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

The House having under considera-
tion the bill II. r. No. 4S0) for the
transfer Of the Philadelphia Navy
Yard to League Island
Mr.. Dawes said-I propose TO show
that nothing can be done toward re-
moving this yard at all until an expen-
diture of more ehan a million dollars
Is made; and therefore that this bill,
which my friend Mr.. O'Niell said,
with so much nairete, the other day,
did not contain dollar of approprla-
tion, is bat the first reading of a bill
for the appropriation Of more than
million of dollars. My friend said that
the Committee on Naval affairs, who
are clothed by this House with the du-
ty of considering all matters pertain
ing to the navy, will have done their
duty when they have got this bill
through; and then as q division Of labor,
the local representative from the city
of Philadelphia, he thought very like
ly, might ask for a small appTopria-
ton, as if part OF the duties which
pertained 10 the Naval Committee
were to be surrendered by that COM
mittee to the representative from
Philadelphia. Bot this led to an in
inquiry. / ascertained from the Ma
w Department that while my friend
was making his statement to the
House, painted in rose colors, on shat
very day the Bureau of Dock and
yardsin the Naval department were ma
king ont an estimate for League Island
Of $500, 900. This has not yet come
here, although Admiral Porter thought
it had this has not yet reached here
and will not until this bill is disposed
of. But l state to the house that there
is prepared an estimate for League IS
land of Ss00,000 to follow this BILL
This is perfectly plain from the report
Of the Secretary himself, from which I
take these extracts:
This removal the Department has
been and is anxious to accomplish; but
it needs an appropriation for the pre-
paration of the new yard, and without
this it cannot move. >
The annual expenses for this yard are,
/ for these reasons and those before Civ
en-, much increased and it is not doub-
/ ted that the savings from this source
/ and from the expenses now incurred of
maintaining two establishments with
/ the money which can be realized from
/ the iudicious sale of the land now occu-
/ pied in the heart of the city, will 60
+ very far toward repaying the expenses
Of establishing the yard at League Is
land. l trust therefore, that authority,
( if it be necessary, be given to the De-
partment to transfer The working yard
I of the Philadelphia station to League
Island as rapidly as is consistent
with the interests of the service, and
/ to dispose Of the present yard as p0r-
tions of it shall be vacated, and that an
adequate appropriation VIII be made
for the work necessary to be done be-
fore any part Of the present yard can
be sold.
Before any part of it can Be sold =
for the very apparent reason that be-
fore you can sell that yard and move
the buildings and machinery from il
to any other place, you must have g
place TO stand upon; not under water
bat raised from nine TO ten feet By
bringing the earth from the banks of
the river on the jersey side, or some
where else, and lifting it up. There
fore, sir, while / do admit that
the time will come when the yard ha:
to be removed, was correct the othel
day in the assertion | made that thi,
bill involved the expenditure of mil
hons Of dollars, and should not be pas
sed through under the previous ques
ton. And now let me ask whether il
il wise, and Whether il is best to make
this appropriation Let us not d,
anything inconsistent with our duty il
regard to the public expenditure OF
the plea that this bill does not prOvid'
for the expenditure of money. | dC
not intend that the House er any mem
Der Of it who casts his vote for this bill
shall escape from voting with th
knowledge that such vote implies 81
50 the voting for $500, 900 and for pla
cling Of s.. .000. .000.besides at the absolut
disposal of the Secretary Of the Navy
And now / ask the gentleman Whelh
er it Is best to take the course proposes
in this bill? This is a new publ
work it is not a public work alread,
begun and carried 50 far that it Woult
be impossible to stop without sacrifice
1t is not commenced as yet. Is ther
an absolute, pressing, overwhelmnin,
necessity now Of undertaking lhi
work at this time, or is fhe Treasur,
of the United States in possession O
a