The Washington herald., 1908-03-22
Democrats Gain Temporary
Victory in House.
DE ARMoND LEADS A COUP
Change Fortifcations Bill ON Tariff
Issue. bur Republicans Rally from
office Building and overturn 0P-
positions Triumph = Bill Passes
without Material Change.


coast defenses were under consideration
in Committee of the Whole. and had been
read through without being changed.
There was. in the final paragraph, a pro-
vision that when. in the judgment Of
the Secretary of War 1t is to the mani
fest interest of the United States 10 make
purchases abroad" it may be done, ''in
limited quantities"
Several efforts were made by the Demo-
Gratis to change this. so as TO enlarge
the discretion of the Secretary OF War,
but all failed save one offered by Mr.
De Almond. OF Missouri. This changed
the phrase limited quantities 10 amy
quantity" and was adopted by a vote OF
s. 10 50, the announcement evoking wild
applause and cheering from the Demo-
Gratis.
A little later. however. Mr.. Smith. Of
Iowa, in charge Of the bill. executed a
parliamentary coup. lie submitted as a
substitute the original language, with
slight verbal notifications. but retaining
the phrase "in limited quantities" The
substitute was agreed to- Jos to s4-the
absent Republicans having been rounded
up and rushed to the hall in sufficient
numbers to regain control
Without other change. the bill was re-
ported 10 the House and passed.
Doesn't Expect Japanese War.
Closing general debate on the bill. Mr.
Smith. OF Iowa. spoke of the projects of
defense in the Philippine Islands. partic-
ularly OF the islands at the North OF
Manila Bay.
''El Fraile IS an expensive project" ne
explained. ITO sustain the fortihcations
Il must be enlarged. at a cost of more
than 100000, and the committee did not
feel like entering upon that project at
this time. To appropriate less would not
complete any distinctive works. To give
greatly more would have indicated that
we believed there were threatening condi-
tioEs now existing
Il have seen II stated in the press that
in cutting these appropriations we had fear
OF giving offense to Japan. That is not
a correct statement. We are at peace
with Japan and the committee believe
that we are 10 remain al peace with
Japan.
We determined 10 proceed with these
that we have been proceeding for twenty
years. increasing them only so much as
might be necessary 10 finish great dis-
tInctive works and 10 bring the fortifca-
tions Of the Pacific. and the insular pos
sessions, up 70 the standard OF fortifca-
tiOns in continental United States upon
the Atlantic and Gulf coasts
Explains SubfE Bay Abandonment.
Mr.. Driscoll. OF New York. asked why
the naval officials had surrendered to the
army on the question OF holding Subig
BAY as a naval base. Mr. Smith replied
that while the navy officers still be-
lieved Subig Bay 70 be infinitely superior
10 Manila Bay as a naval base. they were
met by the assertion Of the army officers
that 10 defend the Subig Bay territory
which was a military problem. would re-
quire an army of 10000 men. As an army
Of that size for that purpose was out Of
the question, the naval officers had 10
abandon the idea OF making a base of
Subig Bay.
Mr.. Shirley. also a member OF the Com
mittee on Appropriations. moved 10 strike
out the words unlimited quantities." re-
stricting the Secretary OF War IN making
purchases abroad OF fortihcations mate
rial He said its only purpose was TO
give Secretary Taft a club to hold over
ammunition manufacturers. whose greed
impelled them 20 hold up the government
by demanding exorbitant prices for their
products. II was rejected by a party
votes 10 g.
Gen. Keifer. Of Ohio. a member of the
Committee on Appropriations. charged
that large sums have been wasted in at
tempting to provide defenses on the At
lantic and Pacific coasts. ''in pretending
TO do certain things that cannot be done
by the engineers and officers In charge
Of the Improvements
Republicans Laugh Too Soon.
Mr.. De Almond then tried to amend the
Limitation upon the power of the Secre-
tary of War to purchase supplies abroad.
and in discussing the matter. sarcastical-
ly criticised the Republicans for their re-
fusal to give the Secretary power against
extortion
Mr.. Smith disclaimed authorship of the
limitation. and quoted from the act OF
1892 to prove that the restriction was
then used for the first time since the war.
when the Democrats had a majority in
the House. His retort was greeted with
laughter and applause on the Republican
side. which was echoed on the Demo-
cratic side when Mr.. Bartlett. OF Georgia
showed that the restriction "in limited
Quantities had been used in the ap-
preparation bill Of 1891. passed when the
House was Republican.
On a division Mr. De Almonds amend
mentt authorizing the Secretary to pur-
chase ANY quantity of material abroad
when it lis TO the manifest interest of
the United States to do so, was carried
by vote of 70 to 10 and when a vote by
tellers resulted-ayes. S.; noes. S2-there
were exultant yells from the Democrats.
Majority Again in Power.
Representative Hitchcock. editor OF the
Omaha World-Herald. offered an amend
ment as a further limitation. that none
Of the appropriation should. be expended
for the purchase OF American made mate
rial when ii could be shown to the Secre-
tary of War that it is sold abroad for
lower price than here. This was finally
defeated-SS TO Hottie Republicans hav-
ing rallied their cohorts from the Office
building and other outlying territory.
Democratic triumph was short-lived
substitute for Mr. de Almonds alteration
was offered by Mr.. Smith. It brought the
restriction on the Secretary of War back
TO almost its original form. and the Re
3ublicans assembling in strength. Il .Vas
accepted-1oS 10 81
The bill was reported to the House and
passed.
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