Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-21

Washington, March 20.-Immediate-
ly after the ocean mail ship subsidy
bill was laid before the Senate today,
Senator Bacon proposed an amend
ment providing that one of the sub
sidiZed mail lines on the Atlantic
coast, should touch at two ports south
of Cape Charles. in order to promote
the trade in cotton goods, lumber and
naval stores now supplied by tramp
ships which do not bring return
cargo.
Senator Gallinger said there were
insuperable objections to this plan both
because of the delay in the mails and
because it would be necessary for the
vessels to go several hundred miles
out Of their course to the westward.
Showing some indignation Bacon said
that without his amendment the bill
Disseminated against the Southern
states.
Gallinger disavowed any intention of
such discrimination.
An amendment was proposed by
Newlands for the creation of a COM
mission to consist of the secretary of
the navy, the postmaster general and
the secretary of commerce and labor
to provide for the construction of y
vessels at cost of as many millions
of dollars as available as auxiliary
vessels for the navy to be used for
new lines of transportation on terms
satisfactory to tie government.
Senator Hale spoke of the great need
for additional auxiliary ships for the
navy but he SAID they should be pro-
vidod for in the naval appropriation
bill.
Hale said that there were with the
American fleet now going around the
world, only nine American Golfers.
whereas there were % foreign Golfers.
IF there should be war, no govern
ment would allow us to use one of these
Golfers and without them our nnagnitl
cent fleet would be as useless as a
painted ship on painted ocean," ne
asserted.
Hale declared that the American fleet
was the most magnificent and formida-
Bile squadron of ships any nation had
ever put on the ocean, But" Hale con-
tinued, 1.-The people do not realize how
helpless this fleet is without golfers
that are not liable to be called away
in moment Of need by foreign govern
ments.
IF there should be even a menace Of
war, I do not know but that every
neutral power represented in these
ships would be compelled to withdraw
them from the fleet and we would be
hung up.
Something must be DONE" he added
"in this entirely neglected field that we
nave in a foolhardy way rashly aban
doned in the past"
He spoke of the voyage of the feet
as q "Spectacular exhibition intended
to affect our status at home and in the
Orient Certainly, not with England,
nor with Germany. although for four
or five years, the fear of danger with
Germany was exploited as a reason
why we wanted more ships" he said,
but / take it the reason is to impress
the East, the Orient, with our power.
Even England never sends such an
enormous fleet about the world.
Hence, I conclude the voyage has
been undertaken for the benefit of the
Fast to impress everybody with as
the feet goes along"
But without auxliaries. he said. the
feet could not impress the nations.
'Is there any doubt" asked Teller.
that every nation knows our naval
strength as well as we do?"
1.-THE senator must ask the President"
responded Hale.
81 do not believe 1t Is necessary" said
Teller. 1.-THE exhibition is possibly not
so much for influence upon Asiatics as
upon the American Congress"
Burkett said he did not think it was
right to tell the world that we are in the
miserably helpless condition pictured by
the senator from Maine. He said condi-
tons were now as they were during the
Spanish war when many auxiliaries could
have been obtained if the government had