Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-23
Forty.Fourth Congress- First Session.
SENATE.


| Washington, June ~.
| When the amendments increasing the appro.
priation. for the equipment of vessels from S970,
900 to 81 900 was reached, further discussion
| occurred, during which Mr.. Dawes explained the
election laws of Massachusetts. and said in that
State no man could be taken from one town to
| another about election and vote. He must be a
resident of the town in which he offers to vote at
| least six months. The people of Massachusetts
would not allow any such exercise OF power over
| their votes from Washington or any where else
| 1t did so happen that more men were employed il
| the Charlestown Navy Yard in the fall than usual
but Mr.. Hanscomb had explained to the commit
tee that their employ ment was necessary.
Mr.. Dawes argued that The employment OF
workmen at election time could not serve any po-
htcal party in Massachusetts. Nobody in that
State desired any such proceeding and nobody
there would have any such thing forced upon
them.
Pending the discussion the Senate at 3 o'clock,
on the motion of Mr.. Frelnghuysen, went into
executive session and when the doors reopened the
consideration of the naval appropriation bill was
resumed.
Mr.. Cragin said that the employment of persons
in navy yards about election time was no new
thing. No doubt there were abuses, but they
originated with democratic organization.
Mr.. Van Buren,, when he was President, order
ed three vessels from Norfolk to Brooklyn, to be
repaired on the eve of an election because there
were plenty of democratic votes in Virginia, and
they wanted to gain some in New York.
He then read from report made to the House
in 1861 by Messrs. Hallow, Blair and Sherman, to
show the number of men in the navy yards III the
fall Of 1868, the eve of an election we're ncreas
ed from 5000 to 10000. The amendment to
increase the appropriation for equipment Of vessel,
was agreed to. Yeas, "a Nays, %.
The amendment TO increase the appropriation
for the bureau of yards and docks from $40, 900
to 100000. was rejected. Yeas 80; Nays, %.
Messrs. Edmunds, Hamilton, Morrill, of Ver-
mont and ingalls, voting with the democrats in
the negative.
Mr.. Whyte moved to amend the clause directing
the Secretary Of the Navy to report at the next
session of Congress the best method Of making
sale of the naval hospitals at Annapolis, Md, and
Washington d. G., and directing the closing Of
the one at Annapolis during the coming year, so
as to provide that the one at Annapolis shall be
kept open and that at Washington closed. After
discussion Mr.. Whytc modified his amendment so
as to provide that both hospitals at Washington
and Annapolis be kept open, and as modified 1t
was agreed to. Yeas, Il nays, Is.
The next amendment of the committee was to
increase the appropriation for the bureau Of con-
struction and repairs, from 81 100000 to ~ 800,
800.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to make the amount
81 100000. Agreed to.
The next amendment being in regard to en- in
crease of force at the yards in October and No
vember, Mr.. Edmunds submitted the following as
substitute for the clause in the House bill pro-
posed to be stricken out by the committee on ap-
preparations
"No increase of the force at any navy yard
shall be made at any time within 60 days next
be fore any election to take place for President Of
the United States or member of Congress, except
when the Secretary of the Navy shall certify that
the needs Of the public service makes such an in
crease necessary at that time"
Mr.. Thurman moved to amend the substitute by
adding (which certificate shall be immediately
published when made
Mr. Edmunds accepted the amendment and his
substitute was then agreed to.
that $50 900 of the sum appropriated for the bu-
reau OF construction and repairs may be used IN
the employment of labor to put the live oak tim
Der in the different yards in wet docks Agreed
to.
The committee on appropriations reported in
favor of increasing the appropriation for the bu-
reau of steam engineering from SSS5,o0O to
81, 100000.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to amend so as to make
the amount 81 900 900 and it was agreed to.
The next amendment of the committee provided
that hereafter all appointments of I'd Lieutenants
in Marine Corps shall be made from the gradu-
ates at the naval school, Agreed to-
The appropriation for the bureau Of yards and
docks was increased from $4,000 the amount
allowed by the House to $500 900. The bill hav-
ing been considered in committee of the whole was
reported to the Senate and the amendments.
1t was then read the third time and passed
Mr.. Edmunds gave notice that he would to-nor-
row call up the bill to amend the enforcement act.
Adjourned.