National Republican., 1883-01-25
Another Very Long and PrOportiOnally Able
Debate on the Navy Bill,
EnIivened with Few Remarks by the
Gentleman from Colorado,
Vigorous but Futile Effort 10 Defeat the Completion
Of the Monitors.
The Senate stlu ut Work on the Tariff
Bill.
THE HOUSE.

The house then (at 1l.15 o'clock went into
the committee Of the whole (NTr. Page, of Cali
fornia, in the chair), on
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL,
the pending paragraph being that making ap-
propriations for the bureau of construction
and repair.
Mr.. Blount raised q point of order against
the provision prohibiting the application of
any part of the sum appropriated to the re-
pairs of any wooden ship when the estimated
cost of such repairs shall exceed 30 per cent.
of the estimated cost of q new ship of the same
size and like material. He was opposed to
such legislation, and, therefore, raised the
point as the speediest way Of getting rid ofthe
provision.
Mr.. Whitthorne antagonizcd tho point Of
order He regarded the provision as economic
in its tendency and effect and as wholesome
check to put upon the discretion of tho execu-
tive departments.
The chair overruled the point of order.
Mr. Atkins called attention TO the fact that
only $l,000,000 was appropriated in this bill
for the bureau of construction and repair,
whereas the law of last year appropriated
S1,750,000 He did not complain of this, but
he wished an explanation of the reduction.
The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Robe
son) was on different limo now from that
which he followed last session. A year ago
he was for large appropriations for this bureau,
proposition to complete the machinery and
engines of one of the renowned monitors.
Mr.. Robeson said that the present bill was
constructed on different plan from last years
bill One million dollars was appropriated
for the purpose of carrying on the ordinary
work of keeping up the navy, but in another
paragraph there was an appropriation under
the head of the increase of the navy.
The ncxt paragraph reached was that pro-
viding for the completion of one of the dOu-
ble-turreted monitors, against which Mr..
Blount reserved n point of order.
Mr.. Harris offered an amendment provid-
ing that the contract for the completion of
either of these vessels must be approved by
the naval advisory board instead of by new
board as provided by the bill.
Mr.. Whitthorne opposed tho amendment,
basng his objection on the discrepancy be-
tween the estimates submitted for the COM
petion of the monitors by the Navy depart
ment at the last session and those submitted
by the advisory board at the present session.
He instanced the Monadnock for the compile
ton of which, according to tho secretary of
the navy, an appropriation of S22000O was
necessary, and according to the advisory
board, $7S5, 900; and stated that the same dis
crcpancy could be found in the case of each
monitor How could this thing be and con-
gress rely on the estimates of the board Let
there be another board to try and reconcile
the estimates of the department.
Mr.. Harris said that he did not believe that
there were any false estimates or misrepre-
sentations in the report of either the secre-
tary of the navy or the advisory board ''u
Mr., Bayne said that from what he had
heard of the advisory board he though there
ought to be another board to watch the first,
and it was not improbable that the next con-
rress would have to call in another board to
watch these two boards. He was opposed to
the amendment
The amendment was adopted-69 to 63-
and Mr. Atkins, of Tennessee, gave notice
that he would ask vote in the house.
Mr. Morse moved to strike out the proviso
for the completion of the monitor by contract
and insert clause that it shall be completed
in the government navy yards under the di-
rection of tho Navy department by officers
and employees Of the government and not by
contractors.
Mr.. HiscoclS raised the point of order that
the amendment changed existing law and
was not in the interest of economy.
Mr.. Anderson opposed the point of order
contending that the United States could per.
form work cheaper than the contractor.
Mr.. Talbot argued that as the constitution
of the monitors was without warrant Of law
the amendment could change no law.
Mr.. O'Nell said that though the bill con.
tained the words "by contracts or otherwise ,
the meaning was to give the work, not tC
contractors, but to contractor. That wa.
the meaning of the legislature, and he knew
whereof he spoke
The chair overruled the point of order.
Mr.. Robson moved to amend the amend
ment by adding prOviso that the secretary
of the navy can do the work in the navy
yards as cheaply and with as much advantage
to the government.
Mr. Morse refused to accept the amend
mcnt. 1t was evident that the contractors
had Gll the necessary material and might bt
able to do the work at less cost for the tint
being.
Mr.. Robson said that the efficiency of tn,
monitors depended on their speed and power
of man9uvring, and when they were put il
the navy yards the specifications and plan
would he departed from,
Mr.. Robeson's amendment was adopted.
Mr.. 0Neil offered an amendment, provid
ing that if the secretary of the navy shall no
decide to do this work. in the navy yards o
the United States, he shall then invite pro
posals from all shipbuilders whose shipyard
are fully equipped for repairing or building
iron or steel ships, He said that the plain in
tenton of the bill was that the building should
not be done in the navy yards. Ships bull
in those yards were built to stay, and whel
launched were perfect productions of skilled
mechanics and laborers.
Mr.. Belford said that he knew nothing
about this bill. He had never seen the oceai
until last summer, and he represented q stat
where 40 cents barrel was paid for water
statesman, to discuss this question. Laugh
ter He had listened to this discussion 70
four days, and had been edited and electrfe
by the discourse Of Rear Admiral Calkns, O
Indiana, and of Commodore Anderson, O
Kansas, the western part of whose state di
not contain water enough to freshen q sal
mackerel; and he was positively delighte
with the learned dissertation of the gentle
man from Georgia (Mr Blountl, whose visio
seemed to rest ON sand hills, where there wa
not watcr enough TO mellow sweet potato
TLaughter,l The whole discussion reminds
him of the sermon of n distinguished Africa
preacher, who divided his discourse into thre
parts, the first consisting of matters of whic
he knew little and his congregatiO
nothing, tho second of which hi
congregation knew little and h
nothing, and tho third of whic
neither knew anything That was the con
duct and character of this whole discussion
Laughter He rose to call attention TO thi
fact, that the days of the session were shOrt
ening and that therowas pending II great an
important national question, He referred
statesman from the prairie state which ha
no water and expected 60 get none allow Oh
house to expedite tho passage of this bill
Laughter and appausol.
Mr. Dczendorf said that he was as good
protectionist as the gentleman from Colorado
hut he had water in his district, and he b.
licved that the navy should be put in pos
tion to protect the country, He was in fave
a. ..afFpproprating in q lump for the completio
of all the monitors.