EATIONAL DEFENSES" , 0. Senator Squire of Washington Makes :1. Speech on the Subject. DUB. SEAPORTS HBLPLESS. A Plea For Stronger Fortifications Along Our Unprotected Coast—What Might Happen In the Event of “far With a Great Power. WASHINGTON, April 15.-—That venerable figure of the senate, Mr. Morrill of Ver- mont, reached the ripe age of 86 years to- day, and the event was referred to in the opening prayer of the chaplain. Rev. Dr. Milburn, who spoke of the white haired senator as hale in body, clear, sound and vigorous in intellect, esteemed by his brother senators, by his state and by the whole country and enjoying the fruits of a long and honorable service in both houses of congress. At the conclusion of the prayer Mr. Morrill received congratula- tions from many of his associates. As a mark of respect to Mr. Merrill the senate directed that the chaplain’s prayer be inserted in The Record. ' Shortly after the session opened Mr. Merrill gave an added evidence of his vigor by announcing that on Thursday next he would speak on the necessity of additional quarters for the National museum. Mr. Squire (Rep.. Wash.) was then rec- cgnized for a speech on the need of coast defenses. ‘ Senator Squire's Speech. “National Defenses" was the subject of Senator Squire's speech, and as a pre« liminary to a more detailed discussion of the topic the senator said in part: “What an absurd spectacle has the con- gress of the United States presented dur- ing the present session by its persistent talk in favor of the intervention by the United States in behalf of Cuba and Ven- w SENATOR SQUIRE. How cheap is all this talk, sin- cere though it may be on many occasions! EVery man who has informed himself on the subject of national defenses knows that as a nation we are not in condition ezuela! to undertake war or suffer war. We can talk loud and long and profess sympathy, pass resolutions and make believe to our- selves that we are actually taking a hand in the diplomatic affairs and international questions of great moment, but those who are not self deceived by egotistical glamour and who know the facts, are perfectly aware of the painful truth that all this demonstration is mere talk and bluster and vapid sentiment, or, at most, it is a sympathy that is easily satisfied with. merely verbal expressions.’ ’ The people, he continued, did not know how shamefully their interests are being bandied and p ayed with by those who represent them in behajs of con ress. f.’ Libby do iiOt k In that the Feat séa- coast cities, teeming with wealt, are ex- posed and defenseless against attack by foreign navies, with vessels far outnum- bering ours in strength. They do not know that our navy itself may be hope- lessly crippled by the destruction of our undefended navy yards, depots of supplies, dockyards, powder mills and arsenals.” The senator said all the evidence taken by the committee on coast defenses had gone to show that the condition of our seacoast defenses is lamentable in the ex- treme. The defensive works are of a character incapable of resisting -modern artillery. “The evidence is overwhelming that in case of war our whole people would suffer immeasurably. Startling Figures. “From such investigation as has been practicable it is evident that a large amount of destructible property, estimat- ed at not less than $10, 000, 000, 000 in val- ue, is exposed to attack or at least to heavy assessment for the purpose of securing im- munity from destruction. The president of the chamber of commerce of ,New York has informed me that he has given careful attention to the question of the property risks that would at present he sustained in the cities of New York, Brooklyn and Jersey City. He has con- sulted with many of his colleagues in the great business institutions of New York, and he estimates that property valued at $4, 000, 000, 000 in those cities is subject to destruction or to the imposition of a ran- som in case of capture of the port of New York by a hostile fleet.” At this point the senator presented a statement showing a comparison of our navy with that of England and also a . statement of all the steel vessels in the American navy,including those authorized by law; also some data. as to the naval fighting strength of other nations. He then said. “This summary is believed to be the most favorable to the United States that can be made from the records, and still it shows this country to be far behind the great nations of the world in naval strength. Moreover, it leaves out of sight our deficiency' in torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers, of which latter We have today only one small vessel in commission, . whereas Great Britain has 131, Germany 116, France 108, Italy 