Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-20
58TH CONGRESS-.
Consideration of House Naval
Appropriation Bill.
Gives Fitzgerald Chance to Make Dirty
Attack on President.
His Speech Will React, Piling Up the
Roosevelt Vote.

Washington. Feb. 13.-The House.
today, began consideration Of tie
laval appropriation bill, 10 hours be-
ne allowed for general debate.
During the general discussion, Fitz-
gerald, Dem. N. y, declared that our
laval program was to procure a naval
He further said:
in ali sections Of the country the
conviction. rightly of wrongly, is firm
that the present occupant Of the White
House is likely to involve up i'll war
with some nation" adding that the
same belief had been had with respect
to the head Of another great nation,
which may account" he went on, 'for
the fact that Il dinner on Lincoln 5
birthday at Grand Rapids, Mich, the
highest compliment that Boran Won
Stcrnberg thought he could pay to
President Roosevelt was to declare
that he very greatly resembled the
Emperor of Germany.
Fitzgerald said further that if 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 Conserva-
| tive force of the Republican party, the
late senator from Ohio (Mr. Hanna)
is gone to his reward, il may be wise
for us TO Guido even Great Britain in
our naval program, should he (the
PresidenO not be made to feel that the
sentiment of the country is for peace
md not for strife.
Foss made an urgent appeal for the
upbuilding Of the navy. emphasizing
the necessity for ship construction in
times of peace with the query:
What would Russia give today if she
could call back some of her sunlIen
ships" He said in conclusion that when
It became necessary for his government
| to strike it should be prepared to strike
a blow like that struck by Dewey at
| Manila Foss was strongly seconded by
Meyer Ua), the ranking Democratic
member on the committee who combattcd
the statement that the navy was top
| heavy. as charged, and declared it indis-
| pensable THAT We should have a strong
navy. Referring to the Pana ma canal nc
said ne was for the canal and also for Il
navy to safeguard it.
The House passed bill authorizing the
| construction of piping lines for oil and
gas through the Indian Territory after
| it had been amended SO as to limit the
period of grants under the bill to % years
on the suggestion of Williams. Miss, who
| said the territory asked for was. he hop
| ed. on the eve of acquiring statehood.
| Another bill passed was one to enable
the secretary of the treasury to pay to
| the state OF Vermont money apprOpria ted
under the act of July l. 1902 and to adj
| Just claims between the United States
/ and Vermont.
On motion of Foss. Illinois. chairman of
| tho naval affairs committee the f3GllSr
went into conference with Hepburn. Iowa.
| in the chair, and entered upon consider
alton of the naval appropriation bill.
The minority announced that they
wanted five hours time for general debate
and 10 hours were agreed upon, to be di-
vided equally.
| renee. Mass, said that the sentiment of
the naval authorities was that we should
have. this year, more cruisers than battle
ships.
Rixey. Va. called the attention of Foss
| that the general board recommended one
armOrcd cruiser and three protected
cruisers and that bill provides for two
armored and protected cruisers.
This was done on the recommendation
of Admiral Dewey, was the reply of F'oss.
Referring to the recent troubles in San
Domingo. Foss said the time may come
when the United States will say to San
Domingo and Hayti that if they cannot
preserve order the American navy will do
it for them. The Monroe Doctrine must
also DE looked a1ter.
The navy must be relied upon to back
up American diplomacy, which. he said.
never stood so high as it does today under
Secretary Hay.
Meyer. La, the ranking minority mem
Der on the committee combatted the
statement that the navy is top-heary. He
regarded the building of a strong navy
as measure Of peace.
Fitzgerald. Dem. n. ", said that to
whoever can read the signs of the times
the program of this government is plain.
II am aware that official denial will be
quickly forthcoming" he declared. New
ertheless / assert that the action of this
government in its naval program is I'M
mistakably to procure naval force that
will exceed that of Germany He then
gave figures showing the strength of the
German navy ard what it will be in the
immediate future.
Fitzgerald inquired who could say that
the end of 20 years the policies of the
government might require navy practi-
caIly equal to that of Great Britain.
Gaines Tenn, made an appeal for the
tobacco grower, contending for the re-
moval of the tax imposed on stemmed leaf
tobacco when stemrned by the farmer
Liyernash. California, asserted that
this country could not become n great
sea power unless the laws surrounding
the toiIcrs OF the sea are changed.
He asserted that 20 per cent. OF the
(Cnptinued IN mage AZ