The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-16
SLUR ON THE MILITIA
HALE OF MAINE THINKS IT OF LIT
TIE VALUE.
NAVAL RESERVES ATTACKED.
HIS CHARGES VIGOROUSLY RE-
FUTED BY SENATOR'S.

Warmly Disputed by Several SEN
atOrs, who Cited History Back to
Revolutionary Days-HaIe Dis
claims Intention of Rejecting
Upon National Guard.
Washington, Jan. ia spirited
discussion was precipitated in the SEN
ate to-day by some remarks submitted
by Mr.. Hale of Maine, in respect to
bills relating to the formation. of a
naval reserve, which he introduced.
He took strong ground against the
organization of a naval reserve, his
comments being construed by some of
the senators into a reflection upon
volunteer soldiers and land militia.
Half dozen senators were on their
feet in an instant to defend the vol
unteers and the national guard of the
various states, and the debate took so
wide a range that senators went back
in their references, to the days OF the
Revolutionary War to seek illastra-
tions for their arguments. While no
action was possible at this time, it is
likely the discussion upon the meas
ures, should they be reported, will! be
very lively. No business of special
Importance was transacted, the time
of the Senate being consumed by mat
ters of routine.
In introducing some bills relating to
the organization and maintenance of
naval reserve, Mr.. Hale, Maine, de-
pIared fbot +bos ,.o1;o,oo ,,1oaoa L.. .-..-
people upon the naval reserve never
would be realized. Experience had
shown, he said that at the beginning
of a war plenty of young men were
ready to enlist in the navy and enter
the ranks of naval bodies, but at the
conclusion of the war the interest in
the organizations ceased, and it was
found difficult to maintain them.
He was of opinion that the United
States was not likely, as nation,
to take much interest in the militia.
forces, either of the land or of the sea-
In time of stress ne was certain that
the country would be obliged to depend
upon volunteers, called out in an
emergency or upon some form of COM
pulsory service "If," he said, eve are
to become a great war power we will
have to learn the lesson other nations
have learned. Every one of the ma
tions of the world that stands snarling
at another depends to some extent
upon some sort of compulsory military
service. England had learned this les
son from her smallest and wickedest
war"
Mr.. Hale declared that England was
about to resort to conscription to raise
men to fight "a band of freemen thous-
ands of miles away" 1t had been
proved, he said. that the naval militia
was not a success. OF course; it could
be maintained in "a lingering, half
hearted manner" but it never really
amounted to much.
In conclusion he said:
"If we have determined that we are
to become a great war power with a
great army and a great navy, no sys-
tenn of volunteering will answer the
purpose"
In response to an inquiry from Mr.
Hawley. Mr. Hale said he did not sup
pose that the United States ever would
dispense absolutely with the militia,
but that it would continue to be main
tanned in a. half hearted way In time
Vi wal, he ulu ItOL lfllilh IL WOull Ue
worth reckoning with.
Several senator's among them Mr..
Mason, Illinois. Mr.. Teller, Colorado,
Mr.. Hoar. Massachusetts and Mr.. Ba-
con, Georgia, were drawn into the de-
bate in defense of the militia forces of
the various states, Mr.. Hale finally dis
claiming any intention to reflect upon
the national guard. Mr.. Hoar said that
while the naval militia was yet in an
experimental stage, 1t was manifest
that in every warlike emergency the
country must be protected by trained
militia or by a regular army or by
both. 1t had been proved that the
United States ought to have a good
regular army of moderate strength,
supplemented by strong militia force.
independence Won at Sea.
Mr.. Hoar, referring to the training Of
sailors in civil life, said there was an
other fact not generally known. Our
independence in the war of the Revo-
luton had been won at sea. 1t was
not the French alliance but the rate of
maritime insurance which compelled
the unwilling monarch to come TO
peace. The rate of insurance on En-
glish commercial ships then was q
per cent. in the Mediterranean.
After Mr.. Bacon had protested that
IL was the valor of our soldiers and
sailors that enabled the colonies to
gain their independence and not the
rates of insurance on English ships,
Mr.. Tillrnan insisted that Mr.. Hoar
should give some of the credit of
achieving independence to other colo
MES than New England. Amid laugh
ter and applause, he declared: There's
glory enough TO go round, as our great
Admiral in command at the battle OF
Santiago said"
A Lighthouse Proposition.
Mr.. Hoar. in presenting a petition
from railroad. insurance and shipping
interests praying for the construction
of lighthouses in some dangerous
places where lightships are located
now, said that proposition had been
made BY a responsible and intelligent
builder TO construct lighthouses at
points where government engineers had
considered Il inpracticable to build
ligh hthouses. He thought such prop
osition ought TO be treated with re-
spect. II WAS an Illustration OF the
marvellous Inventive ability Of this ma
ton.
A concurrent resolution was adopted
providing for the printing Of $500 cop
les OF the proceedings Of the Schley
court OF inquiry.
Mr.. Tiiman announced the death Of
J. william Stokes, formerly repre-
sentative IN Congress from South Car
olina, and after the adoption Of the
usual resolutions Of regret the Senate,
.....H -. a