New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-02-09
Naval Appropriations-in the House
Correspondence Of The Tribune.
N,smNnroN TnesdeY. Feb 8.

Al las.-iust one week later than 1t should
have been-,he Naval Appropriation biIl was
taken out of Committee at late hour this alter
noon. reported 20 the House, and passed. Nearly
two DAYS have been spent upon it since it was
gone through BY sections-spent mainly IN despe.
rate attempts on one side TO open wide the flood
gates Of Naval promotion 10 the gentlemen OF the
oaarter.deck-to enlarge Appropratons-in-
crease Patronage-anything TO swell the Ex-
pendtures for this branch OF the National service.
stranger who had dropped into the gallery for the
first time today or last Thursday would have been
led TO believe if previously unacquainted with the
sabiect-that our Navy was an illused, half starv-
ed kicked and cuiied concern, which all the dema-
gogues and dunderheads in the land were bent on
destroying He could not surely, have been led
to suspect that our Naval Captains have far high
er salaries than the average OF our State Governors,
Chief Justices or q. s. District Judges, although
only about half Of these Captains have anything
in the world TO do. He could not have guess
ed-what is the naked truth--that there is not,
in the wide world another Navy which costs
50 much in proportion TO its efficiency and
capacity for service as this same Navy Of
pected that its cost for this present year, or the
next for which the House was now providing, is
about equal 10 three times the cost OF this same
Navy only twenty years ago. And yet we are
told that promotion is very slow, aud urged 10
take of the restraint upon II imposed by the go-
rious XXNllth Congress and let the President
and Secretary push every Lieutenant up to be
Commander, every Commander TO be Ca tain,
every Passed Midshipman 10 be a Lieutenant, SC.
without check or restrlction-in short, 10 restore
the vicious system under which the Navy became
the sore burthen il now is. Congress never IN
tended the Country never consented, that the ex-
pense OF the Navy in time OF profound Peace
should be rapidly sweed from Three Millions per
annum to Nine and Ten Millions, but 1t has been
done and 1t is only by the most determined aud
perseverng exertions that farther increase has
been defeated.
The sef-appointed champions OF the Navy m
the House-in my judgment in effect its worst en-
mes-are Messrs. SCHENCK of Ohio, STANTON of
Tenn. HOLMES Of 5. c. MURPHY of n. Y. and
McLASE Of Nd. do not count Mr.. KING OF Ga.
because his position as Chairman of the Naval
Committee naturally inclines him to be LIBERAL
y
These gentlemen have had the floor pretty much
to themselves during the last two days on the
Navy Bill for the friends OF Retrenchment in
stead OF increase were fairly beaten at the outset
and gave up hostile efforts rs useless, combining
themselves to resisting the propositions OF their
antagonists. This gave the champions OF the Navy
nearly a monopoly of the floor, since by rule no
nan is allowed to speak on bill IN this stage
except in explanation and defence of his own
amendment 1t became evident soon after the
voting on amendments began that the House or
Committee was about equally divided into three
parties-the friends of Naval Retrenchment, the
champions OF increased expenditure, and middle
class who were in favor of leaving things about
as they were. In view OF this state of things, the
friends of Retrenchmen, desisted, after being twice
or thrice decisiyely beaten, and contented them
selves with resisting amendments from the other
side. OF these OF all sorts shapes and sizes, a
twodays fire was kept up, but nearly every one
was defeated.
At last the patience of the House wore out.
The hour grew late a motion to rise rthow re-
porting the bill had only been defeated by deter
mined effort the whole ground had been gone
majority had determined not to vote any more
money to the Navy. Yet Mr.. McLANE put IN
new amendment-whch was really an old one
with a new face-tho intent being TO evade or
sabvert the acts prohibiting promotions except to
Ra accrulng vacancies aud prohibiting extra or
additional pay to officers serving above their regu'
Jar grades. The House began 10 insist that such
amendments were out OF order, either as not IN
place in an Appropriation bin, subverting ire
gulsrly existing and express provisions Of law, or
as substantially amendments already voted down.
The Chairman MIR. j. Il. lNGrRsoLLl gradually
ruled stronger and stronger against such amend
ments aud in this stage Mr.. SoHENoN re
heved his friend from Baltimore, IN the
work OF bothering the Committee with Old
Propositions in new DISCUSSES The Chair prompt
y ruled them out Of order, one after another the
Committee voting down every appeal by large
naorites. Mr. ScHENCK at length lost his tenn
per the House on the contrary, was excessively
sod natured, aud allowed him to keep the bill in
Committee much longer than as reasonable. Ut
not in order to rise and report the bill while
there is an amendment pending or anybody wish
sto offer one so single Member can hold the
nous in framing amendments but this is PRIV
lese easily abused. and should never be pushed to
say such extent, when the Judgment OF the House
n,horouehly made up.
Finally the shower Of amendments was ex-
haas,ed and tue Committee rose and reported the
oA Mr.. VISroN got the floor and moved the
Previous Question the amendments OF the Com
nitIee were considered and all but the Anu
Liquor Proviso agreed to and then the bill was
ordered to a third reading. MIR. VrSros again
obtained the floor, again moved the Previous
Question, which was carried and the bill passed.
Ne then moved a reconsideration, and moved to
lay that motion on the table, which in like manner
Prevailed. And now Mr.. ScHEscK obtained the
door, the question being the tile OF the bill)
and proceeded to make another speech, insisting
dat the title was wrong, as 1t implied that provi.
non was made in the bill for the Naval Service for
next year, and he contended that 1t did not,
espt partially and insdequstely The House
stood considerably OF this, bat at length grew i'm
patient; and the Speaker decided Mr.. 5. out OF