The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-23
TO MAN THE BIG GUNS
SENATE PROVIDES FOR TWO ADDI-
TIONAL ARTILLERY REGIMENTS
Bill Reported by Mr.. Hawley and
Adopted, Only FOIr Votes Being
Cast Against the Measure-An
Additional Annual Expense of
Half n Million Dollars Involved.

WASHINGTON, Feb 22-As soon as
the reading of the historic farewell adj
dress of Washington was concluded by
Mr. Lodge (Mass.) in the senate today
Mr.. Hawley Comm, chairman of the
military affairs committee, called up
the bill providing for the enlistment Of
two additional regiments of artillery
Tor service in manning the heavy
coast defense batteries which congress
has provided during the past two
years.
Senator Hawley, in reporting the bill
said: The speedy passage of this bill
/ or its equivalent appears to be an alb
| solute necessity. The government, af-
ter long and careful consideration by
those whose offices and studies qualify
them to give the most valuable advice
has entered upon the execution of a
systematic and elaborate plan of coast
defense.
The great expenditure will be vast
ed treasure unless a sufficient number
of artiilerymen, carefully selected and
thoroughly drilled, be assigned to the
care and use of these costly instru-
ments of defense
LAS the works are from week to
week completed, the utmost the general
| commander can do is to detail few
| caretakerS to each station. With the
aid of the actives of the national guard
and those who have been discharged
| therefrom after years of instruction
effective cavalry and infantry could be
collected in a comparatively short time ::
but in case of war short notice would
be given to the men in charge of the
great guns on the coast. whose costly
machinery requires much mechanical
skill and practice.
Men fit to be trusted to run great
engines on our railroads, or even the
ordinary steamers OF rivers and lakes
cannot be called into service at a days
or a months notice To handle, but
especially to fire with precision, the
new guns requires the highest class Of
skilled labor.
Additional Expense.
"A careful estimate OF the annual ad-
ditional expenditure required to main
| tain the two regiments is $530,054. But
some months will expire before the
| regiments can be fully enlisted and Or
ganized, and while the scale of the first
year with its equipment will be very
considerably greater than that of aver
age subsequent years, it Is believed that
$3.50, 900, possibly less, will suffice for
the fiscal year of 1899
1T is scarcely worth while to enlarge
upon the wisdom of establishing the
defenses of our very extended coast
Successive congresses have vigorously
and literally asserted itself"
Mr.. Bate tTenn) objected to the bill
| because it tended to an increase of the
army, to which, he said he was unal-
terably opposed.
He thought that there were enough
troops already under enlistment to man
all the guns now being provided for by
the government. He argued that II
would be better to assign infantry
regiments to the manning Of these guns
than to put them in charge of raw re-
cruits
Mr.. Cockrell MOI said he was op-
posed to an increase in the infantry or
cavalry arms of the service, but in this
case the country was confronted by a
serious condition. He regarded it as
necessary that the guns provided by
the government should be properly car
ed for and manned. For that reason he
had consented as a member Of the COM
mittee to have the bill favorably re-
ported.
The bill was then passed, 52-4 The
negative votes were cast by Messrs.
Bate (Tenn.), Clay (Ga), Chiffon
(Tex.) and Vest MOI
Mr.. Morgan (Ala.) secured the adop-
ton of the following resolution:
That the committee on naval affairs is in
structed to inquire and report whether a
man Of war, equal, at least to any war
ship in the world. to be named the George
Washington, can be built armed and com
missioned within period OF twelve months
by the use of the facilities OF the ship
yards, machine shops, mines and forests of
the United States wherever the same are
found; and that the committee has leave to
report at any time by bill or otherwise.
The resolution was adopted without
debate
At 1870 the senate went into executive
session and at 4 p. m. adjourned.