The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-02-19
(Mail Special to the Advertiser }

WASHINGTON. d. c., January al
There has been a great to do here IL
recent days about appropriations fol
fortifying Honolulu. A scare has beer
abroad about a probable war with
japan and a letter by Secretary Taft
to the Senate Committee on appropria
tions, asking for additional appropria
tions for fortifying Pearl Harbor, has
been much quoted as an indication OF
the feeling that Japan is waiting for
favorable moment to open Are. The
situation is set forth in the following
article which appeared this morning in
the Washington Post:
"Is there war cloud in the far East I
Has any Oriental power been conduct
ing itself in such way as to arouse
the suspicious of the War Department 7
If not, members of Congress were ask
ing each other yesterday, why should
Secretary Taft, in letter to Chair
man Allison, of the Senate Commit
tee on Appropriations, urging more
funds for the protection of the Hawai-
ian Islands, make this statement:
"'There is every reason why the
Notifications at Hawaii should be made
ready
cat the present moment there are
no Notifications on these islands that
could be relied on in case of war with
any power. Late Tuesday the Senate
passed an appropriation bill for
Notifications which contained an al
lowance Of but 100000, which is $780,
900 less than the Secretary asked for.
There is now $26O,OOO available under
last years appropriations, and it is
the Secretary's desire to expend at
least 100000 for Notifications in Ha-
waii. But the Secretary refrains from
stating in his letter any reason why
he deems it necessary to Immediately
fortify the Hawaiian Islands.
"The text of his letter is as fol-
lows:
"'I write to urge upon you that
the appropriation for Pearl Harbor be
made $a5O,OO0, instead of 100000. We
can certainly expend this in the next
year and there is every reason why
the Notifications of Hawaii should be
made ready. Will you not bring this
to the attention of your committee and
the Senate7 The enclosed statement
from the national coast defense board,
recently appointed, shows the fact.
send it to you at the suggestion of |
Senator Perkins
"The report of the national coast de-
fense board, referred to by the Secre
tary, was made to the President and
by him transmitted to Congress year !
ago. In sending it the President him
self strongly indorsed the board IS rec
which included sweep
ing revision. of the plans of the old
Endicott board designed to completely
modernize the coast defense plans.
"The board makes strong argument
for the construction of 14-inch guns,
4 type now unknown in the service,
instead of the present 12-inch guns, for
The fortifcation of these points, in
view of the wide channels to be pro-
,ected.
"However, the defense scheme for
Pearl Harbor and Honolulu as finally
submitted is on the basis of the ex-
sting types of ordnance, and the board
las asked for these items: Six 12-inch
guns, four 6-inch guns, sixteen 12-inch
nortars, costing, with their carriages
md emplacements, altogether $2,544,-
100 submarine mines, 1925, ,260; powder
,lants, $34,469 for the central, and
'34, ,469 for the reserve; searchlights,
$4,000; fire control, by which is meant
IN elaborate system Of electrical COM
enabling the commanding
fficer to control the fire of all the bat
cries with entire precision from one
oint, $320,656, making the total of
he estimate submitted 254,244."
AS a matter of fact the scare has
cen encouraged good deal to pro-
tote the chances of generous appropri-
tions for the navy. The navy officers
ave strong organization here and
re doing all they possibly can to
scure legislation that will increase
he navy and also increase their own 9
hances of promotion. &
McCLELLAN'S GOOD WORK. @
The Taft letter really grew out of o
ne activity of Mr.. George B. Nc. o
lellan, of the Merchants Association, $
} have the appropriation for fortifica-
ons at Pearl Harbor segregated from D
le appropriations for the Philippines. l
he Senate Committee on Appropria. ?
ons gave Mr.. Mcclellan half hours
caring on the subject and agreed with
m on the wisdom of separating the
ems. 1t made an amendment in the e
II, setting aside 100000 for building r
nplacements in Hawaii and in the b
zen Senate this was increased to $780, /
II L. l. | -