The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-02-09
Kills. OONG2Ess---Thirl Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8-The House resolution
apprOpriatng 800 900 to the Senate Southern
Investigation Committee was concurred in and
two members added 20 the committee.
Mr.. Williams had read the resolution of the
Oregon legislature rejecting the 18th amend
ment. 1t denies the right of Congress to inter-
fere with suffrage within that State and
charges that the amendment is being forced
upon the States by the aid of bayOnets.
After further remarks by Messrs. Flanagan
and Thurman the resolution was laid on the
table.
The Senate joint resolution authorizing the
sale of the Hancock barracks at Houlton, Me. ,
was passed.
The Judiciary Committee reported without
amendment the House bill to divide Ohio into
three judicial districts and adversely on the
House bills regulating the removal OF actions
from the State to federal courts and permit
ting prisoners to testify in their OWE behalf in
the District of Columbia.
Mr.. Pool presented a remonstance which was
read, of qualified electors Of the third Con-
gressional district of North Carolina against
the removal of the disabilities of Senator elect
Vance and representative elect Waddell. The
latter gentleman referred to was in favor of
depriving union men of North Carolina OF their
civil and political rights and establishing over
them system of intimidation.
The remonstrance was debated at length and
finally went over.
The bill to regulate, reorganize and conduct
discussed, the question being on motion to
strike out section torbidding any dscrimina-
ton on account of race or color.
The Senate went into executive session and
adjourned.
Mr. Cox, of New York, presented petition
from c. H. Marshall and 100 other merchants
and shipowners of New York city against the
passage of the subsidy bills and for the right to
purchase their ships in the cheapest markets.
Mr.. Scofield, of Pennsylvania, from the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, reported bill for the
removal of the Brooklyn navy yard.
Mr. Dawes offered a resolution providing for
like removal of the navy yards at Charles
town, Mass, and Kittery, Me-, or eight of them.
Mr.. Hooper, of Massachusetts, moved to
amend by including in the bill all other navy
yards in the United States.
Mr. ScO6eld of Pennsylvania, moved to
amend by providing that the land might be
sold either at public auction or by sealed pro-
posals. After opposition Mr.. Scofield's amend
ment was agreed to.
Mr. Dawes spoke in support of the bill and
his amendment. He regarded the mante
nance of eight navy yards as an unnecessary
expense. The cost of the officers alone would
reach q million dollars, and the conviction was
gaining ground even in the navy that it would
be better aud cheaper TO have vessels built by
private contracts than III the navy yards. The
amendment be had offered would not mpel
the Secretary of the Navy to sell the Charles
town aud Kittery navy yards, but it would au-
thorize him to do so. He was in favor of sell
ing those two yards in New England and let
ting the future decide the question of estab-
fishing one at New London, Conn. The testi-
mony of the world was uniform in favor Of dis.
pensing with public navy yards and building
ships OF war at private sh:pyards. He wished
his colleague (HoOper) to withdraw his embar.
RAISING amendment and let the bill apply only
to the Brooklyn, Charlestown and Kittery
navy yards.
Mr.. Hale Of Maine said he had no doubt that
the experience of other nations and the seHti-
ment of Congress aud the country were in IA
vor of a reduction of the navy yards, but he
doubted whether the House would favor the
bill without providing fora removal of the fix
lures and materials of the Brooklyn navy
yard TO another State or site. Was the House
prepared to do that? Was it prepared to re
move the materials from the Brook Ign, Charles
town and Kittery navy yards to New London
and League Island? He hoped not. He ia
vored a reduction of navy yards, but did not
favor the creation of new ones. He was op
posed to the ame ndment offered by Mr.. Dawes
particularly in regard to Kittery, to which
bone of the objections applicable to the other
navy yards applied.
Mr.. Van Wyck of New York opposed the
| bill aud wanted to know why the committee
should strike at the Brooklyn navy yard, where
| dry DOCK from the sale of which nothing could
| be realized.
Mr.. Hale replied that there was general
| demand on the part of the people, press and
representatives of New York and Brooklyn
for the removal of this yard, and that it was &C.
lected becaese it was not needed for public ser
vice and because the government would realize
a large sum from its sale.
Mr.. Socum of New York supported the bill
and gave a history of the Brooklyn navy yard
After further discussion the bill went over
and the joint resolution by Mr.. Butler of Mas.
sachusetts was passed, authorizing the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to remit the duties on
such imported articles Of merchandise as are
donated and actually sold for the benefit of the
destitute and wounded citizens of France.
Mr.. Degner, of Texas, introduced and advo-
Gated a bill for the better protection of the
frontiers of Texas. The bill was discussed and
laid on the table and the House took up Mr.
Harris national educational bill, which was
advocated by Messrs. Arnell, Tabor, and Clark
of Texss, and opposed by McNeeley, of ILL
nois. 1t then went over.
Mr.. Ketchum, of New York, offered a suj-
sttute for the bill to remove the Brooklyn navy
yard, which provides for board consisting OF
the Secretary of the Navy, Admiral Porter
Gems. Sherman and Humphreys and Capt. G.
P. Patterson to inquire whether it is desirable
and for the best interests of the Government
to sell tie Brooklyn navy yard, and if so to
recommend suitable place in the State and
near the city of New York to which the works
of the Brooklyn navy yard may be transferred
and to report to Congress before Dece mber
10, 1871.-Adourned.