Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-03
" ASliINGTON.
The DOings of Congress.

bbtCN III kuc llOuse anu 10 committees.
The only bills passed by both Houses ana become
laws, were the Army Appropriation oil and the
Navy ID hcioncy bill. Bills to remonetiZe silver
and to repeal the resumption act, were passed by
the Ii use and sent 10 the Senate, but received 10
cons Iteration by that body.
The Paris EXPEDITION bill and the general def
cheney bill were taken up ami passed in the Senate
with amendments, but the amendments have not
bee d acted on in the House.
All unfinished business, however, Withhold its
place 10 the next session.
Nominations Confirmed.
The Senate in executive session this afternoon,
confirmed the following; Owen 7. Fnz,immons!
Marshal for the Dist. OF Ga; Robt. L. Clayton o
Ga, Consul at Callao.
Naval Affairs.
The Sec'v of the Navy in his annual report,
gives the humber of vessels in the navy Is fol.
lows: SNtyseven steam and twenty-three sail
ing vessels, twenty three IRON clads, two torpedo,
one ferry and twenty-siX tug boats. The report
contains statement of the different squadron,. by
whom commanded and full account OF the con-
dilon and strength of the navy. 1t is considered
neces sary to enable Congress to adjust the appro
prations to the necessities OF the service and con-
diton of the treasury.
There are II iron clads at convenient places in
fresh water, in readiness for active employment
when needed.
The active list of the navy is composed of S2S
249 warrant officers. The retired list is composed
of l36 officers OF line, l03 officers of staff, y
rant officers, and professors Of mathematics.
There were in service ON the 2ith of November
1877, ,0l2 emitted men and boys.
The secretary abiding to the future strength of
lie navy, says 1T is reasonable to expect that oc
cupied rs European nations are and likely to be
for many years to come, with questions which
seem inseparable from their relations with each
other, they will not fluid il to their interest to adopt
an aggressive policy towards the United States.
We may safely adopt course, therefore, with
reference to our navy, as dictated by our own
domestic relations.
The secretary continues: Everything combines
10 show that we possess rapidly growing inter
nal commerce which only needs the fostering care
OF the government to secure to 1t an ultimate de-
velopment which cannot be surpassed by that of
any nation. As our internal commerce increases
beyond our own power of consumption, the ex-
cess must either find foreign market or the loss
falls upon the producer
All commercial nations understand this, and
therefore there are efforts to secure foreign mark
cts for their exports even at the present time, when
our trade Is slowly recovering from ITS paralysis
and demanding additional means of supplying the
wants OF thousands of melltollous artisans and
workmen out OF employment. The merchants
and capitalists of Great Britain are actively en-
gagged in making our foreign commerce tributary
to their own by forcing us into dependence upon
British vessels for the transportation OF our sur
plus productions. They snatch the trade of South
America, China and Australia from our hands.
The superiority which both England and France
have obtain, d over US in this vast trade may be at
tribued IN large de gree to the fact that each OF
the governments pay annually to rs steam lines
between three and four million dollars in subsidies
while the government of the United States has
contributed to the superiority England has thus
acquired, by also pay ing subsidies to her steam
lines out OF Its own enues.
Since the war, our foreign trade has been car
ried on one hundred per cent. more IN foreign
than in American vessels. Until this condition OF
things Is changed, our commercial independence