106, Russia 78, and even Spain has 13 torpedo vessels, all in the list I have given being 115 feet in length and over. Sixty-two of the British vessels are torpedo boat destroyers, having ' superior tonnage and speed.” The senator argued that the suggestion : todefend our coasts and seaport cities by fleets is impracticable, for it will, he said, require expenditures running up into sev~ eral hundred million dollars to do the work effectively. The navy is designed for aggressive operations. Its power to make offensive return should not be fettered to our great cities for the purpose of protect- ing them. . A Change Advocated. “If the policy of building up the navy is to be continued at the expense of having defenseless shores, then the time has come when a change of policy must be made. There is no doubt that the money expend- ed for Coast defenses will bring a better re— ,turn in protecting our country than the - same amount of money appropriated for ships. ” Senator Squire then argued that a glance at the historical develop‘mentof our I Advertise in the GAZETTE. [cast defenses will show that the question now under consideration does not indicate a new departure, but is a logical step in continuation of. the settled policy of this government since its foundation. He re-' ferred to the seacOast defenses of European powers and to the reports from time to_ time that England is increasing her forti- fications and heavy armament in Canada on both Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and in this connection said: “So it is we are encircled as a nation with a chain of foreign fortresses and coal- ing stations impervious to attack,.while our rich seacoast cities and ports, com- mencing at Portland, Me., near to fortified, Halifax, in Canada, continuing down the coast to Portsmouth, Boston, New Bed- ford, Providence and Narragansett bay.‘ New London, New Haven and Bridgeport, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Wil- mington (Del. ), Norfolk, ,Wilmington (N. C. ), Charleston (S. C. ), Port Roval, Sa- vannah, Pensacola, Key West, Mobile, New Orleans and Galveston, within a few hours’ rapid steaming from the foreign fortified ports of Bermuda, Nassau, Ha- vana and Kingston, and again on the Pa- cific coast San Diego, San Francisco, Port- land (Or. ) and Puget sound, with its United States drydock, coaling places and cities, some of them within sound of Brit- ish cannon at Esquimauit, all lay domi- nated, exposed and helpless against the attack of any foreign power that possesses a navy. Fabulous Wealth lies at the mercy of a freebOotlng enemy if such shall at any time elude our small and scat- tered navy." At the close of Mr. Squire’s speech Mr. Chandler (Rep, N; H.) took the floor in support of the Du Pont claim. He said this was the first case in thehistory of the " governmentthat a governor claimed the right to vote for a senator.. In the House. In the house Mr. Bingham (Rep, Pa.) presented the conference report on the leg- islative, executive and judicial approp ria- tion bill. Mr. Bingham explained with reference to the paragraphs to abolish the fee sys- tem in the case of marshals, attorneys and United States commissioners that the whole question had been referred to a joint committee of the judiciary committees of the two homes, who were to consult with the attorney general and report to the con‘ ference committee. The senate, he said, had added $229,000 to the bill, of which 859,000 had been disposed of by the house agreeing to $39,000, the senate yielding the balance. About $189,000 still re- mained in dispute; of that amount $67,- 000 was for the increase of the salary list of the senate employees. He had wit- nessed, he said, many disputes between the house and senate with regard to the salaries to be paid employees of the senate and he never had seen but one result—the surrender of the house. The senate had always maintained that its control of its own organization should be absolute and unemharrassed. The Arizona Statehood Bill. WASHINGTON, April l5.—-—At a special meeting of the house committee on terri- tories today the Arizona statehood bill was ordered reported favorably to the house. The vote stood five in favor and two against. Those in the affirmative were: Scranton (Rep., Pa. ), ,Perkins (Rep, Ia. ), Lefever (Rep., N. Y ), Turner (Dem., Ga.) and Cooper (Dem., Tex.). Those in the negative were: Hadley (Rep. , Ills.) and Low (Rep. , ..Y )'. Mr. Avery (Rep. ., Mass.) was paired with Mr. KnOx (Rep. , Mass. ), and Mr. Harris (Rep, 9; ) was paired with Mr. Harrison (Deni, A121,), Mr. Avery and Mr, Harris favoring the measure. The Indiana Is All Right. , WASHINGTON, April 15. — The special board consisting of Captain Picking, Con- structor Varney and Chief Engineer Ross which was appointed to make the trip from Port Royal to Hampton Roads on the In- diana and thus make the final inspection of that vessel has submitted an unquali-. fiedly favorable report to the navy depart- ment. One Day’s Government Receipts. WASHINGTON, April I5.