Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-06-29

the committee, declaring that the
House had not sufficient courage to
adopt the resolution, which would
show whether the Brithish lion tail
should be wrenched or the American
eagles neck should be wrung. Tie
resolution was adopted
Mr.. Wilson offered the resolution
Of which he had given notice, and it
was also adopted.
The House, at 11:45, went into
committee of the whole, Mr.. Page,
of California. in the chair, on the
naval appropriation bill.
Mr.. Robeson, of New Jersey, who
had charge of the bill, briefly re-
viewed its general features. He
called attention to the fact that it
contemplated a large reduction in
tie military and civil service of the
navy. The difficulty in the past had
been that the civil establishment had
consumed the greater part Of the
appropriations made for the service,
and left but little for the material
increase and maintenance of the
navy. The service was too top
heavy. It must take the medi-
cine if it wants to be re-
heved. The committee on appro-
priations had also endeavored to
put the service in the way of great
future economy, by recommending
the Cancellation of the work of the
various bureaus.
The committee rose informally, in
orCer to fix some Limitation upon
the general debate. There was
strong disposition shown to debate
the measure at some length, Mr.
O'Neill, Of Pennsylvania, declaring
that it uprooted and sought to de
stToy the navy He advocated long
discussion, while Mr.. Bowman, of
Massachusetts,, thought that
the House should be permits
ted to discuss Il bill which
instead of being an appropriation
bill, with legislation engrafted upon
it, might more properly be termed
Legislative bill, with appropriation
engrafted upon it, changing, as it
did, many vital principles regarding
the navy. It was finally agreed that
the general debate should close to.
morrow at o'clock.
The House again went into com
mittee, and took mp the naval bill.
4 general at ack upon the bill at
once began upon the line Indicated
in Mr. ONeil's remarks. The
only Legislative part of the
bill that receives the support of
the committee on naval affairs, is the
second section, which empowers the
secretary of the navy to dispose of
all stores and supplies that shall be
found by the board Of appraisers to
De unservlceable for the use Of the
navy. The committee will endoavor
to strike out all other legislation
which the bill contains.
Mr.. Whitthorne, of Tennessee,
criticising the provisions of the bill
in detail, said he believed that the
hand and cunning Of the master
workman was displayed not ouly in
the preparation of The bill, Ct was
prepared by Mr. Robeson), but in
tue selection of the time to present
1t to the House. Beneath all this
specious display of reform there lay
the autocracy of the secretary of
the navy which unlhe cked would
resurrect and revive the dang 5rous
disregard md violation of law which
characterized and disgraced the ad-
miuisiration of the navy department
from 1872 to 1870. Congress was
called upon to complete the monitors
commenced by that administration
III the utter disregard of law. But
there were no measures to taken in
the bill to protect the interest of the
government. The Secretary OF the
Navy was given power which would
be most dangerous if he should be
rnpt, ii (>arcastically) it were
possible to have corrupt secretary.
Ho then proceeded to make a vehe
ment attack upon the Robson ad-
miuistiatiOn Of the Navy Depart
ment, asserting that during that
administration $54,00O,0O0 had
been squandered, and quo
ting the Navy Statutes
to endorse his assertion and to bear
evidence TO the abuses which he in
sisted We're practiced by the Secre~
tary and his heads of the bureau.
Returning to the discussion OF the
question, as to the propriety of com
pietlng the monitors, he contended
that # completed they would be
found to have cost, in money and
material, 100000 each, and would
then be utterly worthless.
In the controversy which sprang
DIP between Messrs. Bowman and
Robson, as is the present condition
of the navy, the latter expressed his
familiarity with all the vessels, as he
had himself built them. Hs might
have done so IL violation OF the law,
but he had done so, and it was too
late to impeach him now.
Mr.. Harris, of Massachusetts,, said
that he felt d sense of humiliation
for the chairman of the committee
on naval affairs in undertaking to
speak IN favor of this bill. That
committee, after having spent
months in the careful investigation
of the question as to the best way i'll
which the navy could be built, was
now permitted a part of an hour to
discuss what the duty Of Congress
was. He complained of the rules of
the House, which could prevent a
majority from considering and de-
liberately debating a question OF
such vital importance. He then pro
ceeded to argue in favor of finishing
the monitors, contending that they
would, when completed, be the first
vessels afoat.
The committee then arose and the
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