The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-20
PEOPLE WANT
NO GREAT NAVY
ROOSEVELT MEANS WAR.
STATEMENTS BROUGHT OUT OVER
NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS. 8,

Fitzgerald of New York Scored the
Administrations Policy of Build
ing Up a Stronger Navy, Saying
One Is Wanted That VIII surpass
Germany's other Congressman
Supported the Greater Navy En-
terprise.
Washington, Feb. 19.-The House to-
day began. consideration of the naval
appropriation bill, ten hours being al
lowed for general debate. During the
general discussion Mr.. Fitzgerald
(Democrat) of New York declared that
our naval programme was to procure
a naval force greater than that of
Germany. He further said:
I'm all sections of the country the
conviction, rightly or wrongly is firm
that the present occupant of the White
House is apt to involve us in war with
some other nation" adding that the
same belief has been held with respect
to the head of another great nation,
which may account he went on, for
the fact that at a dinner on Lincolns
birthday at Grand Rapids, Mich, the
highest compliment that Baron Won
Sternberg thought he could pay to
President Roosevelt was to declare
that he very greatly resembled the
Emperor of Germany"
Mr.. Fitzgerald said further that eff
the prevailing belief is justified, and
if the President is to be given four
years of power in his own right, now
that the great representative of the
conservative force of the Republican
party. the late Senator from Ohio, Mr..
Hanna, is gone to his reward, 1t may
be wise for us to Guido even Great
Britain in our naval programme.
Should he (the Presidency not be made
to feel that the sentiment of the coun-
try is for peace and is not for strife?"
BY the Glamour of War.
"Since the Standardization War it
is true the people seem to have been
carried away with the glamour of mil
itary achievements. The spirit Of the
n-on-horseback for so many years
so sore an affection to the people of
France, apparently stalks unrestrained
throughout the land. A shrewdly con-
Quoted movement was initiated about
two years ago to cultivate a public
sentiment in favor of mighty navy.
Many prominent men whose business
interests were closely identified with
ed together for the avowed purpose of
popularizing vast expenditures for the
naval service. So stupendouss have the
expenditures for the naval and mill
tary establishments become that i'm
portant and needed public improve
ments have been indefinitely deferred"
Referring to the statement of Ad-
miral Dewey that the sea force should
consist of forty-eight battleships, Mr..
Fitzgerald said that confirmed his as
sertion that the naval programme is
based upon the theory that our navy
should be larger than that of Ger
many.
1t is time to call halt upon much
talk of an infiammatory character
that is heard throughout this land,
declared Mr. Fitzgerald, adding: Pub
lie officials are the chief offenders by
loose, indefinite and bombastic state
ments The Naval Committee in its
report Is not entirely free from the
disease"
Holidays for High OficiaIs.
In conclusion, he asked: Are we
to have a great navy merely to fur
nish summer holidays that high Of
flcials may play at war;"
Mr.. Fitzgerald quoted the following
from the report of the naval commit
tee: THE rapidly developing compli-
NoNlOHS Oh the Whole edSLeEH SlludlfJh
demand that our navy shall be as ef-
fective as possible"
Why? what have we to fear except
the impetuosity of out present chief
eXecutive?" he asked
Mr.. Foss made an urgent appeal for
the upbuilding of the navy, emphasize
ing the necessity of ship construction
IN tunes of peace with the query:
What would Russia give to-day If
could
en- ships?" He said in conclusion that
when 1t became necessary for this gov
eminent to strike it should be prepar-
ed to strike a blow like that struck
by Dewey at Manila.
Mr.. Foss was strongly seconded by
Mr., Meyer of Louisiana, the ranking
democratic member on the commit
tee, who combatted the statement that
the navy was top-heavy, as charged,
ana declared it Indispensable that we
should have a strong navy. Referring
10 the Panama canal, he said he was
ior the canal and also for a navy to
safeguard it,
Tobacco Growers Burdened.
Mr.. Gaines of Tennessee made an
appeal for the tobacco grower, contend
ing for the removal of the tax impos-
SION e1, on stemmed leaf tobacco, when
Stemmed by the farmer, which he as
serted is burden to the grower.
speaking of the Objectionable law,
Mr. Gaines said it evidently had been
written by some skilful lawyer for the
trusts and passed without Congress
showing what it was. The law, as it
NV NV stands. he said, has paralyzed the
liberty of the grower.
MT Stanley of Kentucky said in con-
Hecuon with Mr.. Gaines remarks, that
an extract obtained from tobacco stems
- shlpped to Germany, where a leaf
sIoWn there is immersed in it and then
used as tobacco,
Inc House adjourned until to-mor-