National Republican., 1882-07-06
Ivousc ofucurcscptnt,yes.


to suspend the rules and pass Senate bill appro-
priatng 100000 for public building ut Shreve-
port, La, was taken up and discussed for thirty
minutes In the course of the discussion Mr. Bur-
rows, of Michigan, stated, as proof OF the little
need ofa court house there, that :tbere had been
no criminal business there ut the last July session
of the United States court, and not enough at the
last February to justify the drawing of ju.
rors ;and Mr. Ellis replied that chat fact spoke well
for the virtue and morals of the western district
of Louisiana.
The motion was adopted-113 to SO.
The House then tut Y u'clock( went into Com
resumed consideration of the naval appropriation
bill, the pending question beng the amendment
offered by Mr. Reed To the para graph for the
Bureau of Construction and Repairs. The amend
ment is to strike out the proviso which limits to
100000 the amount TO be applied to the repair of
wooden ships also, to make the clause read SO
that the expense of such repair shall not exceed
so per cent of the estimated cost of new vessel Of
the same size aud like material. The amendment
Mr. Atkins moved to reduce the amount for the
Bureau of Construction and Repair from 81, $780,
After debate Mr.. Harris, of Massachusetts,, said
that his own views and those of the Naval Com
mittee were in favor ofa substitute to provide for
the building of ten new vessels of war, but he
mittee and would only move an amendment to
apply to the appropriation of 81 75O,5O0.
Mr.. O'Neill expressed his regret that Mr.. Harris
did not offer the substitute referred to.
Mr.. Harris then offered his amendment to the
pending pa aragraph, which appropriates 81 900
10 the bureau of Construction and Repair. The
amendment is that any portion of that sum not
required for the purposes specified may be ap-
Piled toward the construction OF two new cruising
vessels Oh war that size armament and material OF
which provides for.
Mr.. Blount made the point of order that the
amen dment provided new legislation and was
not in order on m appropriation bill.
After long discussion on the point of order the
question was submitted to the committee and was
Overruled.
The discussion of the amendment itself was then
proceeded with.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Atkins was re.
IS to 7G. '''''
The paragraph elang .sH ,ser, IN &, r,I,s,s
Engineering was theif tn y SSH' W
.,s,-,.u ~ tne mere repairs OF the engines auu
machinery of wooden ships. 1t directs the uppli :
ton Of sl,oOO,oOO of the amount to the iron.clad
monitors.
the proyiso applying sl,oOO,0O0 to the monitors
After long discussion. Mr.. Hewitts amend
meut was rejected-i6 to 6S.
Mr. Hewitt then moved an amendment realir-
| ing the work on the monitors to be given out by
contract to the lowest responsible bidders who
right to do the work at any of the nayy-yarts or
elsewhere in this country.
Mr. Robeson opposed the amendment, on the
ground that 1t would allow any bummers-the
Maekays or any other adyenturers-to come in
and bid.
The amendment was rejected
Mr. Hewitt said that his object was not for the
encouragement of bummers. He trusted that the
day for bummers in the Navy Depart ment had
gone by.
Mr. Holman offered an amendment providing
for letting the work on the monitors by contract,
afer advertisement, ana to the lowest bidder
Mr. HOlmnn'S amendment was rejectcd--5S to 81,
Mr. Talbot offered an amendment requiring all
plans FOR the armament, Sc, of the monitors to be
submitted TO the Board of Advice aud Survey.
Adopted.
1heamendmento offered by Mr. Harris, of Massa.
chusetts, to the paragraph Tor III Bureau of Steam
Engineering Qn reference to the Completion of the
monitors) was adopted.
Mr.. Robeson, Of New Jersey, moved an adli-
tonal section TO the bill provision that officers OF
the Navy may be required to perform such duties
at the navy yards and stations as are now per-
formed by civil employees; aud that no officer Of
the Navy shall be employed on shore duty except
where the Secretary of tie Navy shall determine
| that such employment is required by the public
interests, and shall so state in the order of en-
ployment; and that all other officers who are not
at sea shall be put on leave of absence or waiting
orders, on furlough us the Secretary may
direct.
Mr.. Robson also offered as all additional section
an amendment providing that after all vacancies
i'll the lower grades of the line and staff corps in
the Navy and Marine Corps shall have been filed
nothing in the act shall be construed to prevent The
promotion from the appropriate corps and grades
of not more than ten of the remaining grad uates
of the year at the conclusion OF their six years
course who may stand highest on the order OF
merit. Adopted.
| Mr.. Reed offered an amendment providing that
naval constructors and assistant naval construct
| ors may be appointed from civil life. Adopted.
Mr.. Holman again offered an amendment for
| bidding the use of any of the money appropri-
ated in the bill for political purposes, nnd il was
ruled out of order An appeal from the de.
| eision being taking The decision was sustained
| 90 to As.
The committee then rose and reported the bill
and amendments.
The previous question was seconded and then
without disposing OF any of the amendments, the
House ht q O'Clock adjourned