The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-24
Port, Fourth Congressional Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON Eeh 90


Conrad "a, Jourdan. cashier of the Sd Ma
tonal Bank and the recusant witness, was be- |
fore the bar of the Senate. He said he was not
the custodian of the banks books, and still de-
clined to answer
A motion by Mr.. Mitchell to declare him in
contempt led to lengthy debate.
After lengthy discussion witness Jourdan
stated he was willing to appear before the COM
mittee and testify. He declined to testify when
before the committee some days ago because he
was arrested after coming to Washington, and
after the chairman of the committee (Morton)
had received telegram from him that he
would be here on a certain day. He was ar
rested needessly, which was an offence to him
and therefore he refused to testify.
Senate adopted resolution discharging Jour-
dan from contempt upon MS appearance before
the Commission to testify
Mr. Sargent called up the naval appropriation
bill.
Appropriations were agreed 10 as loiioWs;
Increasing appropriation for pay OF the navy
from Sc, $50, 600 to $7,270,0O0; increasing APP
preparation for equipment of vessels, &c, from
800 900 to $970,000 and that OF contingent eX-
penses of that bureau from S4O,00O to $4,000.
House appropriated ST. $780, 900 for preserya-
ton of vessels on stocks; purchase of materi-
al Sc, with proviso inserted that no proposal
for materials to be furnished under this or any
other section of this act shall Disseminate against
or in favor of the production of any state or
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate
reported amendment to increase appropriations
81, 800 900 to So, 200 900, and also to strike out
proviso inserted in House bill
Mr.. Davis said that this was large increase
of an appropriation, and he thought So, 100000
was larger sum than could be economically
expended in single fiscal year.
Mr.. Sargent in reply said the proviso was nut
in this bill by mistake in the House as to the
increase on the appropriation for the bureau of
steam engineering In the next paragraph. He
had only to say that last year the amount for
these bureaus was cut to very small figure,
probably to influence the Presidential election.
During the past five or six years the Secretary
of the Navy had been repairing our iron-clads
instead of placing old wooden ships in order
All the single turreted monitors are now in good
condition, and two years ago work was COM
menced upon five double-turreted ones, but
last year work on them had to be suspended on
account Of the reduction in the appropriation.
Prior to last year the annual appropriations for
this purpose were $3,300,O00. 1t was thought
the work upon these vessels would be complet-
ed this year, and we would then have the most
complete system of iron-c lads for harbor de-
fence in the world. The great ron-clads of Eu.
rope were all stronger than ours, but they could
not get into harbors 1t was also proposed by
the committee to make portion of this apprO-
priation available Immediately, that work upon
the iron-clads might go on at once.
The amendment OF the committee was agreed
to.
Other amendments of the committee were
agreed to as follows:
Increasing appropriation for the bureau of
steam engineering from $500, 900 to So 900, 900,
making 81 100000 of the amount appropriated
for the bureau of construction, and $4,000 Of
the amount appropriated for bureau of steam
engineering, available at once, and to complete
work on hand.
Committee on Appropriations reported an
amendment to strike out of the House bill the
clause providing for the erection of commits
sion OF nine members TO examine into the pres
emit condition of the navy and consider the re-
lation of the commercial to national marine,
and what measures are necessary to protect and
extend our rapidly growing commerce on the
Pacific ocean and in Asiatic waters, &c, &c. !;
| and further providing that the commission shall
! consist of the Admiral, the General of the Ar
| my, two Seniors, three members of the House
| and cwo officers of the navy, but that all ex-
penses incurred should be borne by the commits
| sion. The amendment of the committee to
| strike out the clause was agreed to.
The bill was then reported to the Senate and
the question being on concurring in the amend
| ment made in committee of the whole it was
| laid aside for the time being.
Mr.. Merrimon called up the bill to remove
| the political disabilities of L. S. Baker and D.
FL. Hill of North Carolina, and John S. Mar
| maduke of Missouri, all of which were passed.
