The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-07
Placing the Blame.

The recent quotation in the press OF
eX-Minster Woodford as authority for
the assertion that two months before
the declaration of war against Spain
there were not two rounds Of ammun-
ltion for each American gun, afloat and
ashore, was incorrect insofar as it ap-
Piled toy the navy, which was contin-
uously prepared in this respect, al
though not with the best powder. But
II was substantially correct as regards
out land Notifications, the rounds of
available ammunition one year ago for
them not exceeding five.
In this connection a Washington cor
respondent of the Pittsburg Times To-
Gates some of the personal RESPONSE
bility for this humiliating unreadiness
for danger. He points out that both
war and navy departments had long
urged congress to authorize the taking
of due precautions, but unavailingly,
and he adds: For this policy of ne
glect the men chiefly responsible are
Representative Cannon, the late Rep
resentative Holman and former Repre-
sentative Sayres, now governor of Tex
as. They We're the chairmen of the
committee on appropriations In the
house and controlled the size of the
bills. Even the little that was given
senate added substantially to the
amount voted by the house. For the
fiscal years 1897 and 1898. when Mr..
Haines, of Nebraska, was the chair
man of the subcommittee on fortifca-
tions. the appropriations were fairly
liberal, amounting respectively to
$1S7ISSS and $9,517,141. In the last
session, even when it was apparent that
war coulL scarcely be avoided the es-
Inmates of the war department of over
S13,000.00 We're cut down, and the house,
under the lead of Mr.. Heminway, Of
Mr.. Sayres, voted but s4,144,612 The
only fight made for more liberal pro-
vision for the sea coast defenses was
made practically single handed by a
Democrat, Mr. Mcclellan, of New York
Before this bill was acted on by the
then the false economists of congress, ,un-
dertook by lavish appropriations to
make good their shortcomings. The
$50, 900 900 national defense bill was
passed, most of it being required for
fortifications, and the senate increased
the regular fortifcation bill to $9,377,-
49i. Even with all this money at his
disposal it was impossible for the pres
ident to put the coast defenses in a
proper condition for war. Upon Sena-
tor German, of Maryland, must rest a
large share of the responsibility for the
weakest point in the navy's preparation
the lack of sufficient guns to prompt
ly and properly arm the merchant ves-
sells called into the naval service. 1t
was in spite of his opposition that the
navy had accumulated even an insuffi-
cient supply of these guns. The appro-
priation bill for 1896, when it passed
the house. carried an appropriation OF
100000 for guns for auxiliary vessels
Mr. German was in charge of If for
the senate committee on apprOpria-
uons, and he moved to strike ont the
item. In vain Senator Chandler tried
to save even $3OO,OOO Of the amount
Senator German pleaded the depleted
state of the treasury and it was striek-
en- out, The next year the house pro-
vided S25O,OO0. Mr.. Quay moved to in
crease it to 100000 and carried his
point against the opposition of Senator
German"
The people have squared accounts
with Senator German. On March a
he expires, politically. They shou,d
STUDY the records Of the other public
men and hold them in future to q more
rigid accountability.