Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-05
"A Wide Range of Subjects
Discussed.
LODGE ON THE. NAVY
DEEMS ITS MAINTENANCE OF
GREATEST IMPORTANCE.
The Country's Prosperity-Comparison
With Cleveland's Administration
Issues of the Campaign.

The irresistible tendency of the debate in
the Senate to drift into politics was exem-
plified yesterday when the urgent deficiency
bill was under consideration. For about
three hours before adjournment there was a
running debate that could have little bear
ing on anything except the next political
campaign.
After The Stars report of the proceedings
was closed Mr.. Newlands spoke in answer
TO some remarks of Mr.. Spooner. He ex-
planned his speech made at Omaha as hav-
ing teen words of advice and good cheer 70
his own party. but that Mr.. Spooner had
charged him with having repudiated the
snti-imperialistic issue. Mr.. Newlands de-
MED that he had been correctly understood
and explained his position on the question
of statehood for Cuba and government of
the fnsular possessions of the United States
Lodge Replies to German.
Mr.. Newlands was followed by Mr. Lodge
who replied to Mr.. Germans speech of the
DAY before He denied that he had intended
in his remarks of Wednesday 10 admit the
failure of the republican policy in the imam
cial affairs of the country. He cont ended
that instead of being a failure the repub-
1ican tinanciering had been a great success
He called attention to the fact that in the
last three years taxes Ildu DctU tcuuSct ~
the extent of one hundred million dollars
and said that no such reduction had been
made under the administration or MI
Cleveland
Coming to the question of the proposed
loan to the St. Louis exposition. Mr. Lodge
said he had merely intended to call atten-
ton to the fact that there were greater
needs than the exposition. Nor did he
agree with Mr.. German that tine exposition
should he preferred to the 2a1anit canal
As for the latter enterprise. he considered
it the most important In which the United
States could possibly engage.
He also defended the republican admins
tration against the charge of negiecting
other affairs in the interest of the army and
navy. He considered that the navy out
weighed all others of our Institutions in i'm
portance and that 1t was 1.-THE last place TO
economic and the first place to spend
Hence he would economiZe. Il economfEe We
must, on expositions and fairs and not In
connection with the defenSeS of the coun-
try If necessary to save let us. he said,
save the things that are not essential.
While he had not Intended to open Up
party politics. If such a question was to be
opened up nothing could be moro whole
some than a comparison of the past eight
years with the four years of democratic
supremacy preceding. He hoped there
comparison in the coming campaign-direct
comparison with a candidate that would
call it out.
Mr. German on the Navy.
Mr.. German denied that he had been an
enemy of the upbulding of the navy. He
would have navy ample to guard Ameri-
can interests everywhere, but he had had
no idea Of navy to compete with that of
Great Britain or Germany, because our
conditions did not require such a navy.
Il want economy in it he said. and he
called attention to the effectual aid given
to Venezuela during the Cleveland admin
Il want economy in it." he said and he
cost of $l6.00O.O00 a year. and now we pay
SS2,0OO.0Oo for navy with which to
threaten Colombia" He would reduce the
expenditures in the navy and he would
scale the army down from 10000 men, as
now authorized, to $4,000.
Mr. Lodge called attention to the fact
that the number was now less than 10000,
and Mr.. German replied that even If that
We're true the law permitted 100000. and
he declared that If there were now only
Go 600 soldiers the cost of maintaining them
was eXorbitant.
Mr.. Foraker's Rejoinder.
MIR. Foraker announced his support of the
exposition amendment. and expressed re-
greet that the question should have been
given a political hue Every one knew. he
said. that the country had enjoyed unpre
cedented prosperity in that admins tratiOn,
and until after the election of Mr.. Cleve-
land In November the prosperity of the
country continued and the confidence of
the people generally was supreme. He at
tributed the change in conditions to the
election OF Mr.. Cleveland and democratic
Congress. all pledged to repeal the McKfn-
ley law and give us an approach to free
trade. a tariff for revenue only. The panic
which eliminated in 1893 began. he said,
the morning after the election in 1892. 1t
then that bankers began to call In their
loans. importers to reduce their orders and
manufacturers to shorten their pay rolls.
Soon there was apprehension everywhere,
with a general manic the fnAyita1lA o.
suit.
Resuming. Mr.. Foraker said that the
prosperity of the Harrison administration
had been the same as the prosperity since
except that recently 1t had been greater.
Mr.. Tillman asked If Mr.. Foraker intend
ed to include the 'so-called democratic adj
mnistration of Mr.. Cleveland" and said
that the republican party should accept
the odium of that administration" and
not try to put 1t on the democrats
Mr.. Foraker did not reply. but went on
with his argument, going into the passage
of the Wilson German tariff act and the
issuance of bonds by the Cleveland admin
istration. During only two years of the
Cleveland administration, he said, was the
export trade in favor of the United States
but as soon as IL was made evident that
under Mckinley there was to be a COM
plete resumption of republican supremacy
there had been revival of prosperity
which had been greater than ever before
known, with an average balance of trade
of over $500. 100000 in our favor He re-
10 tfle accumulation or gold the
United States. saying that all money
was worth 400 cents on the dollar. NO
bo-cent Bryan dollars these" he added.
Cut in Wages.
Mr.. Patterson asked Mr.. Foraker how he
accounted for the cut in the wages Of tex
tile and steel workers and the miners of
bituminous coal, in view of his contention
that prosperity was uninterrupted
Mr.. Foraker replied that the reduction OF
the wages of textile workers was due to
the advance in the price of cotton. AS for
the other reductions 1t was no unusual
thing to make changes In wages. Strikes
were to be expected under any admlnistra-
ton. except the Cleveland administration,
when the only strikes heard of were
strikes on the part of men who were
striking out after job"
Now. he said. there was prosperity all
over the country and among all classes of
people
In view of this condition of affairs, he
thought Mr.. German should modify his
statement that republican policies have re-