The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-06-04
VICTORY IN FIGHT
FOR NAVY YARD
Charleston Dry Dock
and Channel Items Re-
main in Bill


! Charleston in the pending navy plll
| was won today when the senate. With
out roll-call, recons.dered its former
action and dropped the amend
ment. which the committee OF the
whole had inserted. suspendinS until
1928 the use of any OF the existing
appropriation for the large dry dock
or Of any more of the appropriation
for the forty-foot channel. AS the
amendment dropped today was not IN
theh ouse bill when it came to the
senate, the matter will not come up IN
conference. 1t is settled for this ses-
sion.
When the amendment was consid-
cred originally in committee OF the
whole the senate. sustained 1T by
party vote on roll call. Surprised
and aroused by this remarkable piece
Of sectional discrimination, Senator
Smith several days later made an iin-
passioned speech, denouncing this
treatment and protesting against it.
In the course of this speech. in which
he was supported by Senator Dial,
Senator Smith brought out the facts
as to the Charleston dock and chan
mel projects in way that made de-
cided impression. The work OF con-
vincing those open to argument was
(continued by personal effort to the
last moment.
Senator Dial today made speech
Of some length against the Charleston
amendment. beginning with defense
of the late Senator Tillman against
aspersions cast by Senator La Toilette.
of Wisconsin. few days ago, when
the latter dragged up the celebrated
remark made by Senator Tillman,
pork barrel legislation.
Senator Dial said in this connection
1t is hardly necessary for me to say
that Senator Tillman did not believe
in encouraging or stealing by anyone
for any purpose by any section or for
any section. The expression quoted
by the senator from Wisconsin was
merely his blunt way of expressing
his views of so-called pork barrel leg
| islation. The remarks of the senator
! from Wisconsin were unkind. uncall-
| ed for. out of place and gratultous
| insult to the memory Of q. senator
who served in this body with distin-
guished ability and fidelity for over
twenty years.
Senator Dial said that he hoped
those senator's who had not heard the
speech of Senator Smith on the
Charleston dock and channel some
days ago had read it since. and said
that he felt that if they had informed
themselves they would not object to
the appropriation to the project. The
Junior senator reviewed the station
as to the absence of any large dry
dock south of Hatteras. quoted the
figures adduced by Senator Smith as
to the reasonable cost of dredging at
Charleston as compared with other
navy yards. referred to the great gov
ernmept terminal at North Charleston
and cited the commercial as we'll as
strategic importance of the harbor.
AS to the pork barrel talk. Senator
Dial remarked that if there was any
pork in the pending naval Dill.
Charleston is certainly getting very
little Of it. All she gets is $4,000 to
continue dredging at the Navy Yard.
Senator Dial. here told story OF a
negro preacher. who was addressing
the congregation as follows: ou
know, haven't been getting much
pay here It's true when some of you
who are farmers kill hog. you send
me the feet but hereafter / specs to
cat some Of the hog higher up.
Senator Dial referred to the county
of Union. South Carolina. as the first
in the country to fill its volunteer
quota in the recent war and added
that South Carolina boys had received
more congressional medals of honor
than those OF any other state. He also
noted that the South Carolina branch
of the American Legion was only one
in the country that had passed reso-
lutions condemning the bonus appro-
priation.
Having reference evidently to critl-
cisms Of his course in voting against
the senate amendments increasing the
amounts appropriated for various
items in the naval bill, Senator Dial
said: Some remarks have been made
a bout my votes on this bill. The bill
as it came from the house appro-
priates about S400. 900. 900. The SEN
ate committee reported amendments
adding about 800. 100000. | voted for
TALL the house recommended. but
against the increases reported by the
senate committee. I deny that | am
in favor Of small navy. believe
we should have "a navy commensurate
with the interests. power. and dignity
of the Cnited States until dlsarma-
ment can be brought about. But
think when we sec that 93 per cent
of all Of our taxation goes to pay
for past wars. and for preparation
for future wars it is time to stop.
look and listen
Just before the Charleston amend
ment was reached Senator Smith
sked for vote on it. He said
that he would not consume the time
Of the senate by restatinG what he
had already told it. and contented
inf annoo1