The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-01-09

provide for the lund from the sale OF
public lands.
! z Mr.. Kassou, OF Iowa, opposed the
bill on the ground that it established
an entirely new theory and brought the
general government in direct contact
with the State governments, aud its
tendency WAS to still further centrallzs
tbe.powers of the government.
Mr.. Butler addressed the House in
favor OF the bill, and pending fur
ther consideration the morning hour
expired.
| The House then went into COM
mittee OF the whole on the naval ap'
preparation bill.
Mr.. Hale, OF Maine, explained the
bill at length, and alter referring to the
history oil the navy aud detailing lts
somewhat chequered career from It's or
gsnization to the present time, be re-
ferred to the Virginius axcitement de-
failing the action OF the Secretary OF
the Navy who, he said, would, had the
necessity required, have been able by
the 18th OF this month, to put four
hundred guns in Cuban waters. The
Committee on Appropriations found
retsing upon it the responsibility OF
institutiug retrenchment in the public
expenditures, and they had not felt in-
clined to shrink from that duty.
Mr. Hale in continuing his remarks
said that last year the naval appropria-
ton bill amounted to $2,200,O95, ,765,
from this it was proper that the S3,-
100000 for eight sloops OF war should
be deducted, leaving Sl,9OOO95, 765.
The present bill cuts these figures
down $26O4 900 or to $l,6j0,OOO;
though the Committee had put the
knife to all bureaus except that OF
Construction ard Repairs on which
depended the keeping Of the navy afloat
and the appropriation now presented
with all the advance OF the cost OF
material and labor, only exceeded the
appropriation of 1859 by about half a
million dollars. He next referred to
: he civil establishment OF the navy and
aid the Committee here put the knife
III cutting down superhuous salaries.
Mr.. Beck, OF Kenturky, said the
naval appropriations for the past seven
years were for 1868, S25. 100000; 1869,
500, 900 900; 1870, S2l, l,780000; 1871,
Sl9,43l 600; 1872, s2l, 100000; 1873,
23,525000. He did not believe the
department could get along with the
sixteen millions. lie had seen appro'
priatione made before general election
cut down and made up by deficiency
bill the year following. In 1868 the
deficiencies to the amount OF about
S2S, 100000, and after the last
election, il his recollection was correct,
about S25,000,00O. Mr.. Beck
said he would favor all legitimate re-
ductions, but there had been an expen-
diture of over $20000,000 annually,
besides the six hundred vessels at the
close of the war had been reduced to
one hundred and thirty, and the money
from them used for the navy. He
wanted 10 cut down the expenses be-
cause the Secretary OF the Treasury
had called upon them for at least S4O,-
100000 to be raised by increased taxa
tion, or by an increase OF the debt. He
would do all he could to avoid either,
Mr.. Archer, OF Maryland, said the
bill showed want OF preparation Of
our navy by the Committee on Appro-
priations. The bill was delusion, and
the gentleman with his knowledge OF
the navy must be satisfied that the ap-
propriation oil 100000 must be iol-
lowed by deficiency bill Of at least
Is5,OOOO00 for 1S74.7j. The navy
standing as it does, could not be
run for any such amount
| hereaite. Mr.. Hale had stated that in
| 1859 the expences of the navy were
isl5,OSO00O, and now with all the in
crease OF ships officers and the expense
of men and hands he expects 1t to be
run for one million more. 1t could not
be done and he wished TO cay that to
meet the requirements OF the navy at
least five millions more would be need
ed. We had now about four hundred
guns in Cuban waters and Spain had
about the same. There was danger OF
collision at any time. Was the House
going to listen to the demands OF the
people and the cry Of humanity AID
grant belligerent rights TO the strug-
Cling people OF Cuba? Are they going
to invite war and the butchery OF Amer
ican citizens by foraign nations by cut
ting of the appropriation for our navy?
A strong navy was necessary to avoid
war. A weak navy would invite war
and the reckless expenditures conse-
qlent upon want OF preparation. The
friends of the navy, be said, were doing
their best to keep it above water. Once
in a while congress had liberal im-
rulse but it soon sank hack into
| the old way. The navy was not under-
stood by the people. 1t was an isolat-
ed branch OF the services OF the govern
ment and was not understood by those
who did not come ia contact with it, nor
was the protection it afforded our com-
merce appreciated. He hoped that the
House would not deceive itself by look.
ing to the number OF vessels at the
close OF the war. Many OF these were
from the merchant service aud only
good for the emergency. Others were
built OF green timber and had gone to
decay, He then reviewed the vessels
now in the service, simply or in class
es," showing that but trihing number
were actually worthy OF the name Of
war vessels. The great majority, from
want Of speed, faulty construction, or
other defects, were unfit ior service.
Mr.. Schofeld. of Penna., Chairman
OF the Naval Committee, said that
when the bill to authorize increased
naval appropriations was under discus
sion, he had stated that the Committee
proposed it as permanent increase
and that be, for he knew the Virginius