Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1896 — WOODMAN’S DEFENSE PLAN. [ARTICLE]

WOODMAN’S DEFENSE PLAN.

Chicago Congressman Would Quickly Dispose of $100,000,000. < <k>Trgressmnn Woodman has introduced a bill appropriating $100,000,000 to establish fortifications and other coast defenses at the sea and lake ports of the United States. His bill provides for the creation of a board of fortifications, consisting of six members besides the Secretary of War. Two of the members shall be officers of the army and the remaining four civilians, one being an engineer and one an attorney. The members shall receive $7,500 eabh per year. The bill provides tuat the board shall cause plans to be prepared for fortifications at each of thirty-four ports requiring protection and enumerated in the bill. It is provided that the work of fortifying shall begin immediately and that $5,000,000 of the sum.shall be available for use during the fiscal year beginning* June 30 next. Ten million dollars shall be Used during the year beginninn June 30, 1897, and a like sum during the following year, while in each succeeding year thereafW there shall be spent $25,000,000. By this provision the entire snm would be expended before June 30, 1901.