The Portland daily press., 1882-03-08
WASHINGTON.
Construction of q New Navy.

Construction of New Navy.
WASHINGTON, March THE House COM
mittee on naval affairs met to-day. Chairman
Harris submitted a report he has prepared to
accompany the bill providing for the construc-
ton of new vessels for the navy. The report,
however, was not quite complete.
Mr.. Thomas, who was charged with the pre-
paration of a clause of the report on the sub
ject of material, has been taken sick and con-
sequently his part of the work is not ready.
Chairman Harris will probably prepare the
missing portion after comforting with Mr..
Thomas and submit the report to the House to-
morrow. The committee directed the chair
man to add another clause to the naval con-
struction bill, providing for the building OF a
new steamer to take the place of the United
States steamship Michigan, now in service on
the lakes. The committee will go down the
Potomac on the Q. S. steamship Alarm, Thurs
day, and witness some torpedo experiments
1t is known that the members of the commit
tee are unanimously in favor of constructing
new vessels for the navy of steel, and It is
quite probable the report will recommend that
that course be pursued. The subject of the
unfinished monitors was informally discussed
at the session ta-day, and the general senti-
ment of the views expressed was in favor OF
going on with the work, the only question be-
ing as to the manner in which it should be
done.
Mr.. Frye's Bill lief of Shipping.
Mr.. Frye's bill for the relief of shipping pro-
vides that the following fees shall be collected
from owners and masters OF all vessels except
those navigating the waters OF the northern,
northeastern and northwestern frontiers other
wise than by sea.
First-For measuring every vessel in order
to enroll and license the same-for vessels un-
der 100 tons register So; vessels 100 tons and
not exceeding 200 tons So; vessels OF 200 tons
and not exceeding 400 tons Va; vessels over
400 tons s..
cooond NJ ohoroa oh II ha ,nada for cartif-
Gates of enrolment and licenses or for endorse
ment on same nor for certifying manifests or
for receiving certified manifests and granting
permits on the arrival of licensed and register
ed vessels, and no charge shall be made ior
entering or clearing vessels engaged IN the
coasting trade or in the trade with Canada.
The bill also provides that no vessel engaged
in Canadian commerce shall be subject to ton
mage tax or duty, nor be required to furnish
consular certificates. The assessment OF 40
cents per month now authorized by law 10 De
collected from masters and owners OF vessels
engaged in the coasting trade and fishery is
also prohibited.
Bills Approved by the President.
The President has approved the immediate
deficiency bill; the act to establish post routes;
act to establish port OF delivery at Denver,
COL. act to authorize the Secretary OF the
vitation to the Garfield memorial service; joint
resolution authorizing the printing OF 25OO ex-
ira COPIES OF the report of the health officer OF
the District of Columbia.
Silver Certificates.
Chairman Grape of the House committee on
banking and currency appointed sub-commit-
tee this morning, consisting OF Dingley, Weber
and Hardenburg to take into consideration the
subject of silver CERTIFICATE, with view of per-
fecting the bill to regulate their issues.
Miscellaneous.
The Senate finance committee to-day de-
cided to recommend the passage of Mr.. Becks
bill to furnished unlawful certificates of
checks by officers of nominal banks with
amendment extending its penalty to officers
who shall resort to any device or receive any
fictitious obligation for pretended collateral in
order to evade the existing law against over
certifcation.
The Cabinet meeting to-day was attended
by all the members, but no questions of public
Importance were considered
Senior Martinez, Chllian minister, has re-
ceived no official announcement from his
government of the signing of the protocol
drawn up by Minister Prescott and Mr.. Bal
maceda, Chilian minister for foreign affairs.
Romero, the New Mexican minister, had the
audience with the President to-day.