The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-30
SENATE DEBATE ON THE
OAHU FORTIFICATIONS
Continued from page II

| Mr.. Foraker-May | further ask tn
Senator, before | sit down if he viii
allow me, whether or not for S2oooot
there could not be procured ampl
grounds for Notifications at some OF thu
points where 1t is contemplated that for
tihcations shall be erected?
| MIR. Perkins-We have no bond anc
no option upon any land there, SO the
Department informed us.
| Mr.. Foraker-I understand there i:
no bond and no option, but there was
knowledge, as / understand it, before the
committee of the House of Represen-
tatiyes, where the provision was framed
and also knowledge before the commit
tee that struck out the House provision
| am inquiring simply for information
Mr.. Perkins.-'The estimates for this
bill, Mr.. President, were $2I,573,I 10y. II
has been cut down from the estimates
to S7,637,Io2. Therefore, when we in
creased the appropriations in the bill in
| the Senate we had this provision under
consideration as we'll as many others
that were presented to us. After pre-
| senting the matter to the Board of En-
| gineers we received a communication
from them, and while urging the appro-
| priation of the full amount they had
asked for, they made this statement:
! This increase is respectfully recon-
mended. If, however, the committee can
not see its way clear to such increase in
| the aggregate of the bill, and some item
| nust be correspondingly decreased, it is
| suggested that the item of 100000 FOR
| land in Hawaii is the one which will
| probably best stand a reduction, while
| no work of construction at Pearl Har-
Dor with funds here appropriated is an
| ticipated. Such reduction in the land
| item would, nevertheless, be regretted.
The terrifying of Pearl Harbor and Ho-
nolulu is of much Importance, and as
no work can be commenced until land
is purchased it is desirable that as early
action be taken in such land purchase as
is practicable. The total cost of such
land is. however, estimated at $4,000,
and even with an appropriation of $780,,
600 but portion of the desired land
could be secured.
Mr.. Spooner.-We have no fortifca-
tons, understand, at Pearl Harbor?
Mr. Perkins.-We have none.
Mr.. Spooner.-Does not the Senator
think it is time we entered upon the
work of fortifying the Hawaiian Is
lands?
Mr.. Perkins.-There is no question of
it
Mr.. Spooner.-Shall we wait until
there is immediate use for Notifications
Mr.. Perkins.-There is no question
but that we should fortify not only
Pearl Harbor and Honolulu Harbor and
Diamond Head, but also the five forts
named-Manila and Subig Bay, San
Luissd 'Apra, Guam, and San Juan, P. r.
Mr. Spooner-There is this difference,
if the Senator makes that observation
by way of argument, that Hawaii is one
of the organized Territories of the Unit
ed States. The Philippines are not.
Neither is Porto Rico in the sense that
Hawaii is. have always supposed that
at a reasonably early day the United
States would enter upon the work of
adequately fortifying the Hawaiian Is
lands see no reason-perhaps the SEN
atof can lgive me one-why we should
not appropriate the money for the ac-
QUESTION of the land necessary for that
purpose
Mr.. Perkins-That is precisely our
view, Mr.. President. l am in full ac-
cord with the Senator.
Mr. Spooner-I should like to ask
the Senator-he being in agreement with
me upon that proposition-whether the
money necessary for acquiring the lands
necessary for that purpose is not estim-
ated for?
Mr.. Perkins-It is. But the Depart
ment assured me that they had no bond,
no option, no Guaranty that it could be
purchased for the amount they estim-
ated.
Mr.. Spooner. The Senator, l sup
pose, has no doubt that The Government
of the United States has power to con-
denim whatever land we require for that
purpose?
Mr. Perkins.-When we will be ready
to appropriate the money.
Mr. Lodge-Is it not unusual to ap-
propriate the money after condemnation?
Mr. Perkins-The Department has |
not recommended it. We should be only |
too glad to rec cmmend an amendment |
if we had a recommendation from the |
Department
Mr.. Spooner-The Department has |
estimated. The Department. does not
generally estimate for things it does not |
recommend, understand. 1t has estim- |
ated five hundred and odd thousand dol |
lars for the acquisition of the necessary |
land in the Hawaiian Islands. If that
money were appropriated, it would mean
what? 1t would not mean that the Gov
eminent would thereby be at the mercy
of some real-eState ring. 1t would
mean that the land was to be acquired
by purchase where it could be acquired
by purchase at fair price, and where it
could not be acquired by purchase at a
fair price, under the general laws of the
United States, which have been extend
ed in that particular to Hawaii, that the
and should be acquired by condemna-
ion, the money having been appropriated
10 pay for it.
Mr.. Perkins.-The Senator, I think,
the position of the COM
nittee upon this matter.
Mr. Spooner-I evidently do.
Mr. Perkins, believe if a recon-
had come from the Depart
nent that this land could be secured for
$4,000 as they estimate, there would
ave been verv few, if any. dissenting
-otes in the committee against it.
hould have had no objection, certain
Y; and if the Senate should now decide
o make an appropriation of S526,ooo, l
l.. -