Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-16


Enlistment and of the folly of retainingthe
land there which was worth million dol
lars. He said. it would be cheaper to send
every sick sailor in that hospital with an at
tendant physician to the
Fifth Avenue Hotel.
and keep the sailor and physician there,
than it is to keep up the naval hospital.
Every sick sailor there costs more than a
cabinet officer costs in Washington.
Mr.. Hale was in favor of abolishing both
the navy yard and the hospital, but this was
not the proper bill to decide that question.
Mr.. Banks opposed all sales of Government
property as it became valuable, thus making
the Government a miserable speculator in
lands. If it became the policy of the Gov
ment to have its work done in private yards
or by contract, he would not object to sell
ing the Brooklyn yard; but at present such
a course would be TO the last degree UIl-
profitable and unwise.
After. further discussion, Mr.. Slocum
withdrew his motion, saying he had accom-
plished his object Of calling attention to the
subject.
A motion by Mr.. Holman, to strike out
the item for a naval establishment at Mound
City, Ill, was rejected.
| MIR. Myers offered an amendment for sup
/ plying sailors clothing at Government ex-
| pense, but after discussion, withdrew it
with the remark that he would introduce it
as a separate bill.
Mr.. Hale moved to add new section to
the bill directing the Secretary of the Navy
| to sell at public sale after advertisement,
| such vessels and materials as are not suit
able or capable of profitable use, repair or
! fitting out.
Mr.. Wood suggested that no vessels
| should be sold, except after condemnation
by Board of Naval officers.
Mr.. Maynard suggested that exception
should be made Of such historical vessels
as the Constitution, Macedonian, Kearsage
and the yacht America, which should be
always maintained by the Government.
Mr.. Hale objected to Mr.. Woods sugges-
ton as taking the responsibility from the
Secretary Of the Navy and putting it on a
Board of Naval officers.
Mr.. Wood argued in support of his propO-
sition and suggested that the objection to it
arose from fear that naval officers would
Condemn all the Vessels
in the navy. The discussion on this point
was continued by Messrs. Garfield and
Swami against Mr.. Woods proposition. In
the course of his remarks Mr.. Swami stated
that in case of war there were not six
vessels in the navy that could be relied on,
and he felt convinced that there was at
present
Imminent Danger OF War.
Mr.. Maynard offered his amendment ex-
cepting from sale such vessels as had been
eminently distinguished in the naval history
Of the cOuntry.i
Mr.. Dickey suggested that that would in
Clude all vessels that were eminently dis
tinguished for their iucapacity. Naughter.)
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts ques-
ten the good policy and economy of sell
ing naval vessels. They had had some ex-
perience of that kind. They had sold for
$500 captured blockade runner which
had siuce been known as
The Hornet,
and it had cost the Government $150,0O0 to
watch her and convoy her. Some of those
vessels might be converted into privateers
against other Governments, and put this
country in the same predicament as Eng
land has been put by the Alabama and other
privateers. He would have useless vessels
broken up and sold, but would not have
theur sold as ships.
Mr.. Maynard's amendment was rejected,
and Mr.. Hale's was adopted.
The Committee rose and the bill passed,
and the House adjourned.