New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-29
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON.
THE NAVAL BILL IN THE SENATE.
CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO COMMITrEEs-REsULTs
OF TWO RULINGS BY THE PRESIDENT
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUSEl

lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, July 2s.-The contest between the
Appropriations and the Naval Committees of the
Senate renewed to-day in a new form, and re-
suited in an awkward application ofthe rules of the
Senate. These rules prohibit riders" upon appro-
priation bills and require that such bills shall be
confined to the making of apprOpnat ons alone. As
matter of course, Senate rules cannot be applied
to the House; and if the House
chooses to add new legislation to appropriation
bills it do So the Senate accepting rejecting
it, but throwing it out against the rules of
the body. Hitherto, however when new legislation
has to the Senate upon appropriation bills, it
has been held that the Senate had the right to
amend it and perfect it in accordance with the
the views of Senators.
The Naval bill contains great deal besides the
appropratons-in fact, is practically bill for the
reorganization of the Navy; and the appropriations
Committee proceeded to strike out and in
sert provisions of its own. The Naval
Committee, which claimed jurisdiction of such
matters also, had the matter III hand and had for
muatcd some views Of its own. When the first of
the Appropriations Committees amendments
reached by the reading CLERK, Senator Miller of
California, on behalf of the Naval Committee.
offered substitute. Senator Hale made the point
of order that it new legislation, and was sus-
tanned. Senator Miller thereupOn made q similar
point against the amendment of the Appropriations
Committee, and this also sustained.
The position an embarrassing one,
aud was debated long and earnestly.
1t was shown that if the ruling of the
Chair was sustained by the Senate. the House
mghl send over appropriation bills containing any
kind of new legislation, and the Senate would have
no power to perfect it, but must either accept or re-
ject it. Notwithstanding this, however, the Chair
upon appeal was sustained.
The reading of the bill proceeded, and some of the
most important of the Appropriations Commuters
amendments were thrown ont upon points OF or
der As an illustration of the awkwardnesS OF the
ruling the following may be given: The House had
provided that no part of the money appro-
prlated should be applied to the repairs
such repairs should exceed 80 per cent of the est
mated cost of new ship. The Appropriations
Committee had struck out thirtyD and inserted
tWcnt give" 1t was shown that the provision
was desirable one, if any portion Of the new eglS-
latIon WAS to be passed yet by the ruling the Ap-
propriltiOns Committee had no right TO amend IT,
and the House must he allowed To fix the rate, or
the provision must be rejected. The point OF order
was sustained.
IL is hoped by members of the Appropriations
Committee that the measure may be fixed up IN con-
ference committee. The rulings of the Char are less
likely to result in evil than they would II SenaTe
rules were expected to be applied strictly. When
ever a majority of the body fayOrs an amendment
it will make II, voting down the Chair and disre-
garuIng the rules