Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-06
Action Taken on the FortiR-
cations Bill. /
TO MONDAY
PROVISIONS OF THE MEASURE
EXPLAINED By MIR. LITTAUER.
Intellectual Attempt to Eliminate the
Insular Observation-Disclosures
Bill in tho Senate.

Upon converting the House agreed that
upon adjournment today It should be until
Monday. .5e-s ..,rs
On motion OF Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohio) The
committee Of the whole House was dis
charged from further consideration Of the
bill to revise the laws relating to the regu-
lation Of steam vessels and the bill was
referred back to the committee on merchant
marine and fisheries.
bill was passed for the relief Of the
Gull River Lumber Company Of Minnesota,
after which the House went into committee
of the whole for the consideration of the
Notifications appropriation bill. Mr.. Boutell
Qll.) in the chair.
Mr.. Littauer On. u. having it in charge.
explained the various items in the bill. the
main features OF which already have been
published
He said that as the thirty-one chief har-
bors on the United States coasts had been
SO strongly fortified that no able COM
mander would dare risk his ships in ap-
preaching them, it was now time to call q
halt in the so-called Endicott scheme Of
fortifcatiOns In existence since 1888. The
advance made In rapid-flre guns, as we'll as
the use Of smokeless powder, he attributed
as important factors in making that rec
ommendation.
Efficiency Of Mines.
Mr.. Littauer spoke Of the great lessons
learned from the situation at Port Arthur,
and said the conditions there demonstrated,
first. the effectiveness Of the submarine
mine. and second, from the land side, the
practical uselessness Of guns Of long range
without the proper system OF direction
and fire control. He instanced the fact
that the Japanese gun fire had sunk only
two ships, whereas the Russians had lost,
through submarine mines. seven Dattie
ships. nineteen cruisers and thirty-nlne
fnrn hoo md
the appropriation for submarine mines. say
ing their Importance was of the greatest
In reply to an inquiry by Mr.. Robinson
Und.) If the bill contemplated any appro-
priatio for the Langley air ship, Mr.. Lit-
tauer said 1t would not be advisable to re-
strict the board OF ordnance. 1.-The profess
sional advisers" of the House, ON war de.
lenses, but he explained that the board
had determined in March. 1904. not to
make an additional allotment for the Lang
ley air ship.
Mr.. Baker Condemns the Bill.
Mr.. Baker IN. " ridiculed the idea Of
technical advisers to Congress. and then
launched into an attack on the policy which
permitted bill such as the one under
consideration to be brought up without
notice.
bill as waste of public money. when 1t
was suggested that he quote scripture
oh" said he, when we are led by man
who worships the war god, who wants to
hold himself up in the United States as
the equal, as the equivalent, as the coun-
terpart. OF Wilhelm II, the great war
god when an administration Is dominated
by such a spirit as that, what a face 1t
Is to talk about any scHptural quotations!
What a farce 1t is to talk about anything
in the interest of peace.' 9-s ~
He declared 1t to be the duty OF the dem
ccrats to block legislation such as the Dill
under consideration.
The Insular Possessions
Mr.. Brundige (Ark) severely attacked the
provision appropriating 500 900 for the con-
struction of sea coast batteries in the in
sular possessions. saying 1t was a most
extravagant and useless expenditure. He
entertained the hope, he said, that at some
timethc United States would be able to rid
herself of those possessions that have
proven burden and tax upon this coun-
try" The appropriation. he declared,
would fortify nothing and protect nothing.
A motion by him to strike GU the provis-
ion was lost. 50 to "a.
When the closing paragraph of the bill
was reached relating to the remission Of
purchased abroad. Mr.. Baker offered an
amendment striking out that feature of the
bill, and inquired of Mr.. Littauer If that
had been incorporated al the request of the
Secretary OF War
Yes said MI. Littauer. 1.-THE present
and all former Secretaries"
The bill then was passed without amend
ment. and the House. at las pm, adjourn
ed until Monday.