The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-30
BILL ATTACKED
BY REPUBLICAN,
LIttlefield of Maine Questions
Legality of Item for ST ,000,-
600 in Deficiency Measure.
COST OF OUR ARMY I'M CUBA
WAR DEPARTMENT ASKED FOR
EXPLANATION
COST OF OUR ARMY I'M CUBA

Washington, Jan. 29.-The need of an
American merchant marine as an aux
iliary to the navy formed the principal
topic Of discussion I'm the house of rep
| resentatives today during cOnsidera-
| ton of the urgent deficiency appropria
ton bill. The debate was precipitated
by Mr.. Littlefield of Maine, who cues
| toned the legality of the provision Of
the bill appropriating 81 10000 to sup
ply deficiency for coal for the navy
caused by transfer OF the battleship
fleet from the Atlantic to the Pacific
He criticized congress for its failure to
make appropriations for a merchant
marine. His remarks ELECTED from Mr.
Fitzgerald of New York the charge
that the Republican party was respon-
sible for that condition, while Mr..
Sherley of Kentucky maintained that
the lack of a merchant marine, "a ma
| tional disgrace" was due to Republi-
can policies.
Millions Spent in Cuba.
At the outset of consideration of the
bill the appropriation of $4,000 for the
expenses of the signal service of the
army of Cuban pacification was ques-
toned by Mr.. Clayton of Alabama
who inquired of Chairman Tawney
States of its occupation of the island
which elected the reply that it was
about S4,0O0.000. Further inquiries de-
velOped the fact that there was at this
time In the Cuban treasury about $15,-
000,000 and Mr.. Clayton wanted TO
know why it was now proposed that
the United States should pay the bill
MI. Tawney replied he had written the
war department asking for an explana-
ton.
The Cubans were criticized by Mr.
Gaines of Tennessee for creating the
condition which. he said, necessitated
the presence of United States troops in
their country, and he asserted that the
Cubans should be compelled to pay the
expenses incurred by the United States
in our intervention.
Notwithstanding the opposition
aroused by the provision, ii was al
lowed to stand
Army Bill Cut.
Upon motion of Mr. Hull. chairman
of the committee on. military affairs,
the house reduced to the extent of
100000 the proposed appropriation Of
ST16. 900 for clothing and camp and gar
rison equipment for the army.
The $1,000, 600 appropriation for coal
for the battleship fleet furnished ma
terial for an attack by Mr.. Littlefield
of Maine upon the legality of the ex-
penditure. He declared that under the
act of 1917, which he said was still in
force, the coal which had been shipped
in foreign bottoms should have been
seized and sold. He said that the at
tOrney general had held it not to be il
legal, for reasons sufficiently salts
factOrily to him." but Mr.. Littlefield
said he differed from him.
''Will the gentleman suggest how
this administration can carry out its
policies without violating the law?"
inquired Mr.. Fitzgerald of Mr.. Little
field.
THAT is thing that is not up 10
me-" replied Mr.. Littlefeld, who then
launched upon plea for an American
merchant marine. The government, he
said, at the cost of many millions had
created a naval fleet, and yet that fleet
was without power to support itself eX-
cept within the radius of its operations.
Gold Brick for Uncle Sam.
The real purpose of sending the fleet
to the Pacific was questioned by Mr.
Johnson of South Carolina, who said
that whatever the object, it had
caused a million-dollar deficiency, and
would cause other deficiencies. He at
the VI COdi idliUS III
the Philippine islands, and declared
that somebody got the money and we
got a gold brick The people, he in
sisted had been "bunkoed" in that
transa action
Claiming that the cost of transport
ing coal for the fleet from the Atlantic
to the Pacific in foreign bottoms was
exorbitant, Mr.. Sherley of Kentucky
said it was a disgrace to America
that there was not a sufficient mer-
chant marine to supply simple GOLFERS,
and he charged the Republicans with
having built a tariff wall 80 high that
merchant marine could not live. The
item was allowed to remain in the bill,
the reading of which for amendment
was continued.
The bill was still pending when the
house adjourned.
SQUARING HIMSELF.
Washington, Jan. Ex-senator Hop