Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-03
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
Two Per Cent. BOnds-THe Naval
Appropriation BiII-NOmInatiODs
and COnfiT m ations-The skeleton
of Guiteau 10 AdOrn a Museum.

WARRINGTON, July lin the House, Mr..
Kelley, Of Pennsylvania, asked unanimous
consent to report from the Committee Of
Ways and Means a joint resolution au-
thorizing the Secretary OF the Treasury to
issue 2 per cent. bonds or certificates in ex-
change for bonds bearing higher rate Of
interest. He said that it was prepared
under the auspices of the Secretary of the
Treasury. The resolution was passed.
1t is as follows "That the Secretary of the
Treasury be and hereby is authorized and
empowered, in his discretion, to issue bonds
or certificates OF Indebtedness of the United
States in such form (oeing $50 or multiples
thereof) as he shall see fit, to the amount
Of not more in the aggregate than $780,
900 GOO, bearing interest at the rate
of 2 per cent, payable half yearly,
and the principal aud accrued interest
payable at any time at the option
OF the United States. He shall issue them
only in exchange for obligations of the
United States bearing higher rate Of inter
| est than per cent. per snnum at the par
value of the several obligations exchanged.
| The bonds or certificates OF Indebtedness
/ hereby authorized shall not be redeemed
until the bonds OF the United States bearing
higher rate of interest, aud which
are also payable at the option
OF the government, shall have
first been paid Off, or the called bonds or
certificates herety authorized shall be called
in for payment Inverse order to that in
which they shall we been issued, and in
such sums at eac call as the Secretary of
| the Treasury ma! srmlne. They may be
used by the nati~r. Banking associations
as security for the payment and redemption
/ of their circulating notes and by national
bank depOsitOrs as security for deposits with
| them OF nublic moneys Mt the same rates
| and subject to the same regulations
| as other obligations Of the government
are now received and held for these pur-
poses respectively. They shall be re-
| deematle at the Treasury Of the United
States In coin of the present standard value,
and the interest thereon shall be payable In
that coin atthat place. They shall he ex
empt from all taxes or duties of the United
/ States and from taxation in any form by or
under municipal or local authority. Moth
ing herein contained shall be held or con
strued to authorize any increase whatever
of the funded debt OF the United States"
Mr.. Kasson, OF Iowa, asked to have put
upon its passage the bill providing that
duties on imported sugar deposited in
bonded warehouses shall be paid on the
uuhutlbl uCllfGECu lAOui
OF on the quantity entering into 1t, but OBJ
| lection was made.
At u O'Clock the House went into COM
mittee Of the whole (Mr. Page, of
| California, in the chair, and
resumed consideration of the naval
| appropriation bill, the question being on an
| amendment offered by Mr.. Calkins. of In
diana, to strike out the provisions in regard
| to promotion to the grade OF Rear Admiral.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Blount, Of
Georgia, to strike out the clause providing
| for board TO fill vacancy Ia the grade
/ of Rear Admiral was adopted, and the
| clause was stricken out
Ga motion of Mr.. Billing, of New Hamp-
| shire, the following clause was inserted IN
/ the bill: "That whenever, on an inquiry
/ had pursuant to law concerning the fitness
| of an officer of the navy for promotion, 1t
| shall appear that such officer is unfit to per
form at sea the duties OF the place to which
! it is proposed to promote him, by reason of
drunkenness, or from any cause arising
| from his own misconduct or want OF cspac-
ity not caused oy or In consequence OF the
| performance of his duty, he shall not be
placed on the retired list Of the navy, and
he snail be discharged"
On motion of Mr.. Talbot, of Maryland,
| the following was also inserted: THAT no
officer shall be promoted except his mental,
moral and professional fitness has been es-
tsblished according to the provision Of sec
/ ton 1896 of the Revised Statutes"
On motion of Mr.. Knott of Kentucky, the
words ''sfter July Is, 1888, +" were added to
the proviso 'that no more promotions to
| the grade of Commodore shall be made"
Mr.. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, made argu-
ment in favor OF retaining the grade OF
Commodore, and in favor of promotion by
seniority.
On motion Of Mr. Hiscock, OF New York,
the remainder of the provision was also
struck out. II provided for allowing Com
modores over whom juniors in rank are
/ promoted to be placed on the retired list
| with the rank of Rear Admiral; also, max
ing laws for retiring other naval officers
| apply to Admiral and Vice Admiral; also,
allowing officers who have received the
| thanks of Congress full pay until they will
have been fifty-ive years in service.
| Mr.. Blount, of Georgia, moved to strike
| out the words "bY selection" In this clause,
| the grade of Rear Admiral on the active
list shall be made by selection from the
| grades OF Commodore and Captain "
| After discussion, Mr. Blounts motion was
agreed to, and the words 'by selection"
were stricken out.
Mr. Robson offered an amendment CON
fining the actual list of Lieutenants in the
navy to two hundred, and providing that no
promotion to that rank shall be made until
the number is reduced below two hundred.
Adopted.
When the question OF navy yards was
reached soma discussion ensued, and 1t
was passed over, but 1t was
again brought up in connection with an
amendment by Mr.. Reagan to except the
Pensacola navy yard from the provision au-
thoriziug the Secretary of the Navy to close
the navy yards that are not required for
public service. The amendment was re
jected.
Mr.. Whitthorne, of Tennessee, offered an
amendment requiring the Secretary Of the
Navy to report to Congress at its next ses-
sion, giving facts aud reasons governing his
action in closing the navy yards. Adopted.
The item of 81, ,750. coo for the Bureau of
Construction aud Repairs having been
reached, Mr.. Reed, of Maine, offered an
amendment tn strike out the words "re-
stricting to 100000 the amount tn be sp
piled to she repairs Of wooden ships;" also
providing that no money shall be applied to
the repair Of any wooden ship where the
expense of such repair shall exceed 30 per
cent of the estimated cost of a new vessel
OF the same size and like material. No
action was taken on the amendment, but
on the suggestion of Mr.. Robson, OF New
Jersey, the clauses for the Bureau of CO.
struction and Repair and the Bureau OF
Steam Engineering were passed over for
the present as likely to give rise to a long
discussion, and the rest OF the bill was pro-
ceeded with.
Mr.. Holman, OF Indiana, moved to strike
out the words "unless the President of the
United States shall otherwise direct
in writing" from the clause pro-
hibiting the sale OF any vessel for less than
its appraised value. Adopted.
The bill having been concluded, with the
exception of the portions reserved as above,
Mr.. Harris, of Massachusetts,. asked to have
printed 10 the Record two amendments.
which he proposed to offer to the clauses
for the Bureaus of Construction and Re-
pairs and Steam Engineering.
The committee then rose.
On motion OF Mr.. Tucker, of Virginia,
the bill. to repeal so much of section 1885
OF the Revised Statutes as imp 'se tax on
tobacco was taken up and passed.
The Speaker laid before the House mes
sage ON the President, returning without
his approval the bill to regulate |
the carriage OF passengers by sea.
While expressing his entire sympathy |
with the objects of the bill, he |
points out three serious defects in It. |
First, in the use OF words ''uppermost |
decks" ignoring entirely all reference to |
the spar deck, with which almost all large |
modern vessels are provided. The second |
requirement OF seven clear feet OF height |
between decks, and the third is a require |
ment OF list OF passengers being |
furnished before the vessels Gear. |
This would be impractieable in |
case OF steamers, new passengers /
coming on board up to the last moment. /
The practical result Of the law would be to |
subject all ocean steamers to great loss and |
to restrict i'm immigration. good bill of the |