The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1870-02-03

have your patience l propose, Mr..
Speaker. as well as | may be able TO dis
charge my duty in answering both
these questions. Sir, il is a time of
peace: there is no pressing neces-
sity for the enlargement of the ma
w yards. The navy yards of the
country were sufficient for the war.
Al anv rate. the war was a success with
the navy yards at their present capaci-
ty and power. There is no occasion,
therefore, in this time of peace for
building up new navy yards in this
country. And there is behind
this a question which l have no
time to discuss at present, but
which ought to be settled before we
launch upon the expenditure Of money
either for new yards or for the enlarge
ment of old yards; and that is wheth-
if is best for Us to maintain this vast
expenditure on navy yards at all. The
British navy for some reason or other,
depends upon private yards. Ninety
per cent, l am told, of all the work
done upon the British navy is done in
private yards. Admiral Porter says.
in evidence which / have before me,
given bv him before q committee of this
House, that We spentS $50, 900, ,0o0for our
navy yards during the war, and that
we have nothing at all 10 show for it
now. that we have no navy as the re-
suit Of the money so spent on our
wards: and he suggests the building Of
a merchant marine, seni-warlike
steamers asa substitute for all our navy
and he tells you that he would advise
the building OF every one of them in
private yards, because they can be
built cheaper than in public yards.
The vessel that sunk the Merrimac and
saved Philadelphia and New York and
Boston from destruction was built in
private yard by private individual,
and in ninety days. / Isay do not en-
ter into that question now ; but 1t is a
question that ought 10 be settled be
fore we expend this money. But
do desire TO call your attention to
what the Secretary has estimated aud
proposes 10 expend upon other yards
in addition to what be proposes to
spend On the Philadelphia navy yard.
Mr.. Myers wish to ask the gen.
tleman a question before he passes from
this subject / desire to know wheth-
er / am TO understand the chairman
of the Committee on Appropriations
tina it is his opinion, or the opinion OF
Admiral Porter, that our navy during
the war effected nothing toward crush
ing the rebellion?
Mr.. Dawes-I do not know what the
gentlemen understands. | neither
said so myself, nor did say that Ad-
miral Porter said so.
Mr.. AIeyers-You said the $50, 600, ,000
expended for the navy during the war
were useless.
Mr.. Dawes-I said that Admiral Por-
ter stated that $4S0, ,0o0, 600 had been ex-
pended for the navy during the war,
and We had absolutely nothing to show
for it to-day.
Mr.. Dickey-Will my colleague on
the Committee on Appropriations
yield to me for question
Mr.. Dawes-My friend will excuse
me; I cannot yield to him. under
stand that he represents on this Occa-
sion the State of Pennsylvania, and
not the Committee on Appropriations
But l was going on to say that in addi
ton to that $500, 900 the Secretary o
the Navy proposes besides to e2pend
in the navy yard at Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, S577 $50, against $50,00t
expended last year; at the navy yard
at Boston, $747.34l, against Sl00,00i
/ last year; at the navy yard at New
+ York, s333, ,5ll, against Sl0a,000 las
year: at the navy yard at Philadelph
III, Sill, ,935, against So, 900 last year
at the navy yard at Washington, S56l, :,
/ 775, against so, 900 last year; at th'
navy yard at Norfolk, $25S. .3l2, agains
] $50, 900 last year; at the navy yard a
/ Mare Island, S93, ,423, against $50, ,000.-
/ He thus proposes to expend upon nav.
wards, besides this $500 900, a total o
IS, ,507, 1874, against s45l, 900 last year.
I Mr.. Seofield Does the gentlemen re
fer TO the estimates for last year or f
/ the appropriation?
Mr.. Dawes-I am speaking Of th
appropriations.
Mr.. Randall-Willt the gentlemen al
low me TO ask him question?
Mr.. Dawes-I will answer any ques
tioas if it can be understood that IN.
time shall be extended.
Mr.. Randall hope that viii b
understood.
The Speaker-The gentleman ha
half an hour remaining.
/ Mr.. Randall wish to ask the ger
tleman one question.
Mr.. Dawes SIS it understood that
will come out of my time?
The Speaker-The chair so regard
il.
Mr.. Dawes-Then the gentiema
from Pennsylvania will excuse me.
may be pardoned, as friend of thi
Secretary and Of this administration
in what / may feel compelled 20 say
reference TO either his estimates or TIL
the estimates of the whole administr,
ti9n, when I say that the estimates {
this Secretary IN reference to these e1
penditures do not inspire me with er
/ tire confidence. / know he speaks {
economy and the saving of none,
but, sir, the great point upon which