The San Francisco call., 1904-02-05
POLICIES
ARE CONTRASTED
Senate Chamber the Arena Of
an Interesting Debate on
the Days Political Issues
LODGE VERSUS GORMAN
Harrison and Cleveland Ad-
ministrations Are Compared
by the Rival Spokesman

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-The Senate
chamber again to-day was the arena
of an interesting political debate, with
the provision in the urgent deficiency
appropriation bill for loan Of $4,000,
600 for the st. Louis Exposition the
basis for the discussion.
The controversy was precipitated by
Lodge, who quoted many official figures
to demonstrate that Republican policies
had not been a failure in the United
States. Foraker also spoke. devoting
himself largely to comparison Of con-
ditions under the Harrison administra-
tion and those under the administration
of Cleveland, to the advantage of the
former.
On the Democratic side German and
Bailey were the orators. German eX-
planned his attitude toward the army
and navy and charged that at the close
of the Harrison administration the
treasury of the United States was in
a very bad way. Bai1ey followed up
this charge with an elaborate presenta-
tion of statistics and contended that
the export trade of the United States
under Cleveland was greater than un-
der Harrison. The exposition amend
ment had not been disposed OF when
the Senate adjourned.
Newlands of Nevada denied Spoon
er's charge that in his speech at Omaha
he had repudiated the anti-imperial-
istic issue. Speaking Of the recently
negotiated treaty with Cuba Newlands
Iot caaLrinO aXPlnSiUp
privileges in that island, because trust
prices were such in the United States
that we could not compete with other
natural basis.
FAVORS A STRONG NAVY.
Lodge defended the Republican ad-
ministration against the charge of neg
lecting other affairs in the interest of
the army and navy. He considered
that the navy outweighed all others Of
our institutions in Importance and that
1t was the last place to economize and
the first place to spend" He would
economize, If economize we must, in
expositions and fairs and not on the
defense of the country.
German disclaimed any intention to
IOllOW hOQSe III COiliPdIlh6 lllC OAONC-
land administration with others, for it
could not be made fairly. Yet it was,
he said, fair to say that Cleveland had
been compelled to meet. a condition in
the treasury so serious that Repub-
lican Secretary of the Treasury had
said that bankruptcy was threatened.
Certainly the Democratic administra
ton was not responsible for that con-
dition.
Commenting on the present condition
of the country's finances German said
that it was due TO the immense ex-
penditures made in preparation for war
-SS2 600 900 last year for the navy and
Sis. 900, 600 for the army-fn time of
profound peace. He denied that he
had been an enemy of the upbuilding
of the navy. On the contrary he would
have a navy ample to guard American
interests everywhere. But he had no
idea of a navy to compete with that of
Great Britain or Germany, because our
conditions did not require such navy.
He did not want a navy for display,
but for service.
Il want economy in it," he said, and
he called attention to the effectual aid
given to Venezuela during the Cleve-
land administration.
COST OF OUR SEA FORCE.
1--WE did that" he said" as a cost of
S16,OOO,OOO a year. and now we pay
$4,000, 900 year for navy which is
to threaten Colombia.
He would reduce the expenditures
in the navy and he would scale the
army down from 100000 men, as now
authorized, to $4,000 men.
German commended the removal of
our fleet from the scene of trouble in
the Orient by order of the President,
saving the brave commander of the
fleet would like part in any trouble.
1t was rumored, he went on, in
high naval circles that the United
States was marching around the globe
with a chip on its shoulder with a
taunt to Germany to knock it off.
Foraker announced his support OF
the exposition amendment and ex-
pressed regret that the question should
have been given a political hue. He
expressed surprise at Germans re-
marks concerning the condition of the
finances of the country at the close of
Harrison's administration. He re-
called the panic of 1893, which, he
declared, was precipitated by the cleo
ton of Cleveland on a platform pledg-
ing the repeal of the Mckinley tariff
law and the substitution of a tariff for
revenue only.
Patterson of Colorado asked For
aker how he accounted for the cut in
the wages of the textile and steel
workers and the miners of the btu
minous coal fields, in view of his con-
tention that prosperity was uninter-
rupted.
FORAKER DEFENDS THE ARMY.
Foraker replied that the reduction
of the wages in textile workers was
due TO the advance in the price of
cotton AS for the other reductions.
it WAS no unusual thing to make