The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-02-26
He Declared that the United States
Does Not Need a Large Navy
PANAMA TREATY IN THE SENATE

he continued. this country could not
provide a sufficient naval force without
q change that would be absolutely APP
palling.
I'VE could not build a navy like that
OF Great Britain without changing the
whole framework OF our society" he
said. What is the reason for the great
expenditure OF $s6, 000. 000?" asked Mr..
Burton. He answered the question by
declaring that II means that this coun-
try IS but inviting the nations OF the
earth to attack US. and that this III
try is going TO enter a field opposite to
that occupied in the pas and seek to
control the politics OF the world
The tendency now was toward peace.
continued Mr.. Burton. and no nation,
he said, could go to war except for
just cause without receiving the con-
demnation OF the powers Of the world.
He appealed for the employment Of
diplomacy instead OF guns In the pro-
motion OF peace. He questioned the
minority as to when they had opposed
these expenditures. He asked the mi
nority why in view OF the declarations
in the Kansas City platform they had
not opposed these expenditures.
Mr.. Williams said Mr.. Burton had
placed the minority in an unfair atti-
tude. He said to oppose the expendi-
, lures would mean hat vessels now
building would rust in their docks and
that the sailors go unfed. Mr.. Vii
Iams said that such large sums were
being expended for war purposes tina
the river and harbor committee. OF
which Mr.. Burton is chairman. could
not bring in a bill and that govern
ment buildings could not be construct
ed. He said when a country goes
world towering" it must go about
with a chip on its shoulder and be pre-
pared.
Mr.. Burton said his remarks were
not to be construed to mean that work
should be brought to n standstill on
ships under construction, or that the
navy should not be maintained, but
what he did mean was hat there should
be a great modification Of the bill zap
plause of the Democratic side.)
Mr.. Burton said no river and harbor
bill was being reported because there
was not $685. 600. 900 lying in the treas
ury to be expended on river and harbor
work.
Mr.. Grosvenor said the sundry civil
bill would carry $40. 405. 1888 for public
buildings.
Mr.. Rixey. of Virginia. a member Of
naval affairs committee. said he was
surprised that the secretary OF the
navy in a recert address should treat
the support Of the navy in a partisan
way. He added that the secretary was
reported to have said at d recent ban
Quet in New York that he viewed with
apprehension the observations recently
made by the nato from Maryland
(ME- Gorman). Mr.. Rixey said it was
difficult to understand why the obser-
vations of the Senator from Maryland
who the secretary said is easily the
leader OF his party. should cause the
secretary such serious apprehension.
He said it could only be accounted for
4 hy thu fa7N l~t
bers that the two political parties will
meet in q few morths to nominate their
candidates and that with his prophetic
eye he sees that the Senator will be
selected as the standard bearer OF the
| party to which he belongs n at the
general election will be successful and
be transferred to a position where he
can shape to some extent the policy Of
the country.
He said he was willing to accept the
statement of the Senator from Mary
land as giving the position Of the Dem
ocratic party on the question Of the
navy. He said that contracts for ar
NOR plate had recently been let to the
Carnegie n Bethlehem Company's a,
$5S a ton in excess Of that paid the Mid.
vale Company. the only other competI
tor charged that it had shown By
the evidence CT Admiral O'Neill thA,
these two companies have an agree
ment and are in communication. He
asked why money should be appropriat.
ed for the prosecution Of trusts. wher
in Pennsylvania there is a combination
to control prices. He referred to thi:
as the statement of the attorney gen.
eral. Why has not the attorney gen.
eral instituted some proceeding agains
the Carnegie and Bethlehem Compa.
MES. he asked, declaring that the gov.
M instead OF starving trusts II
FEEDING them. He aid he would pro.
pose an amendment to the bill limitins
n price to be paid for armor to thai
paid the Midvale, or $55 a ton less thar
the price fixed by the other two com.
panies.
". w. Kitchin. North Carolina. en-
deavored to nave eliminated from In,
bill tn provision for the purchase o
land for q coaling station AT Guantan
amo. raising a point OF order agains
it. Speaking generally upon the sub
1ect Of the navy. Mr.. Kitchfn said h
did not believe In a standsttll policy
nor did he believe in getting stampede
and running wild. Guantanamo viii
ultimately cost 81. o00. 900. He said tn
policy should be TO keep abreast OF IN,
Z growing needs OF the country.
The chair overruled the point Of orde
when Mr.. Kitchin appealed from tn
decision. but tbs chair was sustaine,
by a vote OF 81 to 81.
Consideration OF the naval bill va
pending when the House adjourned.
The first incident OF the day was al
effort by Mr. WILLIAMS, the minorit
leader to secure an adjournment on &C
Of Of the anniversary OF Wash
ington's birthday. His various motion
looking to this end were voted down.
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