Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-11

tween Hanscom and Admiral Porter. Porter
had been young lieutenant at the Portsmouth
navy yard when Hanscom was a naval com
structDr there. Speaking of Admiral POrters
connection with the navy department, lie said
he never was officially secretary of the navy.
He had once been officially assistant secretary
Of the navy. No member of congress should
have recognized him as secretary. He had left
the place he never ought to have held.
Gen. Banks remarked that he once went to
the navy department to ask favor from the
secretary. Admiral Porter had just gone out,
and the secretary said to him: Banks,
why the devil don't you ask Admiral PorterT
(Laughter.)
Mr.. Eldridgc-"And why the devil didn't
your
Mr. Banks-"He had just gone ont. 1t was
not the present secretary"
Mr.. Butler resumed, narrating the motives
which induced Hanscom to resign. Who was
opposing Hanscom2 Not the secretary of the
navy; not the committee on naval affairs; but
Mr.. Porter, admiral Porter, by grace Of the SEN
ate. (Laughter.)
Admiral, Porter'S services during the war
would live for some time. He thought they
would be indestructible. All along the Missis-
sippi were guns captured by the army and
marked by Porter: "Takcn by the navy under
command of D d. Porter" and so long as the
white paint remained, so long would the memo
ry of Porters deeds remain in the minds of
Uaughter.) 1t was easy to make such record
as that.
If man would only blow his own trumpet
loud enough; if he could maze himselfthe great
Il AM of an expedition; if he could strike
down the great and glorious Farragut and send
him to the grave with feeling that his country
had wronged him; then he might get such a
reputation, and that was the sort of service
which Admiral Porter had rendered to his coun-
try.
Mr.. Starkweather called for vote.
MI. COX-"As Judas lScarot is on the repub-
lican side of the house, let him speak"
Laughter)
The bill passed-148 to 67-and now goes to
the president.
The bill for the enlistment of three hundred
additional seamen n the navy of the practice
ship at Annapolis, passed.
The house went into committee of the whole
on the naval appropriation bill.
section was added TO the bill authorizing
the president to accept the resignation of any
officer of the navy, until the number of officers
in the grade to which such officer belongs is re-
duced to the number authorized by law.
MIR. Stevens moved to amend the section by
providing that there shall be no promotions TO
the grade of rea' admiral, commodore, captain
or commander, in line, until the number in those
grades shall be reduced TO the number fixed by
the act Of 1862. But the chairman decided that
the amendment was out of order.
The committee then rose, and the house
passed the b ].
The conference committee on the bill granting
pensions to soldiers of the war of 1912 made 4
report, which was agreed to- The bill now pro-
videS for pensions TO surviving officers and en-
listed and drafted men, including militia and
volunteers who served sixty days in the army
Of navy in the revolutionary war or in the war
of 1872, and were honUrlbly discharged and to
the surviving widows of such officers and
drafted and enlis ed men. The pensions are to
be al the rate OF SIS per month.
Adjourned