Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-12-11
Big Appropriation Plan Has Some
Bitter Enemies in House Of
Representatives.
BAD CLASH BETWEEN INTERESTS
Rivers and Rarbors "Pork Barrell"
One of the Serious Obstacles In
the Way-Each Of the Opposing
Sides Declares It is Actuated BY
Peace.
fBy Associated Press.)

tby Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Dec. TO-
"Watchdogs of the Treasury lin.
goes, peace advocate and friends of
the navy ARE preparing for n battle
royal In the House over the Naval
Appropriation BILL war upon which
has been declared by the house APP
preparation committee nnd by indi-
vidual members of the committee on
rivers and harbors.
When the influence of members
OF these committees is added the
persuasive power OF the rivers ana
harbors pork barrel" bill. which
Is to be reported before the close
of the session, the danger to the
naval bill Is OF some concern TO
friends of big navy, including
the President
tinIous appropriation for rivers and
harboIs Is not such national Issue
as to warrant the issuance of bonds
for this purpose" said Chairman
Tnwney, of tho appropriation com
mittee, today. THE annual apnro
priation now made practically equals
the revenue. To improve our rivers,
and harbors one Of two things must
be done. Either taxes must be In
creased or appropriations reduced.
1t Is doubtful II the country will
stand an increase in taxes for this
purpose.
Opposed BY MIR. Burton.
Representative Burton chairman
OF the rivers and harbors committee,
said:-"l stand today toward tho
naval bill exactly where stood
year aso--l am opposed to a large
naval appropriation. ! have nothing
to rctract cs my opposition then no,
to apologize for in my opposition
then nor to apologize for in my
opposition now. 1t is with n hope
TO promote the cause OF peace ana
to diminish the careless disregard
OF tue calamities of war that | owe
my attitude toward this bill"
Favored BY MIR. Foss.
George f. Foss, chairman OF the
takes issue with those who are
threatening to fight the naval all,
preparation bill. He said:-
"ln the last decade appropriations
In ali departments of the govern.
ment have increased. Nevertheless.
] think 1t susceptible of proof that
we are not today spending as much
money In proportion for our navy
as our forefathers did one hundred
years ago. The statement that this
government now appropriates sixty.
three per cent of its revenues for
the purpose of war is not exactly
fn'r, for in that estimate is includen
the pension list. tho cost OF running
tie pehsion ONCE, the purchase OF
artificial limbs for old soldiers and
sailors. the expenses of soldiers and
sailors homes back pay and bounty
and the proportion of interest on the
public debt due to past wars.
IF we had been prepared for war
III 1872 we would not now be talk
Ing about reciprocity with Canada,
and history shows that had we been
prepared for all wars it would not
have cost the country as much
money as 1t has to carry out the
policy OF unpreparedness now being
advocated
THE national defence of far more
Importance than internal improve.
ments are of small value II they
cannot be defended. The country
is rich enough to, care for big
navy 20 protect its interests and at
the same time make all public i'm
provements.
Peace Through Preparedness.
Since the last peace conference
at The Hague the leading nations
have promulgated the largest naval
programme ever known. Nearly two
million tons of ships, the equivalent
of one hundred Dreadnoughts, whose
Tsar called that conference, has JUST
concluded the greatest war In moa-
ern times. The naval battle OF tho
Sea of Japan saw more tonnage III
conflict and more deadly ammunition
used than any other sea battle in
history. All nations talk peace, yet
In their acts demonstrate they arc
for the kind Of peace that comes
through preparedness for war.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
International Parliamentary Union
was about to meet in its chief city
last summer England served notice
on Turkey to vacate Akaba. Arabia,
within ten days. We cannot meas
IRE nations by what they say. hut
by what they do. Japan has planned
a navy, which within q few years