The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-15
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WASHINGTON, Jan. IA, 1874.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MERCHANT MARINE.
MI. Cox, (dem.) OF N. Y, presented a memorial
OF the New York Chamber Of Commerce as to the
can be improved, &c.
UNITED STATES COURTS.
Mr.. POLAND, (rep.) Of VT, from the Committee
on Revision Of the Laws, reported bill relating to
the United States Circuit and District Courts,
merely making some regulations as to the holding
of terms Of the courts, the adjournment of the
same, the travelling expenses OF the Judges the
certifcation Of transcripts, the prosecution Of
marshals, &c. The bill was passed.
ooDIFICAT1oN OF THE STATUTES.
Mr.. POLAND also reported revision and cOdiflca-
ton Of the statutes up to the LIST Of December 1S73
and proceeded to give history Of the work and q
statement of its importance and necessity.
After long discussion as to the mode Of con-
sidering and acting on the revision reported, con-
sisting Of over 5000 printed pages, 1t was finally
agreed to hold two evening sessions In each week
for Its consideration, beginning with Wednesday
and Thursday evenings Of next week.
mttee OF the Whole Mr. E. H. Roberts in the chair,
and resumed the consideration VI the Naval APP
preparation bin.
for the civil ESTABLISHMENTS at the various navy
yards Mr. BsCk. ldeml Of AZ, spoke OF the ex-
that. whereas In the four years OF Mr.. Buchanan's
administration the average annual expenditure
were built IN that period the average yearly ex
penditure now was over $40 200, while not o
single new vessel had been built. What had become
OF all this money! 1t had gone to the navy yards
sustain the civil service and to keep up gangs Of
retainers not used for building ships or for any
IIan Me to Mr. Beck
intimated that that gentleman never got tired OF
DINING this old subject matter into the ears OF the
House, as II he had not asked the same question
20. 40 100 times and been answered just often
Appropriations for ships now did not go any fur:
before the war Certainly, The $4,000, 600 appro-
prIated in this bill would not 90 as far as
81, O00, 600 would 60 in 1859.
Mr. Beck was further answered by Mr. STARK
WEATHER. lrep.) OF Conn.,, and Mr.. KELLEY, (rep.)
Of Pa, the latter sorting that 1t was hard money
that mad enslaved the producing classes OF the
Mr. BECK retorted upon Mr.. Kelley, denouncng
him as the head and front Of the monopolsts who
were plundering the country.
THE DEFENCES OF NEW YORK CITY.
ana Navy Jour1a, in Confederation of q statement
which he had made before the holidays that New
YORK was at the mercy OF foreign irOn-cads and
system OF torpedOes.
Mr.. CRookE gep.l ofN Y, expressed his aston.
no iron-clad could cross New York bar, as all the
great ronclads had draught OF 80 feet OF water or
over and no vessel with a draught OF Is feet or
over, could get over the bar.
Mr.. ARCHER, (dem.) OF Nd, remarked that, there
fore, the defence OF New YORK was not In its forti
ncatons nut IN the weight OF the foreign war Ships
MI. CROOKE believed that the city OF New York
was safe, otherwise. Three or four years ago the
British lrOn-clad Monarch, with the body OF Mr..
PEABODY on board was not able TO get over the
bar, and had to send in the body by tug; and re-
Gently the spanish irOn-clad AraDlles had to dis
charge some OF her armament in Cuba before she
could get into New York Harbor.
Mr.. KELLEY, OF Pennsylvania, also stated that
when the ship Cathedral could not get into New
York she had to be sent around to Philadelphia,
and to have ner cargo discharged there and sent
to New York by rail.
Mr.. Cox remarked that the harbor Of New York
had been filling up Tor some years, on account of
all the ashes and refuse matter thrown into 1t.
Mr.. CROOKB replied that there was as much
water on the New York bar as there was 200 years
that TACT. He (Mr. CrOOke) knew ii. Naughter)
Mr.. HALE, OF Maine, said that the discussion had
taken fearful and wonderful complications, and as
he did not know what would come next he would
move that the committee rise
The committee rose without having made much
progress in the BILL and the House at half past four
Adjourned