The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-25
Every Radical Expression in Regard
to the Maine or Cuban Affairs
Cheered by Visitors.
ATTEMPT TO CUT OFF TALK
MIR. BOUTELLE WANTED DEBATE
LIMITED TO FOUR HOURS,
But Opposition Was So Strong 1t Was
Agreed to Extend the Time TIL
1 O'Clock This Afternoon.

WASHINGTON, March 24--The naval APP
preparation bill taken up in the House
to-day, and. after considerable difficulty,
arrangement was made to close general de-
bate at / o'clock tomorrow. There was
great pressure for time, but the leaders de-
sired to limit, as far as possible. the oppor-
tunity for inflammatory utterances. The
debate to-day was not on sensational lines
but every radical expression was cheered
10 the echo by the crowded galleries. The
speeches of MessrS Dayton and Arnold
both of whom took advanced positions in
favor of aggressive action to stop the war
in Cuba aroused intense enthusiasm.
Messrs Boutelle, chairman of the naval
committee, and Meyers, also & member OF
the committee confined their remarks
closely to the bill and the extraordinary
emergency which necessitated the large in
creases it carried. Several of the other
Speakers discussed political questions.
AS soon as the journal was read, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Boutelle, the House went into
committee of the whole, Mr.. Sherman (Rep.,
n. W in the chair, for the consideration of
the bill Mr. Boutelle stated that it was
exceedingly important that the bill should
be passed as speedily as possible. 1t was
the most complete measure for strengthen
ing the naval establishment ever reported to
the House. The reasons were too obvious to
require mentioning. The committee over
which he presided had been impressed with
an earnest desire to meet fully and COM
pletey the expectations of the House and
the country in providing this great arm of
the naval defense with all reasonable re-
qurements to meet any exigency that
might arise. Mr.. Boutelle took occasion to
resent some of the criticisms which had
been made against the committee The
committee, he said had periodically and
earnestly lahored to meet all the extraordi-
nary demands, and us a result of infinite
pains had reported the bill. With this
preface Mr. Boutelle entered on a detailed
explanation of the bill and the increase and
extraordinary provisions 1t carried. In the
course of his remarks he replied to what he
termed an extraordinary SANDER" on him.
self which appeared IN a New York paper
yesterday, charging him with responsibility
for the lack of engineer officers in the serv-
ice.
ATTEMPT TO VOTE TO-DAY.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Boutelle's re-
marks he attempted to arrange a time for
closing general debate. He suggested
o'clock tonight, but there was, a chorus of
protests, whereupon he moved that the COM
mittee rise for the purpose of fixing the time
at which the debate should close. The motion
was holly contested but it prevailed by a
narrow margn--93 to SO. Several. Republic
ans voted with the Democrats. Speaker
Reed himself marched through the tellers.
When the committee rose Mr.. Boutelle
moved that general debate close at 5, O clock
Mr. Richardson Oem., TENN moved to
amend the motion by making the hour
O'Clock tomorrow, but the chair declined
to recognize the motion, accepting the state
ment of Mr.. Boutelle that he intended to
move the previous question on the motion.
The latter motion was put after some sharp
parliamentary wrangling. The motion for
the previous question was defeated-91 to
&c. Thereupon Mr.. Boutele demanded the
| yeas and nays for the purpose of putting on
record the Republicans who refused to vote
to sustain his motion. Before roll call was
concluded a compromise was reached by
| which it was agreed that the general debate
| should close at l O'Clock tomorrow, the ses-
| sion of to-day to be extended until o'clock
| tonight. This arrangementwas ratified and
| then debate proceeded.
Mr.. Meyer (Dem., Lao, one. of the MEM
| bers of the naval committee, then took the
| floor. Mr.. Meyer, after referring to the ex
| traordinary circumstances under which the
naval bill came up for consideration at this
time, said that the theater of war, IT such
must come, would not be on the land, but
to place lis in a position of defense 1t is
large enough for peace purposes and can
easily and quickly be expanded in event of
war. But" said he, you cannot improVise
a navy even with fifty or one hundred mil
lions placed at the discretion of the Presi-
dent. You may have an ample supply of
in the handling of ships and in habits of
command Nor can you make a sailor as
quickly as you can soldier. Still less can
you .mproViSe a man-Of-war crew, with Il
thorough knowledge of all they have to do
and possessing the discipline and training
needed to make them efficient in sea serv-
ice and in battle. A battle shin or an ar
mored cruiser is not built in day any more
than Rome was-not even in the old days of
wooden ships could a feet be impro-
vised or built expeditiously.3 1t is obvious
that to wait for war and to await naval
preparation until war actually arrives, in
the hope that disparity in naval force can
be speedily corrected, is an idea unworthy
of rational and patriotic men,. 1t is the very
acme of human folly.
OUR NAVY INADEQUATE.
$50 much has been said in the press and
on the stump about the new navy that
the public has grossly overestimated its
fighting capacity. True, I may assert that
the ships have are of the best. and our
personnel active, keen and equal to the
highest traditions of their predecessors 1t
is indeed a powerful navy, compared with
the best fleet of wooden ships that the
United States or any other nation ever pos
sessed, but 1t is far inferior to the present
navies of France, Germany and Russia 1t
is a very small navy compared with that
of Great Britain. 1t is inferior to that of
Italy, country nearly bankrupt. with
about one-third of our population, and still
more inferior in wealth and the interests
Sle may DE calle0 on TO derend. There are
only four battle ships of the first class and
two of the second class. One of these the
Maine. now lies at the bottom of Havana
harbor. the victim probably of an assas-
sins foul act whose instigatOrs. whoever
they may be. evidently took no thought
from the words of the English statesman
that Assassination has never changed the
history of the world So. then, we have
only five battle ships left. We have five
more of the first class now being built. and
these. the secretary tells us will not be
ready for service before the latter part of
1899, say eighteen to twenty months from
now. Even the torpedo boats-an essential
part of our system of coast defense-will
not be ready for a considerable time to
come.
Holding these views as to duty and
the public necessities l welcome even the
exceedingly modest and reasonable addition
of three battle ships and six torpedo boats
and six torpedo boat destrOyerS proposed
by the bill With equal satisfaction do /
hail the step which proposes TO give our
war ships adequate docking and repair
facilities upon the Atlantic, the Pacific and
the gulf coasts. The nifty million appro-
priation unanimously voted by Congress
was not only declaration of our purpose
to stand by the country in time of war: il
was also q confession by Congress that we
are lacking sadly lacking, In preparation
for war and that whatever money, freely
voted would do to atone for our past neg
lect and want of foresight. would be cheer
fully, promptly given.
WORSE THAN THE MAINE HORROR.
Mr. Dayton (Rep., w. Val. another mem
Der OF the committee In discussing the bill
spoke feelngly of the Maine explosion.
But the blowing up of the Maine. said ne
marc fncFdapt a0r1pared with thar