The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-04-01
(Mail sDecial to the Advertiser.) }

WASHINGTON, d. c., March 49,
The vote of the Senate the other day,
appropriating $4,000 for Notifications
in the territory OF Hawaii was quite a
surprise here and was very gratifying
several days in advance that the effort
would be made but there was little hope
OF success Hon. w. O. Smith, Mr..
William Haywood and Mr.. George b.
Mcclellan did considerable work around
the Senate in informing Senators on the
question, aside from the purely technical
points, and were in the Senate gallery
during the debate. The promptness
with which Senator Foraker came for
ward to support the larger appropria-
ton was much appreciated.
Everything about the incorporation OF
the item into permanent law depends
upon the conference committee OF the
two houses. The amendment goes upon
the Fortihcations Appropriation bill.
That bill had passed the House with an
item appropriating 100000 for Hawai-
ian dcienscs. This, however, was struck
out by the Senate Committee on Appro-
priation The Senate not only put that
item back but increased it more than
two fold. But now that the Hawaiian
item is on the bill as an amendment, if
the conferees agree to keep it on, it will
become law. The conferees for the bill
on the part of the Senate will in all
probability be Senators Perkins, OF Cali
iornia, Warren of Wyoming; and Till
man. OF South Carolina, and the con-
ferees on the part Of the House will
probably be Representatives Littauer, of
New York: March, of ILL.,, and Taylor
of Ala. Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Haywood
have been trying to strengthen the sit
uation by consulting with members
of the House. Mr. Littauer just now is
out of town.
Senator Lodge brought the question
up and then the following debate en-
sued, Mr.. Foraker and Mr.. Spooner,
eventually joining with Mr.. Lodge in
having the proposed appropriation OF
$4,000 put in. There was no division
on the question. The debate was as
follows:
THE SENATE DEBATE.
Mr.. Lodge-If may, should like to
ask the Senator in charge of the bill
why that provision was stricken out?
Mr. Perkins.-The appropriation was
in the bill for the purpose of acquiring
sites for fortihcations near Honolulu,
in Pearl Harbor, in one of the Hawai-
ian Islands. The estimated cost OF the
land was S525,ooo. By inquiry at the
Department we aScertained that the
Government had no bond and no option
upon this land, and while the members
OF the committee believed it proper and
in the line of the purchase OF necessary
sites for Notifications, they did not be-
lieve it wise or eXpedient to appropriate
100000, which could not be used to ad-
vantage.
MIR. Beveridgc-Do | understand the
Senator to say that we have no fortih-
cations in the Hawaiian Islands, nor
sites for the same?
Mr.. Perkins-Nothing that we have
appropriated for, except in the general
appropriation for inSular Notifications,
which is in the discretion OF the Board
OF Ordnance and Fortifications.
MIR, Beveridge-At the present time
are there any Notifications in the Ha-
waiian Islands?
MIR. Perkins.-There are no fortifca-
tionS there.
Mr.. Beveridge.-Nor any sites for
fOrtiticatonS?
Mr.. PerllinS.-No. Our experience
has been where the Government has ac-
Quircd sites for Notifications, as well
as for public buildings, that sufficient
amount should be appropriated to pur-
chase all the land that may be required