Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22
F0RT|F|CAT|0N BILL
Passes the House Without an
Amendment.
WAR DEPARTMENT SLURRED
Criticism by Democrats Of Subig
Bay Expenditures.
DIVISION OF HOUSE CALLED
Opposition Laughs at Tagging Steps
of Republicans and Says cal
phonse and CASTOR"
WAR DEPARTMENT SLURRED
DIVISION OF HOUSE CALLED

The Notifications appropriation bill was
passed by the House of Representatives
yesterday without material amendment.
During the closing debate the War De-
partment was criticised by several mem
bers regarding the money spent on forti-
fications at Subig bay, which it was
charged was wasted in view of a later
recommendation that the defenses at
Cavite be strengthened. Criticism like
wise was offered to the estimates of the
department which reconm anded an appro-
priation Of over $50, 600 900. which. it was
stated. could not have been expended
within ten years The democrats at one
time procured the adoption of an amend
ment permitting the Secretary of War to
purchase abroad ANY" war material, but
the republican leaders soon rallied the
members and then reversed that section.
leaving in the bill a restriction to limited
quantities..
Further condemnations of the War De-
partment in connection with its recon-
datons in the past regarding the fortif
cation of Subig bay was INDUCED in by
Mr.. Fitzgerald of New York He was glad.
however. he said, that the department
ndQ not wasted any money on IudHtd-
namo He seriously ref acted on the de-
partment officials when he charged them
with recommending an appropriation OF
5000. 900 for a sea wall around "a certain
| fertilization when he charged they knew
| the title to the property needed Tor the
sea wall was in litigation.
Tawney Warns Again.
Discussing the expenditures made for
military and naval establishments of the
government Mr.. Tawney Of Minnesota,
| chairman of the committee on appropria-
tons, repeated his warning Of de-
| fciency made earlier in the session. He
declared that If expenditures for these
purposes increased in the next two Or
three years as they had in the last two
or three years and the revenues continued
to dec ease, 1T will not be two years
hardly before we will be spending 20 per
cent of our aggregate revenue on account
of wars we have had or wars we are
afraid off,
At present, he said, the rate was 60 per
cent
An amendment by Mr.. De Almond to
allow the Secretary of War to buy abroad
war materials in ANY quantity was
adopted despite the efforts of republican
floor leaders to marshal sufficient votes to
defeat it, A division showed % yeas
to 20 nays. Mr.. kustermann of Wlscon-
sin voting with the democrats. Tellers
We're demanded by Mr.. Smith OF Iowa,
and under the recount supporters of the
amendment ran their tally up to 50 ana
appla uded themselves roundiy
AS as the republicans began 70
PASS between the telierS the other slde
discovered them in what they charged to
be a bit of STRENGTHENING in the file
march, and, as one expressed 1t. playing
the game of Alphonse ana Hastof To XIII
time and permit the arrival on the floor
of absent. ss for whom hurry calls had
been sent out
Laughter at the Tagging.
The situation provoked a deal of good
natured badinage from the democrats and
general laughter, which was joined IN by
the galleries. The artihce falled. ana
when the chair announced the adoption o,
the amendment by a vote of So to 81,
the democratic side turned itself loose
in handclappng and cheers.
Mr.. Hitchcock (Neb) offered an amend
ment providing that no money appropria-
ton in the bill should he expended for
American-made goods when it should be
established to the satisfaction of the
Secretary of War that these goods We're
purchased at lower prices abroad, but it
was lost los to Il.
Mr. Smith Gowa) promptly took advan-
tage of the displayed republican major ty,
moving substitute paragraph restorl :
to it's original form the provision regard :
ing war supplies which was amended.
Mr.. Sharley (ky.) rails ed a point of order
against this circular proceeding, this
Juggling with words, to put back what
the committee has just declared shall be
changed" Mr. Mann 0l,.) insisted that
il was not within the province of the chair
to determine the intent or meaning Of an
amendment The chair adopted this view
and declined to sustain the point of or
der-but not before the manual of rules
had been resorted to.
Mr.. Smiths amendment was adopted by
viva voce vote and the minority called
for a division which resul: ed: Yeas. IA;
nays 81 Mr.. Sherley demanded tellers.
by whose count the amendment was reaf-
tirmed los to 81.
The bill was then passed unamended.