The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-03-23

Against Any Further For
tification of the Philip
pines Until Further
Plans Are Approved.


today, by vote of 20 to 23, decided
against any further fortification of
the Philippine Islands until plans had
| been adopted by the war department
and approved by congress. 1t then
passed the pension appropriation bill,
carrying $140,000,000 without any dis
cussion.
The fight on the Philippine question
was started by Mr.. Lodge, of Massa
chusetts, who objected to the com
| mittee amendment in the fortifica
tions BILL which prohibited any of the
appropriations of 100000 for Hawaii
and the Philippine islands to be used
at Subig Bay in that archipelago.
CALLED IT EXTRAVAGANCE
He held that it meant the money
should be expended at Cayite Bay
and useless as a million and "a quar-
ter dollars had been expended for
Subig Bay, the only place in the Phil
ippines deemed by experts to be suit
able for a naval station.
Mr.. Perkins, (Cal), in charge of
the bill, declared that there was not
anything at Subig Bay to protect.
The big drydock Dewey, now en-
route to the Philippines is to be To-
Gated there, explained Mr.. Lodge.
YES" replied Mr.. Perkins, "if it
ever gets there. If it had been con
structed on the Pacific coast it would
have already reached it's destination
and there would have been saved
some $25.0OO in canal fees"
Mr.. Spooner, (Wis.), expressed sur
prise at the building on the Atlantic
Pacific.
Mr.. Bacon, (Ga), explained that
the longest route was selected be-
cause of frequent stopping places to
| be used as haven in case of dis
| tress.
Mr., Perkins thought Manila should
| be protected from Cayite Bay.
Mr.. Allison, Qowa), declared that
| there was to his mind no immediate
necessity for any fortification expen-
diture in the Philippines.
TILLMAN'S VIEWS.
"Those are my sentiments exactly"
interrupted Mr. Teller, (Colo.)
Mr.. Tillman, IS. c., took emphatic
issue with Mr.. Lodge and insisted
that the drydock Dewey could not find
suitable lodging place in Subig Bay
until great excavations had been
made. 'There is no place to put 1t
when it gets to the Philippines" he
declared.
Mr.. Scott, (W Va.), insisted that
unless congress would increase the
coast artillery all such appropriations
as contemplated were a waste of
money He charged that on the Pa
ciiic coast guns were lying in She
grass and creased to prevent rusting,
awaiting the construction of emplace.
ments and at other places being use
less because of no one to man them
Mr. Teller contended that it would
require $5OO,OO0,OO0 to fertify the
Philippines and that then it would
devolve upon naval fleet to protect
them from danger "These islands
are an encumbrance and ever have
been," he said.
Mr. Elkins (W. Va.), expressed the
hope that the United States would
hold the Philippines for a thousand
years.
Mr. Teller said he hoped that Re-
publicans would adopt that as a plat
form. 1T would mean Dewey vic
tory" he exclaimed.
81 guess the Democrats won't give
up something for nothing any sooner
than Republicans would" laughingly
replied Mr.. Elkins. Human nature
is pretty much the same everywhere"
WITHOUT PLANS.
Mr.. Lodge, in response to an in
quiry by Mr.. Spooner, declared that
appropriations for fortifeations of the
Philippines were being made without
any plans having been prepared.
Mr.. Newlands, (Nev.), opposed fort
ifications and also the retention of the
archipelago
The amendment was then modified
SO that it excluded the Philippines
from its benefits, leaving the entire
sum of 100000 to be expended at
Hawaii.
On motion this amount was reduced
W pSOVBvVOs Jill thOn WCnt OfSl
until tomorrow until the convenience
of Mr.. Daniel, (Va). who wished to
discuss the provision for the estab-
lishment of government powder
mill.
The pension bill was then passed
and the senate went into executive
session.
During the reading of the pension
appropriation bill Mr.. Teller inquired
concerning the service pension
claims.
GAS understand it," he said. "any
veteran who has reached. the age of
81 years can secure pension by ask
ing for it,
THAT is the intention" replied Mr..
McCumber, IN. ID, in charge of the
measure