The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-02
De Almonds Strong Plea for
Action by Administration.
DIPLOMACY DANGEROUS
AMERICA SHOULD STRIKE BE
FORE SHE Is STRICKEN.
HOSTILE FLEET SHOULD BE CHECKED
Naval Appropriation Bill is Passed With a Rush
and for Double the Amount Reported
Cannon's Resolution Reducing Num-
Der of Sims Showed Under.
ber Of Ships Showed Under

Der of Ships Showed Under.
Washington. ID. c., April 1.-After an
exceedingly turbulent session of SIX
hours the House to-day passed the Ma
val appropriation bill and then adjourn
cd until Monday The war spirit was
manifested in all the speeches and over
rode the Naval Committee itself by IN
creasing the number of torpedo boats
and torpedo boat destroyers to n, the
hill as reported providing for but l., and
the appropriation TO S4,600,000 instead
of $2300,000.
The amendment of Mr.. Cannon,
chairman of the Appropriation Commit
tee to reduce the number of battle shiDs
to one was buried under an overwhelm-
ing majority. The provision relating 70
armor plate, which in ordinary times
would have precipitated debate of sew
eral days. was disposed of in ten min
utes, a proposition to decrease the price
agreed to in the bill from $500 to $500
per ton being drowned in perfect Choir
us of noes.
In speaking on his amendment redne-
ing the number of battle ships Mr.. Can
non said:
Most gentlemen believe that within
n week we will be at war with one OF
the nations of the earth. That
will mean additional taxation and
authorizations to borrow $500
100000. 1t means that these bur
dens shall be put upon the people. Let
MS double taxation IL necessary but let
MS not authorize a single dollar that is
not necessary to meet the emergency just
jim front of us. Long before these battle
ships can be launched the war will be
over and | fear these battle ships will
he obsolete applause on the fioor)
Mr.. De Almond (Dem.. Mo- called
upon the administration to take the az
gressive. The Maine. he said. had been
blown mp in a harbor supposed to be
friendly There was great danger now,
he declared. in trusting to diplomacy
rather than TO our own strong arm. The
great questions now. was to stop the
hostile fleet approaching our shores. If
we were depending upon diplomacy it
would prove broken reed The best
protection at such time. he urged. was
aggression. not to wait idly resting upon
hopes that mad no foundation. He de-
clared that we should strike while we
had the advantage. War between ma
tiOns was not like a contest between
equally match gladiators. The victory
belonged in war TO the country that best
prepared for it, and seeing farthest into
the future struck first where the blow
would prove most effective.
Let us protect ourselves" continued
Mr.. De Almond. by striking before we
are stricken. lApplause.) Let us not
wait. We have waited too long | hope
that proper orders of energy are on foot.
and that what / apprehend as danger
will be avoided"
Mr.. De Almond closed with an appeal
against further delay
After the passage of the Naval Appro-
priation bill the House at p. m, adj
journed until Monday.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington. d. o.. April I'm the
open session of the Senate to-day Mr..
Chandler IN H., called mp the reso-
lution he introduced yesterday. request
ing the President to send the Cuban
consular correspondence to the Senate
and at his suggestion it was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Immediately afterward, however. he
introduced another resolution, which
went over. calling upon the Secretary
Of the State for tire same information.
Mr.. Bacon (Ga.e offered a resolution
which was adopted, requesting the Sec
rotary of War to inform the Senate
what provisions had been made TO pro-
fect the sea-coast cities of Georgia and
what part of the emergency appropria
tion Of S50.000,000 had been allotted for
the denfense Of Ge0rgia's coast.
After the passage of a few bills the
Senate at 1888 y. n.. went into exc
cutiye session and at 4:31 p. m, adj
jonrned until Monday
Washington, ID. c., April 1.-The Sen
ate spent almost the entire day in execu-
tive session, in the discussion of the
resolution reported yesterday from the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
for the acquisition Of the West India
islands owned by Denmark and the ses-
sion was closed by the practical with
drawal of the resolution by Senator
Lodge, its author. He stated that the
debate had developed such wide diff
ference Of opinion in the Senate where
there had heretofore been such a wide
difference of opinion in the Senate where
there had heretofore been such unanimi-
ty that he would not further press the
matter at time when the President
needed the support of Senators Of all
parties.