Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-29
NECESSITIES OF THE NAVY.
The Senate Fighting Over the Naval APP
preparation BllI-A Wide Difference Of
Opinion as to What the Navy Does Need.
But Marked Unanimity as to Its Needing
Great Deal of something-The House
Does Little but Adjourn till Monday
Reason, Heat.
The Senate.

WASHINGTON, July 2S.-Ihe house Dill IN
regard to the pay of letter carriers passed.
The senate bill to provide for the publication
| of the tenth census passed.
The senate then took up the naval appropri-
alton bill and the bill was read for action upon
| the committee amendments.
Senator Miller (Cala) moved to amend the
portions regulating the active list of the staff
corps OF the navy by substituting therefor
a provision for the appointment of commits
sion to consider all matters relating to the
proper reduction Of the official list of the navy
and the adjustment OF the several grades and
corps and to report at the next session.
Senator Hale raised the point of order on
the amendment that 1t was general legislation
changing the existing law
&Senatar Rollins raised point of order as
against the pending amendment by the COM
mittee.
The chair Senator Dayis) sustained
that all amendments made by the senate com.
mittee changing the house general legislation
were out of order under the senate rule pro-
hibiting such legislation on appropriation
bills. In order to meet definite construc-
ton of the rule, Senator Hale appealed from
the decision on the point and the senate on
division declined TO table the appeal. 1t was
agreed to test the sense Of the senate upon the
ruling upon the committee amendment divid-
ing the 140 surgeons on the active list into
three classes. The chair decided this to be
out of order, as involving general legislation
and this decision was sustained by the senate :.
Yeas 20, nays 81; an equal number OF Demo-
Gratis and Republican, responded aye. The
committee amendment was consequently dis
agreed to.
Senator Hale endeavored TO secure au
understanding, by which the question of order
would be avoided as to the other committee
amendments, involving change in the exist
ing law. but objection was made and no ar
rangement reached. The bill proceeded as in
committee of the whole. All amendments
making change in respect to the retirement
of naval officers and promotions on the re-
tired list and allowing any vacancy among rear
admira!s to DO filed by the presldent's nomi-
nation OF captains as well as commodores,
were accordingly ruled out. The amendment
making prohibition against promotions to the
grade OF commodore Immediately operative,
instead OF in July l, 1888, as proposed by the
house, was objected to by Williams and voted
down by less than quorum, Is to Is.
Upon the question of order being insisted
upon as to the other amendment, Senator AL
lison, from the appropriations committee,
construed this as an attempt to accomplish by
indirection the purposes sought TO be accom-
plished by the recommittal of the bill to
which the senate had refused to assent. In
urging the impolicy OF this be said il the sen.
ate did not amend these provisions it would be
cut off from any Jurisdiction over them after
the conference committee had finished with
them.
The committee amendment in regard to the
number and promotion limits having been
ruled out, the house provision was conSe-
quently restored.
Senator Hale moved to make the number
225 instead of 200, SO the subject might re-
main an open one between the two houses.
Agreed to. The provision passed in this
oh 111o ~Aa1l
committee i'll the items of appropriation.
Agreed to without debate. An amendment
dispensing with the civil force at the navy
yard was agreed to, but upon a question of
order upon the proviso that not less than two
navy yards shall be maintained upon the At.
lautic and gulf coast aud one on the Pacific
coast, this was ruled out.
question of order was raised by Senator
Blair upon the item limiting the repairs of
wooden vessels to those upon which the cost
OF repair is not over 80 per cent. of the ap-
praised value. The committee had amended
this by fixing rs per cent. as the limit.
The chairman (Harris) ruled the amendment
cut.
Senator Ingalls, said that the United States
had three great elements of great navy-a
corps of skillful trained and, efficient officers,
some heroic traditions and great abundance
Of water. 1t had 81 900 miles of undefended
sea cost, and in case of invasion 1t could rely
upon the assistance of 40 vessels of all
dimensions, of which thirty-eight could pos.
ssbiy be rendered effective in case of war. 1t
had besu said the condition of the navy was
attributed to the pa,simoay of congress. A
complete refutation of that state
ment could be found in the fact that
since the war more than 5000, 900
had been spent upon the navy for
which the country had to show only thirty
eight effective vessels. The reason there was
no navy was because that money that had
been appropriated had been Incorporated
and sauandered. He was in favor of putting
in this bill some limitation that would pre-
vent the waste and profusion which had here
tofore prevailed, and in consequence of which
the United States had only this beggarly
account to show.
On motion of Senator Hoar the amendment
was adopted providing that nothing herein
contained shall deprive the secretary of the
navy of authority to order repairs of ships
damaged in foreign waters.
Senator Beck gave notice of a proposed
amendment reducing the appropriation for
completing the Miantonomah, and launching
and adding prOviso that no further steps
shall be taken for the repair or completion of
the irOnclads until further order of congress,
and that the naval advisory board shall report
to congress by the LIST of December, 1882. as
to the wisdom of such completion.
Senator Logan gave notice of proposed
amendment abolishipg prizs money.
The clause relative to monitors was passed
over informally and will be considered to-
morrow. Reading of the bill was then con-
cluded, the remainder of the COMMITTEES
amendmentslbeing adopted without discussion
and the bill went over until tomorrow.
The house joint resolution providing rem-
porarily for the expenditures Of the govern
ment passed.
Senators Hawley and Allison offered reso-
lutions amending the rules SO that amend
ments as to general legislation placed upon
appropriation bills by the house shall be in
order. Referred.
Adjourned.
House of Representatives..