The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-19
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scrtion that an Influence is at work in
tlie house of Representatives, not among
the majority of members. but among
the leaders. to embarrass the president
i'm the pending emergency. We pre-
sent in his words some of the principal
points in THIS Indictment:
THE army and the navy are both
very badly in need of reorganization.
The naval pcrsA mel bill is a matter of
extreme iuportIAcc. but all efforts of
The president and Secretary Long to
secure the passage of the hill through
the house seems likely to fail. 1T was
introduced at The beginning of the ses-
sion and referred to the Naval COM
nittee, where it was pigeon-holed. 1t
would involve an increase of eXpendi-
lures of something like 100000 year,
but It would give the navy the officers
and engineers that are absolutely
needed to man the ships already owned
by the government.
THE militia force Of the United
States, so far as it's equipment is con-
cerned, is almost half century behind
the age. In one state thirteen kinds
OF guns are used by the militia. Be
cause of this failure TO equip the militia
with uniforms and modern guns. the
greater part of 1t would be ineffective
in case of war, ana when the men We're
finally equipped with guns they would
have to use rifles with which they We're
entirely unfamiliar. Year after year
this matter has been brought to the
partment and at each congress bills
have been introduced and generally re-
ported to the house To- remedy this
state of affairs. Still through the OPP
position of certain leaders in the in
terest of economy nothing has ever
been done.
The army organization is in the
same antiquatCd condition. For many
years congress has been urged by the
War department to pass a measure
that would give the army an organ
ization like that of the European gov
ernments. AS long ago as the Fifty
first congress bill passed both houses
on the subject and failed in conference
committee because the chairman of the
house conference committee could not
get recognition near the end of the ses-
sion to secure the adoption by the
house of the conference report. The
measure has hung along in congress
fver since, and now, with a possible
war in sight, Secretary Alger. General
Miles and the other responsible offic-
1als are extremely anxious for this
legislation. The president has urged it
hpOn the leaders of the house, and
Today Chairman Hull. of the Military
committee, introduced a new bill on
the subject which has been SO modi-
fled that the president is in homes that
ii will pass. But Mr.. HUI can get no
promise OF consideration Of his meas
ure, and il is very doubtful if il is even
taken up in the house at this session.
The need of dry docks is notorious.
IT has been urged upon congress for
years, and yet, if certain leaders could
have had their way, the house naval
committee would possibly not have
done anything on the subject. Mr..
Boutelle was so put out because the
majority of the committee refused tc
follow his leadership on this matter
that he left the committee room when
the vote was taken deciding in favor
of constructing new docks, and also
when it was decided to construct tor.
pedo boats and destroyers.'
These" adds Mr.. Gibson. very i'm.
pressivrly, "are the reasons why tho
country is unprepared. for war It is
wholly the fault of congress. The lead.
gi.l f,,,
Gratis as well as Republicans, have beer
at fault The great majority in boil
house and senate have been ready tt
vote the necessary legislation to pu
the country in condition Of defense
hut they have been held back by lead
ers whose plea was that of economy
plea the country now realizes wa,
very short-sighted. Instead of provid
ing the vessels needed for the defens,
of the country the navy department il
now put 10 the necessity of purchasin.
inferior vessels at high prices in for
eign markets. The torpedo boats an,
torpedo-bOat destrOyers-vessels tha
are not eXpensiVe.-have not been pro
vided. and as a result the adminstra
ton is now forced to purchase tugs an,
yachts and turn them into torped
boats. SO far as the 'destroyers' an
concerned the nation is absolutel
without a single efficient vessel of tha
kind. Unless public opinion j. brough
severely to bear on congress it is b.
no means certain that this short
sighted economy will be abandone
even at this late day"
II Mr.. Gibson or any one else wi
give to the country the names Of tn
men who are chiefly responsible for thi
stupid obstructiYeness we will warran
that they viii not get the chance /
repeat their mistake.
Tradition tells of people who hay
been possessed of such pronounce
thievsh Droclivlties that they wOul
bnf af,