The San Francisco call., 1908-03-22
FORT|fICATION
BILL is PASSED
Democrats Fail In Effort to Per-
NIT Purchase of War
Material Abroad
War Department Is Criticised
for Money Spent at SUI
big Bay

WASHINGTON. March 2I.-without
being materially amended IN any form.
the fortihcation appropriation bill was
passed by the house today. During the
closing debate the war department was
criticised by several members regard
ing the money spent on Notifications at
Suetg bay, which II was charged was
wasted. IN view OF later recommenda-
ton that the defenses at Cavite be
strengthened. Criticism likewise was
offered TO the estimates OF the depart
ment which recommended an approprfa-
ton OF more than ss0,o0o,000, which II
was stated could not have been ex-
pended within 10 years. The democrats
at one, time procured the adoption OF
an amendment permitting the secretary
Of war 10 purchase abroad any war
material. but the republican leaders
soon rallied their members and then re-
versed that action. leaving in the bill
a restriction 10 limited quantities.
Discussing the expenditures made for
military and naval establishments OF
the government Tawney. chairman Of
the committee on appropriations. re-
peated his warning OF deficiency
made earlier in the session He de-
claTed 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 con-
tinued TO decrease sit will not be two
years hardly before we viii be spend
ing 20 per cent Of our aggregate rev.
enue on account of wars we have had
Or wars we are afraid Of" At present,
he said. the rate was SO per cent.
Sherley ofSKentucky offered an amend
ment removing the restriction on the
secretary Of war 10 buy abroad war
materials IN Limited" quantities.
The amendment was lost So TO 81.
NO TEMPORARY SUPPLIES
An amendment by De Almond OF Mis-
souri, 10 give the secretafy of war tenn
porary" authority TO purchase war sup
plies also was lost
a further amendment by De Almond
TO allow the secretary OF war TO buy
abroad war materials in any guam
tity was adopted despite the efforts OF
republican floor leaders 10 marshal suf-
fcient votes to defeat il. A division
showed IS ayes TO 20 noes. Tellers
were demanded by Smith of Iowa, and
under the recount supporters Of the
amendment ran their tally UP TO S5 and
applauded themselves round1y.
As soon as the republicans began to
pass between the teIlers the other side
I discovered them IN what they charged
10 be a bit Of strategy-legging IN the
file march. and, as one expressed it
playing the game of Alphonse and
CASTOR 10 Kill time and permit the ar
rival on the floor of absentees for whom
hurried calls had been sent out
RESTORES PROVISION
The situation provoked a deal of good
natu. badinage from the democrats
and general laughter, which WAS Joined
in BY the galleries. The artifice failed
and when the chair announced the
adoption Of the amendment by vote
Of s5 TO So the democratic side turned
I itself loose in handclapping and cheers
! Hitchcock Of Nebraska offered ar
/ amendment that no money appropriated
il the bill should be expended FOL
American made goods when II should
be established to the satisfaction of ths
secretary Of war that those goods were
/ purchasable at lower prices abroad
4 but il was lost, 1Ss TO III
! Smith Of Iowa promptly took advan
+ tage Of the displayed republican ma
I sority, moving a substitute paragraph
II restoring TO its original form the pro
{ vision regarding war supplies whicl
was amended
Smiths amendment was adopted b.
a. viva voce vote, and the minorit,
called for division, which resulted
Ayes ia, noes 81
Sherley demanded tellers, by who's
count the amendment was reafhrmed
los TO So The bill was then passes
unchanged by amendment.