The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-17
OUR SEACoAST DEFENCES.
THE FoRTIFIoATIoNs BILL PASSED
IN THE SENATE.

II sustsins the in Doubling
the Approximation as Passed ~ the House
and Further Increases the utom FOR
Powder frem $4,000 20 o 900.
WARRINGTON, Feb. 16.-Tho Senate discussed
to-day, but without having = vote taken on It,
tho resolution against the confirmation of the
sale of the Kansas Pacific Railroad. Tho dis
cussion was interrupted by an executive ses.
sion, and after tho Legislative session was re-
sumed tho Senate took up the Notifications
Appropriation bill. After q rather important
and interesting debate. tho prevailing senti-
mont being in, favor of liberal appropriations
for coastwiso defences, the bill was passed.
Tho bill carried an appropriation OF %, 144,911
as passed by the House, but the Senate COM
mittes had increased the amount to $685.
<9A. Tho principal items Of increase were in
those for construction of gun and mortar bat
teries from $1,000, 900 to SO, 600. 900 and for
stool breeoh-loading mortars OF 12.inch calibre
and carriages therefor by g., SOC, 0OO. The
committee amendments wore all agreed to with.
out.question. In explaining-the report Of tho
Committee on Appropriations Mr.. Perkins said
that all tho members Of the committee were
peace mon, but not at the sacrifice Of tho honor
of the country" They had. therefore. reported
as large an appropriation for this year as was
made for last year. They favored the carry
ing out.of tho:general plan Of Notifications rec
commended by the Endicott Board, and to com.
plete 1t within the next eight or ten ycaro. There
should be, he said, no picayunish economy in
placing the seaports of tho United States in
such o state Of defence as would protect them
against tho combined navies of tho world.
Mr.. Stewart Pop, Nov.) could not under
stand why, with q surplus of 1919. 900, 900 in
the Treasury, the full amount Of estimate for
Notifications tsome $4,000. O0O) had not been
rn,np,pnandcd hv Tim copnp,ittaa Ie thonuht
that the bill should be increased in accordance
with the estimates.
view, and suggested that amendments be Of
fered: increasing the several items.
Acting on that suggestion Mr.. Stewart moved
to Increase tho item for gun and mortar bat
teries from one. million In the House bill. and
from three millions. the Senate amendment, to
MI. Hale REP. Me- said that it the Senator
thought 1t better. In view, OF tho attitude OF the
ates Of the department., rather than take the
moderate but still large appropriation reported
would accept the decision. But he favored the
Mr.. stewart suggested that If the country got
might DO more property destroyed II IN 60 a S single gle
ddsy than the T no w amSph hsS esti ihat fn1 hop a@ py ant
appropriated, and would then let the House
take tho responsibility q cutting it down.
willing TO assume his full share Of responsibility
in making. a sufficient appropriation for works
u L uhtlOnhl ucICLCts u btIl hO .tlOukht. Lhuo
ton millions a year was as much as could be
used advantageously now, In view of the ma
Now that war was not threatened, it would not
be wise to do more. The wise thing to do, the
s pTiselon th to sh TO a mo; Mss 81 T. mime insF Ca ten sh Si fiRlpns.
and stand on that proposition. He was az
much in favor Of economy, as any Senator. but
he would not agree to abandon a scheme of
fortifcaions,:what both houses Of Congress had
agreed to some years ago.. When the Demo.
f itass for Msf1 fo ut RSMHe sne and inS noW that ban TIN the Re.
publicans were in power, with conditions more
threatening. they ought to adhere to tho
o5 mi; Hs.l Icy M miis'P; cp a4P1irs ch ssia Ss S IF s 1as
Observation-Disclosures ser VINO thought that the Whole
thirteen millions estimated for could not, BIO
usefully expended in the year. He said that
tillerymen TO even keep tho:sand out Of their
them. He would bring before the senate in a
few days a bill for two additional artillery regi.
e%nso %ashi i perhsp %e WITH : the Is5s aid %S Of ahs e1 tH : G art
tilleryl TO put & good team on each Of the guns;
fenoeless cities Of the coast, and that he did not
think the House bill a creditabls bin: There
never was astime when seacoast defences were
Mr.. Teller Of Colorado was willing to vote for
any appropriation that was necessary ana that
believe that the United States was going
time in the history of sthe world when
there was a greater prospect OF great wars than
to-day. II tho world escaped a great war for
ten years, no should be very much mistaken.
He would not have the United States engage in
any knight-errantry business.
He.wUuld not have Inclination go out with a
chip on its shoulder. But he would have 1t
perform the duty which Is incumbent upon
every great nation. He would despiso g man
who failed to interfere when. ho saw a child
abused by O strong man. and a nation which
was strong enough to say that the laws of ma
lions must be observed in discussions between
nationssand did notidoi 1t was equally as coward.
~ as the man who would not protect a child
from abuse. If the United States Govern
ment had said to Spain two years ago, as he
had proposed, Conduct the.war according TO
civilized usages," more than a quarter of a mil.
lion men who were now In theirsgravess would
have been alive. and hundreds and thousands
OF men now going to their graves would have
been saved. So that In preparing the great
agencies of war they were also preparing tho
agencies Of peace, and were maintaining the
dignity. and glory of the American people.
Mr.. Chandler urged the Senate TO present
such q united front IN favor of doubling the ap-
preparation in the bill as would convince the
House thatht would be unwise and njurious.and
unpatriotic to cut down tho appropriations of
last year one.half at a time when there were
suggestions of war close to our own doors.
Mr.. Stewart withdrew his amendment, say
ing that there was a concensus OF opinion TO
pass the bill as amended by the committee. The
Item of $3.50 600 for powder and projcciles
was increased to $950,0O0. and then the bill
was passed and the Senate at 6:1O adjourned.