The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-08

u" ing expenditures for the
Wv military establishment of
the United States was
houhded in the Senate to-day By SEN
ator Hale, chairman Of the Committee
on Naval Affairs and his alarm was
taken up and repeated by other SEN
ators- The discussion was based on
signed article printed in the Wash
ihston Post to-day. saying In effect
that Secretary Taft favored a rcor.
ganization and an enlargement of the
army that would Bring 1T up to 125.-
900 men. The immediate occasion for
Senator tiale's speech was the passage
Yesterday of the army appropriation
bili. carrying nearly SlOO,0oo.00O, and
ne used 1t as showing the tendency of
ths times.
Moving to reconsider the vote by
which the army bin was passed, Mr..
liale said Senator's did not realize that
20 per cent. of the revenues of the
government were to-day expended for
what has been termed the needs OF
past, present and future wars.
Military Over All Others.
What is going on" said Mr.. Hale
without Senator'S or the country be-
ins aware of IL. are the enormous in
cfeases Of the military establishment,
TO the prejudice or all other appropria-
tions and claims. We cannot get con-
hideration OF other bills because AS
every body knows, the revenues are
waning and we are likely to be con-
fronted with deficit. and In not many
months ahead we shall be found spend
ing more money than comes to the
treasury from the existing and ordi-
nary sources. We cannot pass the
omnibus appropriation bill, which has
thousands of just claims that ought
to be paid IS much as a note at hand:
we are 10 pass no river and harbor bill,
because II is a peace bill; we can have
no public building bill, because the
military expenses are mounting SO
rapidly that we cannot afford these
Items that are for peace"
sir. Hale recapitulated appropriations
lor military purposes and said every
item represented great appropriations
Tor the future. There had, he said been
sn increase of s20,000,000 in the appro-
priations for the army, and about the
same increase for the navy. This, he
said, did not represent the enormous
increase" for the navy, as only two in
stead of four battleships are provided
for.
when you build up "a navy" he de-
W.
You commit the country 10 repairs and
maintenance, making necessary an in
screa->iG >appropriation. and If you go
on we are gog to have naval appro-
pration in Zee or four years that
will amount teN $4,000 900 annually
Wax Inspired:
Senator Calm, r said the article in
the Post to-day N emed TO be inspired.
Senator Warren chairman of the
Committee on Min Wy Affairs. said he
did not believe thaty he published plan
to was inspA Aed.
Mr. Adrlch suggey ed that it was
important in the Sena and elsewhere
'.among the people, Wild VIII decide this
question ultimately, thai here should
be a statement that noV Erch army is
This is the first 1 Nave heard
Of the Secretary of MIR having
any such idea about incrV sing the
said Mr.. Warren. "TlV is prob
ably matter under consolidation in
the department. and 1t has ari,ivted at
point where 1t has been heard ~ by a
writer"
II hope" said Mr.. Hale. resulting,
that this enormous, unreasonable \and
wicked program is not the judgmenI of
the Secretary of War" Nj
Mr.. Hale declared that any one wNoI
talks with the general staff of the arni\.I
as Senators have done within few\I
days will be told that the army has
got to be doubled.
"That,' he said, SIS the opinion OF
the chief of the general staff, who is
the head of the operating part OF tho
army, with authority during the pro
longed, frequent and necessary abscnceI.
OF the Secretary of War f this pro-
gram is carried out we will have an
army costing s2O0,O00,000, and nothing
short of that win satisfy the army. I.
hope wherever the Secretary of Warl
shall be, we shall not be called upon
to make this enormous expenditure. T |
still have on my mind a restdium Of
hope that that alleged program for
army enlargement is not to be carried |
out, and that the Secretary of War has
not program for such expenditures Of
funds drawn from all the people. I wish
10 call attention to this distinctive fea-
ture OF the enormous increases Of the
military establishment of the govern-
ment. to the prejudice and hurt of ap-
that are peaceful and |
which deal not with soldiers and sail
ors. armies and navies. ranks and
grades, epaulets and paraphernalia."
The Philippines Pestilcncc.
ands as "a pestilence" which had con-
TO the policy of military en-
would not now abandon any "rickety
post" because of this proposed mil |
itary expansion. The army, he said,
looked upon the governments reve-
and the naval officers, with
a few exceptions. he declared, had the
same Idea, The navy to-day, he said, !
was the second navy of the world and
vet naval men wanted 1t doubled. The
Navy, he said. was now, and would |
Aontinue ITO be. useless,
Mr Hale said the reason given for |
Is enlargement of the army and
w was that the country might avoid
Abig war
Certain To Hnyc Deficit.
". Aldrich expressed the hope that
utterances by the Senator from
~, !, 49, u r, !