New-York tribune., 1906-12-19
BIGGER ARMY DEBATED
MR. HALE OPPOSES 1T.
Fights Bill Pro0iding More Men for
Coast Artillery.
rFrsm The Tribune Burcau.l J

xcas,,,neton Der lS-Senators Warren and
Hale took the principal parts in brief Senate
debate to-day, which is regarded as highly sig
nifcant by those who are prone TO look below
the surface and especially 10 try 10 see the mind
If the President in things which appear 10 pave
the way FOR the carrying into effect Of executive
recommendations.
As the Senate was attempting to clear It's cal
enasr the bin providing for an increase in the
coast artillery was called, and Senator Warren
,rrgea i.s Immediate consideration and passage
Senator Hale objected, saying that the army was
large enough and that he was opposed to fur-
ther increasing the military establishment Mt.
Warren retorted that II was useless for Con-
sress 20 go on adding 10 the fortifcations of the
country if It was unwilling 20 provide the men
necessary TO man the defences and operate the
guns which at great expense are being constant
" mounted along the coasts The Senators
spared for some little time. and the bill fnaAy
went over for future consideration. but not until
Senator Warren had demonstrated that he was
IN earnest IN his intention Of pressing fits pas
sage.
From what was said, Senators believe that the
chairman Of the COMMITTEES on Military Affairs
means that he VIII oppose the provisions Of the
Fortihcations Appropriation bill. in which many
Senators who find Il eXpedient to secure large
appropriations for their respective states are In
terested unless the Senate viii pass the bin in
creasing the artillery. and II IS not thought like
j. that Senators who are interested IN fortifca-
lions appropriations will carry their opposition
20 the other measure so far as to jeopardize
bill IN which their constituents take deep and
abiding interest. It viii be remembered that in
his annual message the President devoted con-
siderable space 10 the necessity of providing ad-
attonal coast artillery forces 70 man the fortif-
cations already in existence.
Ia the debate Mr.. Warren remarked that he
should press this bin TO vote before the Forti-
hcations Appropriation bill came UP, as he be-
Meved It useless 10 appropriate between $1,000
600 and Sl5,000000 a year TO increase the forti-
Scations Of the country and then fail to provide
men TO properly man them.
we now have three guns TO every man." he
remarked, land have expended more than S1O9-
tions recommended by the EndiCott Board. and
yet have made no increase IN the artillery
corps"
''The Senator ought 10 have added" inter
Tupted Senator Hale, that We have no
enemies" Mr. Hale said that the argument OF
The army had been that you could not have
an army without guns, and when the guns are
supplied they turn about and say what IS the
Use of having guns and fortiiications without
"It Is q constant pressure on the part Of the
army 10 aggrandize itself" he continued first
FOR men and then for guns There IS no end
20 81"
Senator Warren suggested that he would like
TO hear from Mr.. Hale regarding the navy.
Mr.. Hale was member Of the Naval Commit
tee, and as the annual increase for the navy
was from 100000 10 S2O0o0OOO
The Senator IS right" RESPONDED Mr.. Hale.
f'Tbe disease is just as deep 81 the navy, and
am inclined 20 think deeper than II IS IN the
army. I have tried for wears and shall try
again this wear 70 keep down naval expenditures.
But the military establishments are alike. Each
IS seeking TO argrandze itself.
I don't suppose the people Of the country ap-
preciate it-I don't know that the Senate does
that two-thirds Of the revenues Of the country
to-day are devoted TO the payment OF the bur
dens Of past wars. Ike pensions. and expendI-
lures in view Of future wars. OF all the taxes
that laid, and all the revenues collected,
nearly two-thir6s are expended for the military,
IN n broad way
Senator So0tt observed that diving the summer
he had visited nine coast IortifcatiOns and
found the big, new, expensive guns sewed UP in
canvas after having been rubbed in vascline. He
should demand that some measure be passed 30
secure adequate care OF these guns. that no
further expense be incurred IN that direction, he
said.