Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-02-22
No Place for Cheese pairing.

that while the estimates submitted by
the war department called $l3.3'S,a'l
the bill reported by the appropriations
committee carried only Si,144.912. and
isting conditions the estimates sub
mtted by the department might well
have been granted. When we recall
the emphasis With which the able
chairman of the appropriations com
mittee expressed his belief last July, in
voting against the purchase of the ar
NOR plate necessary to complete three
powerful battlcshipS then in process Of
construction. that the safety of the
country might better be subserved By
the building up of an adequate system
of coast defences. we confess that we
are considerably surprised at the dis
crepancy existing between the esti-
mates for that purpose submitted by
the war department and the appropria-
tons recommended by the committee. =
In view of recent events we are more
We feel that the narrow and parsimoni-
Gus policy pursued by the appropriations
committee in dealing with so important
a matter. fully merits tie storm of pro
test and condemnation it has occa
stoned in all parts of the country. In
our judgment this is a subject of the
very gravest importance. 1t should be
dealt with in a broad and liberal spirit.
We have no doubt that the estimates
of the war department We're fully as
low as was consistent with an efficient
service. They should have been
granted. The country has right to
be disguised with a narrow unpatriotic
and cheese pairing policy in dealing
is not surprising that the American
people are rising up to condemn it. The
amazing thing is that the members Of
the appropriations committee should
have taken 50 narrow a view of the
necessity for proper national defences
as to have reported bill granting only
about one-third the amount asked for
by the war department.
Fortunately for the country the Sen
ate committee was not led hy false no.
TONS of economy to overlook and
ignore the important matter of ado
Quate coast defences. The amount APP
propriated by the House was more
than doubled. and, as reported to the
this large increase was felt ny many to
he inadequate to the requirements of
the situation. The opinion WAS
expressed by leading senators that
the bill might, very property.
carry the total amount called for
10y he department. SO strong was this
feeling that several amendments We're
made to the bill, aud, as finally passed
it carried 81. 81 .494. In the discussion
upon this measure Senator Lodge
struck the key note of popular scnti-
ment throughout the country when h
said:
we agreed some years ago, without
distinction of party. to pursue Il steady
policy which should result in the forti-
iication of our seacoast cities. Last
year We made what seemed an adc
quatc appropriation toward carrying
out that policy. This year Il bill has
come to us from the House in my judS
mcnt utterly inadequate--a bill illus
tratinS what | think is a narrow ana a
false economy, an economy more
Wasteful. more disastrous than any
extravaganza could possibly be | am
no friend to excessive appropriations.
There are many directions in the gov
eminent expenditures where savings
is not one of those directions. 1t would
be exactly as if a town which required
to save money should begin by cutting
off it's water supply, suppressing its
fire department and abolishins its
police"
Ii is evident that majority of tn
Senate looked upon the matter in the
same light as did the distinguished
senator from Massachusetts. Let the
work upon the national defences be
pushed with untiring ViGor, and upon
broad and comprehensive scale. The
sum appropriated by the Senate was
| small enough. and We sincerely hope
| that not single dollar of it will be
! yielded in conference.
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