Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-11-01
,st OF which has not been ascer'

tanned.
This propos,tica. simply involves an
illimitable ard immeasurabie expendi
ture. Some limit should he placed
upon the cost Of this proposed naval
station--some mark fixed beyond
which it Is not the purpose OF Con
gress to 70. Moreover. the character
AM nature Of the works constructed
in the Philippine Islands should de-
pend in a great degree upon the hnal
disposition which shalt be made OF
them.
Mr.. Chairman, II Is impossible to
ascertain the amount appropriated at
any one session Of Congress for any
one object BY q mere examination OIL
the item or items relating TO II In
one OF the great appropriation tells
which originate In this tlouse. There
are dozen or more appropriation
bills, each Of which carry items az,
gregating many million dollars. ana
II Is not unusual for several OF them
,, to carry appropriations for one and
the same object.
How many gentlemen upon this
floor have any idea what We are ex-
pending in the Philippine Islands for
naval stations and military posts?
Those OF you who were IN the last
Congress will recall that when the
measure establishing a military post
in the Philippine Islands was under
consideration in this Chamber it pro
voked an earnest ard heated debate.
Its advocates would not admit that
the 100000 appropriation then made
was to establish a military post. The
money was to be expended in provid-
ing. II was said, temporary shelter
for our soldiers in the Philippines
The bill which contained that item
became a law on February IA. 1902.
and Immediately following its enact
men, there was placed in the sundry
civil bill OF that session an appropri-
alton of 100000. which 1t was ex'
pressly provided should be expended
upon that same military post.
The sundrv civil bill containing
this item Of appropriation was passed
during the closing hours Of the hrst
session Of the Fifty-seventh Congress.
and the little 100000 item for the
military post in the Philippines seems
to have escaped notice. The army ap-
preparation bill Of the second session
of the same Congress carried an ap-
preparation of 100000 for continuing
the work upon that military post.
That bill was approved on the I'd day
of March. 1903, and the general de-
ficiepcy bill which was approved on
the Sd day of March. 1903. only one
day afterwards, carried an additional
appropriation for the Identical pro-
ject Of $250,00O. .
The sundry civil bill Of the second
session of the last, or Fffty-seventh,
Congress. which was approved on the
I'd day Of March. 1908. the very day
that the general deficiency bill be-
came a law. carried another appro-
priation of a million dollars for this
military post at Manila, to estabiish
which miserable subterfuge was re-
sorted to. Thus it appears that an
indefensible proposition. which involv-
ed the expenditure Of only 100000.
and which provoked q spirited discus
sion and earnest opposition In the
first session OF the Fffty-seventh Con-
gress, assumed vast proportions De-
fore the end Of that Congress, al
though attracting little or no atten-
ton. The most Industrious and v1gi-
liant Member Of this House. unless he
happens to be a member Of the great
Committee On Appropriations. can
have little actual knowledge of how
the public moneys are expended. the
history of the establishment Of the
Manila military post demonstrates
this.
Mr.. Chairman, in addition to the
twenty or thirty million dollars which
I feel confident will eventually be ex-
pended upon the naval station at
Olongapo, II will be necessary. in the
estimation of our naval and military
authorities to fortify SuDig Bay. ana
the Notifications bill, which passed
here two or three days ago. ana
which is now before the Senate. In
anticipation Of the establishment OF
this naval station. contains an item
of s90s, 900 for beginning the work
upon a system OF Notifications for
that lay. So that. Mr.. Chairman, we
J.. onIv will have to expend many
l. Illions upon This naval stallion, TOT
which the amount here and now ap-
propriated is but a mere starter. but
We are rashly being committed to
vast and measureless scheme Of ex-
penditure which no man can justify
and for which no reasonable excuse
has as yet been offered.
To fortify the many seaports and
harbors of the Philippine Islands Is
an undertaking of such stupendous
magnitude that it we'll might appall
the IMAGINATION Of the most needless
imperialist. tApplause.)
Mr.. Chairman. this bill carries IN
the aggregate the enormous sum OF
$50. OGO. 900 The Navy Department 8
estimates exceed $192. 0O0. 900. and il Is
safe to predict that when 1t comes
hack from the Senate 1t will have
crown tn SI00 O66. II Ia as Il now