN o PAiSt loi OIL AiAoi piitC'
and failed to get any plate at all. The
amendment proposing to reduce the
price to % cents was lost
Mr. Mcclellan of New York moved to
increase the appropriation for a re-
serve supply of powders and projectiles
from 1891, 900 to $500, 900. He read from
a report of the chief of ordnance to
show that the Government had not now
a sufficient supply for the guns already
mounted and no supply for the guns
about to be mounted. The increase
asked for would, at best, be little
enough.
Mr.. Ray of New York said that he
had direct statement from the War
Department that there was enough
powder on hand. The scare only came
from newspapers and about a half doz-
en- persons who were talking war.
Mr. Hull of Iowa explained that the
War Department, while it did not have
a supply sufficient for all the guns, yet
it could concentrate enough at the
possible points of attack.
The Mcclellan amendment was de-
feated, only five voting for it; thirty
three against it. All of the other terms
of the bill down to the miscellaneous
terms were read and agreed to, Mr.