New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-08
AN ADMINISTRATION MEASURE.

tional dignity and honor
AN ADMINISTRATION MEASURE
MEN OF ALL PARTIES SUPPORT THE S"'
mooo DEFENCE REsoLUTIoN-No
BONDS WILL BE ISSUED.
Warrington. March (speciaD.-There were
many symptoms OF repressed excitement among
members OF the House Of Representatives To-
day. on account Of the latest Developments re-
garding the relations between the united States
and Spain, which. in the opinion OF some OF .he
cooler and more conservative leaders OF 'ha'
body, we're of 81 threatening nature. But 'he
House kept its head admirably. AS soon as II
became known that Chairman Cannon OF the
Appropriations Committee. fresh from a CONFER
ence with the President. In which Chairman All
aon Of the Senate Committee on Appropriations,
Chairman Dingey Of the Ways and Means com
rn,ttee and others had taken part had offered
q Joint resolution appropriating $ooVVVoo" 10
be placed at the disposal Of the Executive TO De
used In mis- discretion for purposes OF National
defence expressions Of satisfaction were heard
on every side.
That the Joint resolution will have the earnest
support of every member Of the Appropriations
Committee which will hold a meeting tomorrow
morning. il an ascertadned fact. There Will be
no party or partisan divisions In the committee
on that question, and there Is no doubt that the
House will promptly and cheertully approve the
committees recommendation. There may be
few dissenters who vii! make themselves con-
spicuous by the paucity OF their NUMBER. put
the disposition Of the House, with these excep-
tons is to arm the President with all the au-
thority and furnish him with all the means
necessary to prepare for any emergency WHICH
may arise. If such an emergency did not seem
probable. in the opinion Of the President. Mr.
Cannons resolution would not have been or
fered It distinctly indicates to Congress the
prospect Of near emergency. to meet which
timely and suitable preparation must be made.
Shpst and guns and ammunition cannot be OBJ
tanned in day or a week or without money.
however quickly men may be obtained to man
the ships and handle the guns. and Congress
men realize this. They may have seemed indif-
ferent and inert, whereas they have simply been
awaiting the signal for action. II war shall
come. they will be unit In favor Of It's vigorous
prosecution to the bitter end. but nenrly all OF
them hope and many Of them yet believe that
II will be avoided. Among those who so be-
leve are several men who were present at to-
davis conference with the President. They. how
ever. are as earnest and solcitous as the others
that no precautionary measure shoh NC WV
looked neglected.
II would not be fair to omit to say that the
sentiment in favor Of the preservation of the
Nations honor and the protection Of the Ma
tion's interests pervades and actuates the Rep
resentatives from every State, irrespective Of
rarty In the course OF the day a Tribune
correspondAnt conversed with scores OF Re-
nublican. Democratic and Populist Representa-
tives OF every shade Of opinion. and on this
point found them OF one mind I'VE trust our
President and we will support him to the end
That seems to be true patriotism. and columns
of interviews are not needed to attest IT,
THE NEEDS OF THE ARMY.
There are things that are wanted much more
than warships in case of trouble. and the Army
shares these needs so that fair proportion OF
the s3O,OOO,OOO would have to go TO the War
Department There are abundant supplies OF
shot and shells and powder. The Army Is as
short as the Navy OF those essential stores. IL
has been found. greatly to the qualification or
the Army officers. that there Will not be nearly
so much difficulty In securing modern arms Tor
the Army even on a war footing, as was anti
cipated This is because certain private gun
makers have just brought out type of repeat
ing rife similar in general features to the Army
rife, using the same cartridge Of 80 gauge and
with about as great rapidity Of fire. The plants
Of these companies are so extensive that they
could turn the arms out rapidly. so that the
Springfield in the hands Of the militia could be
replaced in short order.
In connection with the subject Of purchasing
naval ammunition, II Is said that no contracts
have been closed but the Department has in
formed itself fully as TO how speedily 1t could
secure every kind Of ammunition and supplies
in case OF emergency This inquiry has shown
in general way that the facilities of this
country are ample to meet any demand for
powder, proIectiles. cartridge-cases. primers.
fuses ETC. These supplies are not kept In stock,
however, and In case OF emergency they would
have TO be made on orders. 1t Is said that the
capacity Of one firm for turning out the brown
prlsmatic powder required by the Navy Is Ave
million pounds MONTH which would more than
meet the demands OF a conflict.
AMMUNITION FOR wARsHIPs.
While no exact estimate has been made of
the share OF the SJ000OOO0 appropriation to be
allotted to ammunition. 1t is roughly estimated
that at least S10OOOOO0 would he so assigned
owing to the enormous cost Of refing the am
munition chests OF the warships now in service
At present there Is not enough ammunition on
hand for one reflling beyond that now on
board A single reflling costs S3,OOO.0OO. Each
frst-class battle-ship carries four hundred tons
Of ammunition. With the amounts on hand
and the relilllngs which are being calculated on.
the Navy would have an ample supply OF am
munition. even II the ships were called into fire.
Quent action. Naval officers explain that a re-
filling will last through several engagements,
owing to the limit OF endurance OF men while
in action II the guns could be worked con-
stantly a refilling would be exhausted in one
heavy engagement. but the guns. as well the
men, have their limit OF endurance. These con-
sderations have all been taken into account in
the rough estimates that have been made as
TO the reillng requisite for suitable equip
ment OF the American fleet.
TREASURY CAN MEET ANY DEMANDS.
The appropriation OF $5OOOOOOO for the Ma
tional defence will not involve the issue Of
bonds This announcement was made by the
Treasury officials. who said that the Treasury
was amply prepared TO meet any demands
likely TO be made upon It. On February the
ir. 10 Traa q m cd Ia GSll k-1