The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-29
AT THE CAPITAL.
Bin fertile Reorganization Of Our Alleged
Maya Plain Presentation OF
Facts Showing Our Mari.
time Weakness. ,.,
rmR AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

| TIR AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT..
i WASHINGTON. January 2S.-The sub
committee Of the House Committee or
Agriculture reported to the full committee
to-day the rough draft Of the bill as sub
stitute for Representative Muldrow's bill
making the Commissioner OF Agriculture
a Cabinet officer. The substitute provides
for the Secretary OF Agriculture, and ell.
larges the scope and functions OF the Dc.
partment, so as toinclude the Bureau oil
Forestry and investigating matters per
tanning TO veterinary disease. The sub.
ect was recommitted TO the sub.commiL-
ice with instructions TO further invesLi-
gate and perfect the bill.
A STATE SUIT.
An original billhas been filed in the
United States Supreme Court by the State
OF New Hampshire against the State Of
Louisiana ct al, setting forth that the au.
thorities Of Louisiana, under the provis-
ions Of the new constitution adopted in
1870, are about to use tue proceeds OF
taxes levied for the year 1879, under the
act OF 1874, to deiray the expenses OF the
State government instcad, Of deyoting the
said proceeds as they should and devote
them TO the payment OF principal and in.
terest on tho consolidated bonds issued
by the State under the law known as act
No. 3 OF the statutes OF 1874.
The bill further sets forth that the State
OF New Hampshire is the owner Of ak OF
said consolidated bonds, and prays the
court that the provisions OF the new Con-
stitution OF Louisiana, in so far as they con-
flict with the contract expressed In said
bonds, and in the act oil 1874, under which
they were issued, may be judged void and
CATION OF contract. The bill also prays
Tor q writ OF injunctiens to restrain the
State officers OF Louisiana from using the
proceeds OF said taxes for any other pur-
pose than those specified In said act, num-
Der ., OF the statutes OF 1874.
REORGANIZATION OF TILE NAVY.
Representative Harris, OF Massachu-
sets, in behalf Of the House Committee
on Naval Affairs, reported bill to full
committee, which was unanimously ac-
cepted by them and will be presented to
the House tomorrow, with a request that
an early day be set for its consideration.
The bill Is intended as forerunner OF the
legislation looking to the complete reor-
ganization OF the navy. 1t authorizes the
Secretaryo OF the;Navy to cause to be made
a thorough inspection OF all vessels In the
navy, and all stores aad materials, and to
sell such vessels as are pronounced unsea-
worthy. The bill provides forth estab.
lishment OF fund, to be known as the
Permanent Construction Fund, which
shall comprise all appropriations made
therefor from time To time by Congress
and proceeds arising from the sale Of old
condemned vessels OF the navy, and con-
demned materials, stores and supplies,
which fund shall be used and expended
by the Secretary OF the Navy In the con-
struction, armament and experiment in
new naval vessels, and for no other pur-
pose.
The bill further authorizes the Secretary
to accept models, plans, &c. for vessel en-
gines, machinery, ornaments, etc. from
any and al sources, and 10 determine
what sum shall he paid for the same.
A report written by Representative
Harris to accompany the bill was also un-
animously adopted, and will be presented
to the House tomorrow. Thirst sets forth
the results OF careful Investigation made
by the committee to ascertain the present
condition, character, usefulness and capa-
city for warlike purposes OF each vessel
named in the navy register.
In concluding their detailed analysis OF
the l42 vessels OF our navy, go called, the
committee bring the results into tabular
form to show, ,.as they say, what a dissolv-
ing view our navy presents, and continues,
here are IS vessels and more belonging TO
the to-day not capable hring,a gun,
and Of these five are absolete sailing
vessels. II 10 these We were to add the
eleven steam vessels repairing or awaiting
repairs, the three steam vessels In ordi-
nary; and the one unfinished second rate
steam vessel, and assume that they can all
be made for duty, the whole navy OF the
United States would at any one time
number only 90 vessels capable oicarrying
guns and doing naval duty. Such an as
however, will not be made by
men Of ordinary judgment.
This.is the whole OF the navy of the
United 'States,so far Us II relates TO fighting
vessels. The fact may be disagreeable to
and humiliating 10 American
pride. In presenting 1t, however, we but
discharge Q duty we owe to the House and
people. The remedy and responsibility
are not with the committee, bnt.we are
weak in guns as well as il ships. We
have less than $50 guns atloat In our entire
navy, and OF these less than 40 are rifles
Ia few S.lnch few l0.pounders and lew
6O.pounders) all the rest aresmooth bores.
At the opening OF the late war tue ships
and the guns oil the American navy were
equal to those OF any nation. When the
Monitor and Merrimac met and startled
the wofld with their conflict, in which
thick armor became for the first time an
over match for heavy guns, the other
nations began TO solve tue great problem
In naval warfare. Willie they have been
amending vast sums Of money and making
experiments We have rested and wasted
un,il now the power Of guns has outrun
tho rssisting power OF the armor.
We want . navy capable OF protecting
our commerce on oil tho seas, OF defend.
ing our own borders from Invasion, ando
destroying the commerce and sea'golne
cruisafs OF any nation which may make
war with rs. To do so, first, we should
pnt our ironclsd fleet in condition Of tho
greatest efficiency and should 'develope
Inc torpedo system to It's fullest extent.
With our irohclad fleet in condition for
coast and harbor defense and our torpedo
system perfected, iotty.aye millions oi
Americans may defy all danger OF foreign
invasion, but We should be able not only
TO meet and beat of an invader from our
shore, but also 10 extort from an enemy
| terna oi sp honorable peace by aggressive
war upon the high seas. The late war
has taught how much harm few last
ships calamity commanded can DO on the
high ssRs, and the lesson should not bo
lost 10 us.
In the opinion Of the committee The
time has arrived when 1t Is anaional duty
10 begin the construction ofa new navy.