The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-23
xLyTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.
Mr.. Blaine's Amendments to the Naval
Bill


Supreme Court. Tabled.
Mr.. Morrill, called up the House bill reported from
the Committee on Finance yesterday to facilitate
the refundng of the national debt aud it was passed
unanimously. 1t now goes to the President. 1t
authorizes the Secretary Of the Treasury in the pro.
cess of returning the national debt to exchange di-
recty at par the four per cent bonds for 500 bonds
outstanding and uncalled in.
Mr.. Davis introduced a bill to prevent and punish
counterfeiting within the United States of notes,
bonds, etc., of foreign governments Referred to the
judiciary Committee.
While the Senate was considering bills on the cal
endar, Mr. Edmunds of Vermont, moved to POSTPONE
further consideration of the calendar and proceed to
the resolutions submitted by him, declaring the 18TH
14th and 18th amendments to the Constitution of the
United States, Valid etc. Several Senators objected
to taking up the resolutions now as the Senator
from Maine tBlane) had given notice he would
speak to-day on the naval appropriation bill, which
would come up as unfinished business.
Mr.. Conkng said he had heard no reason why the
Senator from Maine should not 20 on. 1t certainly
was improper to displace Senator who desired to
speak.
The Senate refused to take up the resolution of
Mr.. Edmunds
Consideration Of the naval appropriation bill
resumed and Mr.. Blaine spoke in favor of his amend
ments submitted yesterday.
Mr. Blaine said he did not intend to criticse any
administration of the navy department.. He COM
pared (unavorably) the force of our navy of 1900
men and 2O20 officers, with 81 vessels and SO in COM
mission, with the British navy of6 900 men, 1890 Off
and 494 vessels 243 being in commission. For the
great navy of Great Britain there are but two great
navy yards and two subordinate ones, while we have
seven navy yards. Those at Pensacola and on the
Pacific coast are necessities. The pay of our naval
officers the active list amounted to $3,s O0O and
the retired list $6i5O00 while that of petty Off
GERS and seamen amounted to $4,000, 900, showing
top heavy condition of the service From the Naval
Academy we were now turning out, annually, fifty
officers. He asked that after 1883 graduates be not
entitled to commissions, except upon merit, and to
fill vacancies. By dispensing with surplus officers
and useless navy yards, we could largely reduce the
expenses Of the navy. We are trying the expert
ment of building navy from the top. Unless there
was commercial marine to build from we could
have no navy.
$5,0O0o 900 annually be taken from the navy, and
that with that saving the government could subsi-
die line of steamships to any foreign port.
Mr.. Beck made the point of order that Blaine's
resolutions could not be considered by the House
but should properly bave been considered by the APP
preparation committee, of which Blaine was mem
Der. He defended the Secretary OF the Navy and
said we had now for the first time in years, Secre
tary who obeyed the law, whether he liked or not
He was the first Secretary who had paid back into
the treasury balance from the appropriation for the
department. instead OF coming to Congress for mil
lions of deficiency. If other executive officers of this
government would be as economical, there would be
general civil service reform.
He then spoke of the bill he introduced to grant an
American register to foreign built vessels, and said
it could not be whistled down by wind Let our peo
pie buy ships where they could get them cheapest
and c1mpete for the carrying trade of the world He
said Blaine appealed to the House to substitute lines
Of steamers and thus tax the people. The bill to pay
arrears ofpensions would take one hundred millions
from the treasury. Was an income tax to be levied
to meet all these expenses? Five per cent upon in.
comes of all persons in the country would barely pay
these arrears of pensions. We could not impose ad-
d'tional taxes on people and call upon them to
give, give, give. He (Beck) sought to make the
American flag supreme on every sea, but he would
wipe out all protective tariff laws. He would not
interfere with the coastwise trade.
Mr.. Blaine Why not?
Mr.. Beck-I am willing to give you that to keep
you quiet
Continuing the argument Mr. Beck said five and
one-haf millions had been paid for fisheries for the
benefit Of New England but he would not object to
that. Kentucky (hs state) had So sOOO 900 inter-
nal revenue taxes last year while Maine had $40 COO
but Kentucky asked nothing.
Mr.. Blaine said Beck had supported general
legislative amendments on appropriation bills and so
had Mr. Edmunds of Vermont.
Mr.. Edmunds in reply to MIR. Blaine, said he
thought tor the last ten years Che would not be
record as some people do who are more prominent in
national affairs and who have larger expectations
Laughter he had not voted for any general legisa.
tion upon an appropriation BILL There may have
been one or two occasions in times of high excite
ment when he voted for such amendments. The
rule now existing prohibiting such amendments
should be adhered to.
During the colloquy between Messrs. Edmunds
and Blaine, the latter said he did not know Of any
thing that occurred that Mr.. Edmunds did not watch
Mr.. Edmunds The Senator is mistaken. do not
even watch the Senator from Maine, because know
it is perfectly safe to let him run wild.
Mr.. Blaine inquired he did not support the posse
comitatus clause in the army appropriation bill
last session.
Mr.. Edmunds replied that he was sick in bed at
home when it passed.
MIR. Blaine spoke of it being demoralizing to the
Senate that the House should put general legislation
on appropriation bills and the Senate could not.
Mr.. Edmunds said he could not say how much the
Senate had been demorazed since it had the pres
ence Of Mr.. Blaine. Naughter.) Mr. Blaine not hav-
ing formally submitted his amendments but having
only given notice thereof did not submit them in
view of objections made. Amendment formerly
submitted by Mr.. Dawes in regard to deficiencies in
quartermaster's department of marine corps was
Withdrawn and the bill passed. Mr.. Blaine then in
troduced bill to regulate promotions in the navy
Referred to the naval committee. Mr. Edmunds
moved to take up the resolution submitted by him in
regard to the constitutional amendments. Mr.. Thur
man moved adjournment which was agreed to, yeas
"a, nays 10.
HOUSE.
A Southerner's Definition of Loyalty.
Bill approprlating &c., 900 for the transportation of
coin and bullion $4,000 to meet Mscellan eous
expenses Of the House was passed.
The House non-concurred in the Senate amend
ments to the Indian appropriation bill.
Quite strong debate in regard to the South
ern claim BILL in course of which Mr.. Bragg of Wis
consin stated that if the South was solid for the
Democratic party only to get money out of the treas
ury the sooner some of the Democrats went over to
the Republicans the better would be for the North
ern Democrats. He hoped they would do SO.
Mr.. Ellis of Louisiana agreed that the percentage
OF loyal persons in the South Gas Bragg understood i
was very small but Southern man who had been
born and reared there and been identified with that
people, could only have been loyal when he entered
the Confederate army and did full duty soldier.
They had been the only loyal people in the South.
They had been loyal to their country, to their God
and to the noblest, highest and manifest sensation
ever breathed by the human soul. He did not know
more than three men in his state who had been loyal
to the Union. The lecture which Bragg had seen fit
to read the Democrats of the South came from him
with rather bad grace. No Southern Democrat had
proposed to desert the Democratic party.
Several Republican members desired to ask ques-
tions but Mr.. Ellis refused to yield and Mr.. Atkins
of Tennessee declared it was family fight.
MIR. Ellis in conclusion said that the Southern peo-
pie were as true to the Democratic party as Bragg,
and it was in obedience to Democratic teachings as
the Southern peop'e understood them that they had
gone into the war.
Before the excitement caused by the discussion
had subsidized, Mr.. Chalmers of Mississippi rising to
the question of privilege said he understood Braggs
remarks were aimed directly at him.
Tha Cnn inf aoI h; n