The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-05-17

the Masters "i the caribbean Sen.
Washington. May 11.-No disposition
has been made as Yet of the Naval APP
preparation bill iy the Senate, but af-
ter an all Day discussion an agree
ment was reached 10 vote on the armor
plate section at o',i0cl. tomorrow af-
ternoon. During the days discussion a
notable speech was delivered by Mr..
Lodge, Of Massachusetts, upon the
necessity Of building up the United
States navy Without delay.
The pending amendment when con-
sideration CT TIE naval bill was re-
sumed was that Of Mr. Ti,lman for
straight price Of 500 Per ton for armor
and government ;.rnlor factory costing
not over S4,oU0, CUv.
.Ir Lodge, CT massachusetts, speak
ing in opposition tc the amendment,
said that for tie pest three years the
Senators from South Carolina and New
Hampshire tAir. Tiilman and Mr..
Chandler) had been endeavoring to get
armor /. q low price. The net result OF
their work had been to put stop to
the construction OF = navy. He had no
prejudice against q government armor
plant, but To stop the building of all
ships until the armor plant could be
erected would, lie thought, be fatal
mistake.
My reasons for desiring more ships"
said he, and desiring them quickly, is
my belief that the safety of the United
States depends upon the strength or
5ur navy. We &C not need the navy for
The protection of our insular posses
sions. The danger lies in our great coast
line and i'll the defence of the Monroe
doctrine in the Western Continent for
the defense Of this great coast line and
the cities studying it we have no ade-
tiuate fleet. We are about to enter upon
The construction Of an 1sthmjan canal
90 defend. control and operate which
We must De the naval masters OF the
Caribbean sea. We must have a far
more powerful fleet than we have to-
lay. The safety of the canal depends
upon our fleet. A great fleet is the
greatest insurance of peace. We should
rot close our eyes to the possibilities OF
he situation. We could never allow the
Danish islands TO pass into any other
;and than ours. The European nation
which should undertake to take posses
ion of these islands right on the road
0 the canal and to make of them great
laval stations would by that very act
.eccme an enemy of ours. We could
stIbn0it to 10 such thing as that. The
Monroe doctrine is g great protection to
ne United States. Men of all parties
Democrats. Republicans and Popul1Sts
without distinction, adhere to that.
Il am by no means sure that some
EUROPEAN nation (perhaps one whose
2avy is now receiving such rapid in
reaSe} may not test the Monroe doc
line. We may be called upon to protect
/ hat doctrine in Brazil or in some other
outh American country. Already too
>uch time has been lost If the Monroe
octrne should be endangered or If our
| cast should be menaced we should be
prepared and it would be weak ex-
use that We had been engaged in
hrottling an egregious monopoly"
In a colloquy with Mr.. Lodge Mr..
| rillnlan said it was well known that
| he navy OF the United States was Su-
1erior to that of Germany.
Mr. Lodge pointed to the great in
| .rease that now was being made in the
! German navy.
IF TIE Senator thinks added Mr..
F-odce there is no danger to be appre-
| oended. l fear he undertakes the i'm
| ,.ortance of the subject-a subject to
| which I have given much thought and
| consideration"
Mr. Bacon, of Georgia, advocated the
| construction of 2 government foundry
| because Re belle ed it would be pro-
| lection Ct the interests of the United
| States He strongly advocated the pro-
| nosed increase in the navy in order that
| the country might be prepared to de-
| fend the Monroe doctrine and its coast.
| At tie same time he deprecated the
| Fact that the government was, as he
said. at the mercy of the armor
| trust.
MI. Daniel. of Virginia, spoke. 1T
| s evident" he said that the armOred
| natt'eship cannot be regarded longer
rs the king Of the ocean. The gun
! las superseded the armCr. 1t is ques-
| .iGr whether. III view Of the wonderful
work of these soft-ncsed shells, which
! not or!y penetrate the armor, but go
| through the ship and out on the other
side, we should build any more of these
| iron candle boxes
| Mr. Daniel said all nations should un-
| derstand that tie Monroe doctrine
would be defended even if the United
| States had 10 fight. No nation on this
| EARTH said he, would be SO fatuous
| as to seek to be treading upon the
| skirts of the United States. 1t is a
mighty serious business, in which any
| nation is lii.ely to be worsted."
Mr.. Daniel said that this government
! made the hICnroe doctrine and it would
| necessary for its interests. But he had
no alarmist views as to war. Il would
| build an armor l,tant now and I would
| let the battleships wait for their armor
| until we could maize it. I would let
| this gigantic trust know that we are
| not helpless and submissive"
Mr.. Penrose. of Pennsylvania, offered
| an amendment authorizing the Secre-
| tary of the Navy to procure the best
! quality of arnOr for the battleships
| Maine, Ohio and Missouri at $545 long
| ton, including royalties. He vigorously
| protested against the denunciatiOn of
| the armor manufacturers.
Mr.. Elkins, Of West Virginia, argued
against a government plant, as did Mr..
| Allison. who spoke on the scare Of
| economy. The latter said it would be
four years before a government armor
| plate could be put on q ship.
| AT $40 p. m. the Senate adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
Washington, May 1.-THE House to-
| day broke all records in the matter OF
passing private pension bills. In all
| $50 bills We're passed. Among them
| was the Senate bill to pension the
widow of the late General Guy "
Henry. AS the bill passed the Senate
it carried 500 per month, but the House
| reduced this amount to $50.
A bill amending the law providing fol
Communication of travel and subsistence
| allowance so as to allow a uniform rate
| Of four cents per mile for officers ano
enlisted men was passed.
The House adjourned over until Mon