—National bank notes received for redemption today, 8372,- 453; government receipts from internal revenue, $249, 655; customs, $200, 440; mis- cellaneous, $17, 556. Plate Glass 'l‘rrust Aggressive. CHICAGO, April I5.—Plate glass jobbers in Chicago have received letters from the Plate Glass trust, notifying them that the trust has withdrawn the price list for stock sheets. The price lit for out sizes is left in force, but as the trust will sell to the consumer at the same price it allows the jobber to make, the latter, it is said, will not sell any more glass after the present stocks are exhausted. . Awful Charge Against a Boy. EUGENE, On, April 15.-—Oral Poindex- ter, a lad 12 years old, was arrested at his home four miles- north of Coburg today and was brought to thispcity' on a charge of attempting to poison the family of Mrs. Hiram Smith, a widow who lives on a farm adjoining that of the Poindexters. Philadelphia’s Dog Show. PHILADELPHIA, April I5.—The annual dog show of the Philadelphia Kennel club opened here today with an overcrowded entry list and every promise of great suc- cess. Some of the most famous prize win— ners in the country are on exhibition and the competition for the prizes is keen. \Vould Be “’reckers Foiled. CLEVELAND, April 15.—A dastardly at— tempt to wreck the Limited express train on the Cleveland and Pittsburg road was made today. Two heavy railroad ties had been placed from rail to rail on the track. Scarcely had the obstruction been removed when the Limited thundered by. The Greater New York Bill. ALBANY, April I5.—The consideration of the question of repassing the greater New York billover the vetoes of Mayors Strong and Wurster will be deferred until tomorrow, owing to the absence of Senator Ellstrth, the Republican leader. Cars to Have Fenders. ALBANY, April I5.—The assembly has passed the Nixon railroad investigating committee bill, which provides that within 30 days the state railroad commission shall adopt a style of fender for use on electric or cable cars after Sept. 1, 1896. The Matter of Telephone Charges. ~ALBANY, April I5.—Senator Coffey’s motion to disagree with the adverse re- port of the committee on miscellaneous corporations on his bill regulating tele- phone charges in the state Was lost by a vote of 30 to 6. Liman Trumbuli’s Condition. CHICAGO, April 15. ——Lyman Trumbull is expected to be out of bed within a week unless some unlocked for complication should follow the surgical Operation per formed upon him yesterday. ”, K Advertise in thallium." THE EVENING GAZETTE AN AFRICAN PARROT. Eighteen Years Old and Yet Shows No Signs of Age. Our parrot was the present of a kind friend in the summer 01' 1877, hav- ing been brought. from Africa. only a few months previously. Her plumage is the same in color as were her prede- cessors. She was, when she first came, evidently a young bird, and has grown since we have had her. In spite of her 18 years there is no sign of age about her; she sings, dances, climbs and whistles with all the vigor of youth, and though perhaps smaller than the other two birds, is quite as noisy. In many ways she is, however, very differ- ent from them, being, for instance, muchmore shy in the presence of stran- gers, before whom she will very rarely talk at all, and is more curious in her habits, taking great fancies to some people and decided dislikes to others. She has an unpleasant habit of some- times wishing visitors good-by when she does not approve of them. She also, if she cannot get. what she wants. giv es angry whacks and double knocks upon the tin floor of hero age. Noth- mischief. She positively revels in it, and to get- hold of anything she ought not to have is unmixed joy. Evidently the bird has been at some time very cruelly treated; for many months she was terrified at the sight of a man or boy, and for years a broomstick was an object of horror to her. Since getting over this fear she has shown a decided liking £01 the sweep and the coalman, and the latter has left the house with the bird wishing him pleas..ntly good- by, and affectionately requesting him to kiss her, which gives rise to the ques- tion whether she may have had, in her African past, a kind negro friend. Any- one who has ever had opportunities of studying the parrot tribe must. have been struck with their extraordinary gift of memory. so long ago Observed by Plutarch.