The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-25
THE HOUSE,
Adoption OF the Naval Amendments, with
Two Exceptions.

Adoption OF the Naval Amendments, with
Two Exceptions.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24-On motion OF Mr..
Oates, of Alabama, Saturday, Feb. 8, was fixed
as the day for eulogies Of the late Representa-
tive Lowe.
The House then went into committee of the
whole on the naval appropriation bill, the pend
Ing paragraph being that making appropria ions
for the Bureau OF Construction and Repairs.
After tho chair had overruled several points of
order against the paragraph, the committee pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the paragraph
providing for the completion OF the dou ble-tur-
reted monitors.
THE STATESMAN FROM COLORADO.
A spicy discussion ensued on a motion of Mr..
O'Neil, during which Mr.. Belford, OF Colorado,
said he knew nothing about this bill he had
never seen the ocean till last ummer, and he
represented State where forty cents q pound
was paid tor water; yet he felt it his duty as an
enlightened statesman to discuss this question.
He had listened to this discussion for four days,
and had been edited and electrified by the dis
course of Rear Admiral Calkins, of Indiana, and
part OF whose State did not contain water
enough to freshen "a salt mackeral, and he was
positively delighted with the learned talk of
the gentleman from Georgia (Mr Blount),
whose vision seemed to rest on sand-hills
where there Is not water enough to
mellow sweet potato. After further re-
marks, no referred to the pending tariff bill a
great national measure. and concluding, said:
''In the name Of God, let the statesmen from the
prairie states. who have no water and expect
to get none, allow che House to expedite the
passage of this hill"
Mr.. O'Neirs notion which directs the Secre-
tary OF the Navy. in the case of work not com
pleted in the navy yard, TO invite pronosal from
all shiphuiders whose yards are fully equipped,
was adopted.
Many motions were made and rejected, and
finally the monitor clause was agreed TO in the
following form:
1.-THE money shall he applied by tho Secretary
OF the Navy, under the appropriate bureaus, for
dati0ns of the naval advisory board, the engines
and machinery OF the dOuble-turreted ironclads,
which said hoard may advise to be first COM
pleted IN the government navy yards. under di
rectinn of the Navy Department, by officers and
employees OF the government and not by CON
TRACTORS, provided he can do work Of the same
quality in the navy yards as cheapy and thor
oughly and with as much advantage to the gov
eminent; and provided that II he shall not de-
United States, he shall then invite proposals
from all American ship-builders whose ship
yards are fully equipped for re-
pairing or building iron or steel ships,
and from constructors of engines, boilers and
machinery, land shall build the same by new con-
tract, or otherwise, rs the Secretary OF the Navy
aay think best for the interest Ofthe government.
1.-THE sum of S45O,000 Ia appropriated for the
pufpose.I But the execution of M new contract
Of these We sells until the terms thereof shall be
approved by the advisory board, who shall APP
provo only such contracts as may he to the best
ADVANTAGE OF the government, and fair and rea-
sonatle according to the lowest market price for
siiailar work, from responsible aud competent