National Republican., 1883-02-23

vessels had been properly described by the
secretary of the navy, as useful only for naval
exercises, for displaying the national flag,
and for spectacular purposes generally; they
were painted ships upon painted ocean,"
and money spent upon them in repairs be-
yond certain limit would be wasted. There
fore he moved to amend by making the limit
20 per cent. instead of %.
The amendment was adopted, and the pro-
vision, so amended, was agreed to-ayes 80,
noes IA.
When the paragraph appropriating 81 00O,-
900 for the completion OF the ironclads in ac-
cOrdance with the recommendations of the
naval advisory board was reached. Mr.. Nc
Pherson reviewed the history of the iron
clads, and argued that no appropriation
should be made at present for the completion
of any Of them, but that even if money were
appropriated for tho others, the Puritan es-
pecally ought to be excepted from the APP
propriation, because several boards, composed
OF some of the best officers in the navy, had
pronounced her an entire failure.
Mr.. Hale said tho question whether these
great ironclad ships taken possession of by
the government under the legislation Of last
session should be completed or laid aside
ought TO be settled Mt this session Of congress.
lie read portions of the report of the advisory
board recommending the completion of the
vessels, and also an extract upon this subject
from the report of the secretary of the navy,
aud called special attention to the fact that
the present secretary was not in favor of con-
plctng the work under the permissory con-
tracts entered into by the Hon. George NJ.
Robson" rs secretary ofthc navy. Those old
contracts were dead and nobody was seeking
t. renew or revive them, and the whole qucs-
tion of finishing these vessels was in the
hands of congress. We had great need Of
such ships ~ these were designed to be. Our
harburs were open TO the assaults of any naval
and tlnugh thnra ~ M nnt
son to apprchend anything of that kind no
man could tell what twelve months would
bring forth IL was not expected that these
vessels would have any great seagoing power,
but they would serve TO defend our seaboard
and we should never know how useful they
might be unless they were completed.
MIR. Voorhees, said that Mr.. Halcs appeal
might have been quite impressive If addressed
to those who knew nothing of the history of
these vessels for the past eight years Eight
years ago, under the administration of Gen.
Grant, these five ironcads were ordered to be
rebuilt" and how many of them were on
the water2 Not one. Although the govern
ment had several navy yards, these ironclads
had been ordered into the hands of private
contractors and kept standing all these years
as means of paying political debts and levy
ing political assessments Why else had they
been left so long unfinished?
Mr.. Plumb said one reason was that for six
years past congress had not appropriated any
thing to continue the work upon them.
Mr.. Voorhees, thought the senator was mis-
taken. He understood that $S000,00 had
been spent in rebuilding" these vessels
which originally east about $600O,0OO, and
| there was not senator upon the floor who
could make an estimate of what amount
would be required to complete them. This
whole business was u scandal, an outrage, and
a crime, and 1t should be ended by ordering
t.t t,l..,
out of the hands Of the John Reaches and
other private contractors, and have them
| completed in the government navy yards.
Mr.. Bayard said 1t was simple business
question wether il would be wise TO vote a
million dollars to place engines and machin-
cry in these four double turreted ironclads,
In 1877 the construction of these vessels,
under contracts made bya preceding secre-
tary of the navy, had been suspended by
Secretary Thompson, and the cloud of sus-
piciOn then cast upon the work had never
since been fully removed, though il had at
tached unjustly he thought, in some cases,
and beyond u doubt unjustly in one case, of
which he had special knowledge, the case of
Harlan 4 Hollnsworth, of Wilmington, in
whose works he had several times visited one
of these vessels. The advisory board had ex-
amined the question fully, and had reported
in favor Of completing the ship, and it seemed
wise for the senate to be guided by their
recommendations.
Mr., ingalls, inquired how much money in
addition to what had been already expended
upon these vessels would be required to com
| plete them.
Mr.. Allison replied that the estimates
footed up $5,601, sos.
After further discussion, Mr. McPherson's
amendment, designed to exclude the Puritan,
was rejected by vote of ayes 16, noes "a
The amendment of the committee, making
the appropriation for engines and machinery
for the double turreted irOnclads in accord
ance with the recommendations of the naval
advisory board" was then agreed to-ayes "a,
noes 12
Mr.. Hale proposed resolution applying
| the five minute rule to debates upon appro-
| priation bills during the present session, but
it was ruled out of order, and was not re-
| ceived.
The other amendments Of the committee
to the bill were agreed to.
| Mr.. Rollins offered as an additional section
the amendment of which he gave notice
sometime ago, providing for the appointment
of board to scrutiniZe the active list of the
navy, and select certain number of each
rank to be retained, the others to be treated
as supernumcraries, sc.
| The point of order was raised that this was
new legislation, and pending the decision,
the senate at T:15 adjourned.
COMBINATIONS.
The senate in executive session confirmed
the nomination Of Algcrnon s. Bolgcr, to be
collector of customs for the district of Louis
| lana.
THE HOUSE,