The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-16
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MAY II, 1912.
ICoNcLUDED.l

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, MAY II, lS42.
The House being in the Committee OF the Whole
ON the Naval appropriation bill, and the question be-
ing on the motion OF Mr.. Merwether to amend the
clause for pay of commission, warrant and petty Off
GERS and seamen by striking out $3 l95, 432 23 and
inserting y, 1896, 900
But Mr.. c. doubted all these official statements as
to the complement of men in the British Navy. The
official table did not tell he truth. In proof OF this
refer the complement Of officially set down for
fifty gun frigate in the British Navy, which it APP
peared was 3a5; yet the Warspite, now the coast
of the u ned States, ship of fifty guns in article
which Mr.. G. read from the United Service Journal
it is SAID has of $50 officers, seamen and ma
rines with 20 supernumerary boys; that considering
the weight of metal which she carries and the size Of
her sails and spars, the foregoing numbers no
more than she should have, and that she here,
not only bring Lord Ashburton, but to show spe-
cimen of crack ship of the British Navy. Mr.. c.
stated that he also knew the fact that the Warspe
had actual complement of $50 men, through friend
of his who visited that ship at Annapolis.
Mr.. G. next noticed the argument of the gentleman
from North Carolina as to the comparative cost of
supporting the American and British Navies Mr..
Mckay had taken, the criterion this point, the
cost per gun in each service. Mr.. c. said he at
loss to the force and application of the argu-
ment, even If the premises correct. Ift should
appear to be the fact that the cost per gun is greater
in the United States than in EngIand-what, then
Should we give up the Navy 1t means this, if it
any thing. But in Nc. C.'s opinion, it had
nothing to do with the question What matters it to
U.S. how much to build equip and sail fIigate
in England Why not well inquire what it costs
in Russia in Spain? The gentleman does not
show that the difference which he alleges, is the
suit of any legal or administrative abuses which can
be amended by Congress.
Admitting that the cost per gun in England is
cheaper than herein fact the of materials is
about the in both counries-the wood etc.,
the difference must be in the wages Of the
chancs and laborers employed in building vessels
and of the mariners to navigate them Did the gen.
teman from North Carolina desire to cut down the
wages Of mechanics and sailors in this country to
those of mechanics and sailors in England If he
desired this, be desired what is impossible Wecan-
compel mechanics to accept 80 cents day at our
Navy Yards, when they get better employment
elsewhere. We cannot fill up our ships by impress
ment We cannot enlist men for the military marine |
at dollars month, whilst they have IL in the COM
mercia marine But, Mr.. c. said, the criterion adopt
ed by Mr.. Mckay, utterly fallacious. 1t the
worst that could be selected, from s extreme uncer
tanty. For example, steamer of the cost and size
of frigate, has no more guns in number than a |
schooner or cutter; and there the great
possible difference in the tonnage of vessels of the
class and rate This appeared concIusively
from the following table which MI c. exhibited
(3) Comparative tonnage Of the same Of vessels IN
the British Navy Of the old and ne,u class..-( Miles,