Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-27
The Senate.

the revenue bill, and take up the naval appro-
pristion bill. A long discussion followed, in
VIII ich the motion was construed on both
sides of the chamber, as having the affect to
dispose of the subject OF revenue and taxa
ton for this session, and to facilitate possible
adjournment in the course of few days.
The result of the discussion was that the
naval appropriation bill was taken up.
The senate then went into committee of the
whole (Haines in the chair and Hale, in charge
of the bill, addressed the committee. He said
the Legislative features OF the bill had their
root not in the action OF the senate committee,
but in the deliberate Judgment OF the house of
representatives. He had been notified that
motion would be made to strike out the
features This would be virtually saying TO
the house, we take issue with you at the out
set, and will have nothing to do with you.
1t had been said that the bill contemplated
a reorganization of the navy, but 1t
was not true. 1t went to that
service. The navy has over $4,000 commits
stoned officers while the British navy with
over 800 steam vessels in active service has
between $500 and Q roo line officers in com.
mission. This enormous overplus OF officers
in our navy and the application OF grades
and ranks now existing had taken place after
the war closed, and the whole subject should
made in the direction, and no genuine friend
OF the navy would object to applying the
remedy.
Senator Cameron, (Pa) chairman of the
naval committee, at the instance of that CON-
mittee, moved 10 recomnit the bill with
to eliminate all it's provisions relating to the
reorganization Of the navy. Passing over the
merits or dsmerits of these provisions, he pro-
tested against the usurpation by the appro-
priatlons committee of the function W hitch
legitimately belonged to the naval committee.
The former having taken charge Of the army
| were now taking the navy in charge, and
seemed to recognize no limit to their super
| vlsory powers.
Senator Beck quoted from the official
| records to show that the change in 1878.
complained OF by Senator Rollins, was made
upon report by the then chairman OF the
| naval committee upon direct vote OF the SEN
ate. He defended the appropriations committee
| from the imputation of having acted unfairly
| toward any other committee, and it is believed
| il the senators would realize the extent of the
opportunities to which the members of that
committee were subjected they would show
more sympathy with them in their labors.
| Senator Hale said Senator Rollins was one
OF those who had been most persistent in i'm
portuning the committee III season and out OF
| season in behalf OF certain amendments.
| Senator Rollins said that in obedience to the
direction Of the committee and upon the re-
quest OF the secretary of the navy, he did
go to the room OF the appropriations commit
tee to make a single suggestion concerning
one amendment. He would not soon forget
the character OF the reception he received
better leave" but he was wildly Impressed
with the idea that In the estimation OF the
| gentlemen there 1t was no place for the sen
ator from New Hampshire.
Senator Hale-We did not grant all you
wanted.
Senator Rollins-You have not granted 6
single thing the naval committee asked for
Not one.
Senator Logan urged that the conflicting
| rights OF the committees should be subor
dinated to the merits of the provisions pro-
posed to be stricken out. These
had not been objected to so far by tn,
senator from New Hampshire or
any one else upon their abstract justice
or necessity, but solely upon the ground tha
they came from the wrong committee. If an,
member was opposed to them on any consid
Grafton other than this one, he desired him Il
rise and state the fact.
Senator Williams replied that he, for one
would not consent to see the grade OF commo
dore abolished. The grade was an illustriou
one. 1t carried us back to Perry, Truxton
Decatur, and host of naval heroes.
Senator Logan said those distinguished Off
cials lever held the grade OF commodore, as i
had never been created until 1862. They wer
simply captains. and the gentleman from Ken
lucky has betrayed his ignorance of our nava
history in assuming otherwise. The title ha
been popularity assigned to Perry and other
| just as it was Unfortunately applied to Van
derbilt, Garrison and others, because the,
! owned vessels.
Senator Williams admitted the grade haC
not been expressly conferred by law, but in
sisted 1t was one with which these illustriou:
names had been associated and that it was
equivalent to the inferior one of half a cen
tury ago. The Office OF general in the arm!
was of comparatively recent date.
Senator Logan explained that the latter wa
specially created for particular individual
and reiterated his statement with regard to
the rank of commodore. He proceeded to de-
tail the reasons for the repeal Of the law al
lowing promotions on the retired list, as pro
posed by the bill. Aside from economical
considerations involved, we would hold out
bravery and skill in the navy.
Senator Hale explained that of the present
force of twenty-five cemmodores, but one wal
doing actual sea duty. Nineteen nominally
on shore duty were holding soft and easy
places, one or two being heads of bureaus.
Senator Vance commented upon the in
ference he drew from the statement BY Senator
Logan that it was degrading to nava
engineers TO keep them on the civil list, and
incidentally remarked that the bill would
turn out of the navy twenty-five commodores.
Senator Logan said the latter statement de
monstrated the gentleman's ignorance of the
provisions OF the bill, as 1t did not turn sim
gle man out OF his place. He went on to ex
plain the contemplated reduction in the line
and staff officers. In the course OF his re-
marks he was Intercepted by Senator's Butler
| and Vance. The former having criticised
facetiously, response made by him, Logan
rejOined "There is nothing smart in that "
Senator Butler replied he regarded Senator
Logan's manner as bordering upon something
else than smart. 1t was domneering.
Senator Logan-I pardon the senator's irri-
liability.
Butler-I am not at all irritable.
Logan added that he made no pretense 10
| any superior knowledge, but did claim to
know something about the navy, and that
upon the subjects about which he knew moth.
| ing he tried to keep quiet. After replying TO
several inquiries by Vance, he asked "Is
| there anything else on which the senator de-
sires to be informed?
Vance, would like to be Informed, If 1t is
convenient for the senator, when he is goiu &
| to quit. Laughter.
Senator Logan said that upon looking
| around he saw enough people to talk to yet.
When ne proposed to speak on subject about
| which he knew as little as did the senator
from North Carolina about the tariff, on
which he had spoken at such length on Tues
Gay, he would quit before he began. Laugh
ter
Senator Vance-Tbe strict construction of
t lat rule would consign my friend to the deaf
| anddumb asy lum for the balance of his days.
Renewed merriment.]
Senator Logan-Perhaps that would be a
good place for all of us.