Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-23
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
Second Session.
WAsHISGroN, January %.
senate.

!
Mr. Garland from committee on public
lands submitted minority report on the
claim of Mr.. McGarrahan together with the
| bill placing all claimants in court of claims
with the right TO appeal to the supreme court
Of claims.
Placed on the table
Mr.. Morrill, called up the house bill report
ed from the committee on finance yesterday,
to facilitate rctundng the national debt and
was passed unanimously. 1t now goes to the
President. 1t authorizes the secretary of the
treasury in process of retunding the national
debt to exchange directly the four per cent.
bonds for j-2O bonds authorizing that any ex-
change made under the provision Of the act
interest may be allowed on the bonds redeem
ed for three months.
Mr.. Davis introduced bill to prevent and
punish counterititing within the United States
for notes, bonds, etc., OF foreign govern.
ments.
Referred to the Judiciary committee.
While the senate was cons dering bills on
the calendar. Mr.. Edmunds of Vermont,
moved to postpone further consideration of
the calendar and proceed to the resolution
submitted by him declaring the 18th and 18th
and 18th amendments to the constitution of
the United States valid, etc.
Several senators objected to taking up the
resolution now, as the senator from Maine
Blaine had given notice he would speak to-
day on the naval appropriation bill, which
would come up as unfinished business.
Mr.. Conkling said he had heard no reason
why the senator from Maine should not go
on. 1t was certainly improper to displacc a
senator who desired to speak.
The senate refused to take up the resolu-
ton of Mr.. Edmunds.
The consideration of the appropriation bill
was resumed, and Mr. Blaine spoke in favor
of his amendments submitted yesterday.
Mr.. Blaine said he did not intend to criti-
cIze any any administration of the navy de-
partment. He compared unfavorably the
force Of our navy of 1900 men and POP Off
GERS, with 81 vessels and Is in commission,
with the British navy of CO., 900 men, 1890 Of
fccrs and 494 vessels, 243 being in commits
sion. For the great navy of Great Britain
there are two great navy yards and two sub
ordinate ones, while We have seven navy
yards. Those 1T Pensacola and on the Pa
cifc coast are necessities. The pay Of our
naval officers on the active list amounted to
| 50 s22 900, and on the retired list, S64j. 900 ::
while that of the petty officers and seamen
amounted to S2.30OOOO, showing Il top-hcavy
condition Of circumstances.
From the naval academy we are turning
! OUT ANNUAL. % oHlccTs. lie askcu tiiat AFTER
lss3 the graduates be not entitled to a COM
mission except upon merit, and to fill vacan-
ces. BY dispensing with surplus officers and
useless navy yards, we could largely reduce
the expenses or the navy. We are trying the
experiment Of building a navy from the top.
Unless there was commercial marine to
build us from, we could have no navy.
Mr.. Blaine proceeded to argue that four or
five millions annually can be taken from the
navy and that with that saving the govern
ment should subsdize line of steamships to
any foreign port.
Mr.. Beck made point of order that Mr..
Blainc's resolution could not be considered
by the House. but should properly have been
considered by the appropriation committee,
of which Mr.. Blaine was a member. He de-
Tended the Secy of the navy, and said we had
now, for the first time in years, a Secretary
who obeyed the law whether he liked it or
not He was the first Secretary who had paid
back into the treasury II balance from the APP
preparation for his department, instead of
coming to Congress for a million of dcficien-
cy. If other executive officers of this govern
ment would be as economical, there would be
general civil service reform. He then spoke
of the bill he introduced tn grant American
register to foreign built vessels, and said it
could not he wisely done by wind Let our
people buy ships where they could get them