Mr.. Dorsey called up the House bill granting
| the right of way to the Hot Springs Railroad
company over the Hot Springs reservation in
the state of Arkansa
| A lengthy discussion ensued as to collection
| of rents by the government from suffers on the
| reservation.
| Pending the discussion the President pro
| tempore at noon announced that the legislative
day, of Thursday had expired and the bill was
| laid aside.
| The Chair submitted the message from the
President of the United States, enclosing the
report of the Northwest boundary survey. Or
| dered printed.
| Bills to remove the political disabilities of4the
following persons were passed: Henry B. KEEL
| ~ of Louisiana, Capt. r. Jones of Alabama,
| s. b. Moore, w, f. Darlington, Samuel d. Tur-
ner and William A. Webb of Virginia, r. G.
Gatlin of Arkansas, William Butler and Wade
| III. Gibson of South Carolina, VIM. R. Jones
r S. Kenney of Texas.
Quite number of minor Senate and House
| bills were passed.
The Senate then resumed the consideration
of the naval appropriation bill, the pending
| question being on concurring in the amend
ments made in committee of the whole.
The amendments as made in committee of the
| were eoncurred 10.
The next amendment which ELECTED discus
sion was that of striking out the clause in re-
| gard to the appointment OF a commission to in
qure into the condition of the navy.
Mr.. Boutwell, said that he expected to follow
the commission on this question, but he desired
to say that the country was expanding large
sum of money for the navy and securing small
practical results in return. Yet he had no
doubt the money for navy was expended with
| economy. He was of the opinion that the
time had passed several years ago when it was
for the country to make the least preparation
for an open sea fight. A battle upon the ocean
| would settle nothing in any contro versy we
might have with any power. 1t was not in the
| Interest of the country to expend dollar for
naval operations, except such as were necessary
for harbor defences.. Torpedoes and steam
rams have been brought to such perfection that
| there was not navy on the earth could enter
| any harbOr protected by them.
Continuing his remarks Mr.. Whyte said he
| favored the appointment of a commission of
experts to consider the subject and he would
very cheerfully have the commission made up
OF naval officers with the Secretary of the
| Navy at the head.
Mr. Sargent said Admiral Porter might be
| good authority on the question of economy
with some but he (Sargent} did not think he
| was good authority. The most expensive time
the navy had ever experienced was when Ad-
miral Porter was acting Secretary.
The amendment made in committee of the
| whole to strike out of the House bill the clause
| providing for the appointment of a commits.
| sion, &c, was oncurred in.
Other amendments made in committee of
the whole were concurred in without debate.
Bill was then read read the third tiue and
| passed.
Senate resumed consideration of the Pacific
railroad Dill.
Senate at $40 went into executive session.
and when the doors were reopened took a re-
| cess till 10 tomorrow.
| HOUSE.
| The House met at 10 o'clock and went into
| committee of the whole on the civil appropria-
| ton bill
Various amendments were adopted for the
| payment OF contested election cases.
Several amendments were offered by Hender-
| son increasing the appropriations for the Rock
Island arsenal which were rejected.
The amendment increasing the appropriation
for surveys west of Tooth meridian from $40, 900
to $4,000. after debate was adopted.
An amendment was adopted for the payment
| of $500 to the widow of the late Hon. o. s..
| Ferry of Connecticut.
An amendment appropriating IS, 900 for the
printing at private printing establishment of
the testimony taken by the Louisiana investi-
| eating committee was adopted
After some opposition by Messrs. Wilson and
Conger, the paragraph for the payment of mail
carriers in Southern States before the war, hav-
| ing been reached, Mr.. Conger made a point Of
order that it was contrary 70 the express law of
Congress-
Without action on the point of order the
| committee rose and Mr.. Clymer moved recess
| till tomorrow at 10 o'clock.
Both motions were made in rapid succession
and with good deal of commotion on the
floor. the general nndarStandnr ho;no +h,+ tbo