——Chambers’ Journal. Women on Wheels in War- One of London’s daily papers recently published a letter signed: “A Colonel's Wife,” in which the proposition is made in all seeming seriousness that should the prophecies of continental combina- tions against England be realized, the duties of the army in the rear may be performed by lady cyclist orderlies. The colonel’s wife announces herself "prepared to assist in the organization of. a lady cyclist corps, to help resist our many enemies.” W'omaukind ‘has no means Of knowing how England will receive such a proposition, but in America, for the most. part, woman. is willing to let mall, the devil, and dynamite do the killing, and she busi'cs herself in caring forthe wounded, or in sending :1. Clara Barton to rise 1e the oppressed deserted by civ ilization. —l’l omankind. . __ :1 account of sickness. "oad men are more likely to wear out than the average man. "he strongest frame cannot “and the frog—jumping, curve- Junding, go-ahcad," stop short ":‘e, without showing the wear. .‘li-z pain in the back at night 2116:1115 the Kidneys are tired. Barker’s Kidney Pills will help tired Kidneys—they are a ionic and “ill revive the vital organs, help nature in her hard task, and take years of ache off a prematurelyold back. They, contain no narcotics. mercury, or alcohol. They remove dis- ease by removing the cause. Druggists sell them for so cents. Book about Backachu and Kidney trouble, free. Baker Pill Ca. Bangor, Me. P. H. IVI:3_V_VYER. BIBaiAIIeraiionSa-le EllTlllE smx III 0931. This week begins, in earnes’r, my alter— ation Sale, during which I will close out my entire Stock, of Harness, COI- Iars, Whips, Blankets (what few I have left over), Oils, Brushes, etc., at prices that must force this sale. Twenty-three years of successful busi- ness is my best pledge that this sale will be all I claim—EVERY ARTICLE in my store is marked down, for the entire stock MUST be sold. If you need or will need anything in the harness line, buy now. You will never be able to get the same goodsas cheap again. This sale means money in your pocket, and in these times that ls what you are after. Do not delay—this sale continues as long as the present stock lasts, only. Attend early, and you have a full, com- plete stock to select from. My $I2. 00 Harness, $9. 98 My I5.00 Harness, I2. 98 My 22.00 Harness, I5. 00 My 25.00 Harness, I7. 50 Collars from 750 to $4. 00 Whips from I50 to $3.00 P. H. DWYER. NORWALK. CONN. Piano Lessons. GE W. BRADLEY (daughter Mngfglfiplgte W111." n. Nash.) Rives efficent her home No.11»: Main street. \ Cor. Knight andiWall Sts.,’ ing appeals to delight her more than -. Blankets below cost to close out and satlsi'actory insuuctions on the Piano at .. l . UNDER FULL HEAD THE BOSTON STORES MONEY- -slIIIIIE SALE OF New Spring Goods ' To-morrow Morning, Thursday, April I6, we place on sale The Greaes Values in Men's Furmshmgs Ever offered in the United States. _ Every man . should attend this money-saving chance. 54 dozen of the celebrated “ Stanley” Shirts, all new, mode of fine percales, sold by all dealers at $1. 25, special for this sale. 66 cents each. ' 60 dozen Fancy Shirts, laundered, Collars andCufi's attached, soft finish “and French Domet Flannel, full size and perfect fitting, 41 Cents each. 30 dozen Men s all wool white and gray Merino, spring weight Shirts and Drawers, sold by the best New York houses at $1. 50, sale price 98 Cents each. ~ . One Case Men s gray Half Hose, extra fine, spring weight, worth 25c, at I2 I. 2 cents per pair. SILKS and DRESS GOODSQ Largest Variety, Best Quality, Lowest Prices. At 50 cents, All wool Fancy Suitings, black figured Mohair. black Serges, black and colored Henriettas; real value '75 Cents. ; At 62% cents TO pieces Silk warp Henrietta, usually sold at $1.25. At 69 cents, 25 pieces figured blaCk silk Tafl'etas, the proper thing for spring and summer wear worth 89 cents. I 3,000 yards colored silk Dresdenseffects. just the thingfor fancy waists, 33 per cent under value, HE BOSTON STORE, NORWALK. ,- New York Office. 442 Broadway. POINTER... Is your plate glass or safe insured? If not, call, on me and I will write you a policy in the Mutual Plate Glass and Safe Insur- ance Company. Glass will break and burglars use dynamite. Incase Of Fire . You: should be insured. A policy in the Reliance OI I'hiladelphia‘, ' Phoenix of Hartford; Scotland Union of Scotland; N ew Hampshire of Manchester; Rochester German‘of Rochester; United States “and Pacific of New York; Security of N eW Hampshire or Gmniie State of Ports- mouth will protect you against the fire fiend. W. er- grandson. Real Estate and General Insurance, * ' ROOM 1, oazn-r-rn nurnnrme LOANS NEGOT‘IATED AND INVESTMENTS MADE. ———_._C.0R_R£5P0NDENCE SOL/CITED ' .
Norwalk Chronicler