The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-23
FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.
The Senate Discusses the Naval Ap-
preparation Bill.
THE SENATE.

Discussion of the Naval Appropriation 1ill.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22-Mr. Garland called up
the resolution offered by him yesterday for the
appointment of special committee to examine
and report upon the methods of improving
the NAVIGATION of the Mississippi river below
Cairo. Adopted.
The Senate proceeded to consider the naval
appropriation bill.
The provision that no part of the money ap-
propriated for the general care, increase and
protection of the navy in the line of construc-
ton and repair et3, shall be applied to the re-
pairs OF any wooden ship, when the estimated
cost of such repairs shall exceed 25 per cent. of
the estimated cost of new ship of the same
size and like material, gave rise to long de-
bate. The provision was amended so as to ii
the limit at 20 per cent. of the cost of q
sci OF the same size and like material, and agreed
to-yeas 33, nays II.
When the paragraph approprating 100000
Tor the completion of the ir0ncads, in accord
ance with tue recommendations of the Naval
Advisory Board, was reached, Mr.. Mcpherson
reviewed the history of the irOnclads and argued
that no appropriation should be made at present
for the completion of any of them, but that even
II money were appropriated for Others, the Puri
Tan, especially, ought to be excepted from the
appropriation, because several boards composed
of some OF the best officers in the navy had pro-
nounced her an entire failure.
Mr. Hale favored completing the work under
the permlssory contracts entered into by Hon.
George NJ Robson, Secretary of the Navy.
THOSE old contracts were dead, and nobody
seeking to renew or revive them and the whole
question of finishing these vessels was in the
hands Of Congress. We had great need of such
vessels as these are designed to be, for harbOr
defense.
MI Voorhees, said Mr.. Hale's 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, un-
der the administration of General Grant, these
five lron-clads were ordered to be rebuilt, and
how many of them were on the water2 Not one.
Although the government had several navy
yards. those irOn-clads had been ordered into
the hands of private contractors and Kept
standing through all these years as means of
paying political debts and levying political as
sessments Why else had they been left SO long
unfinished
Mr.. Plumb said one reason was, that for six
years past Congress lad not appropriated any
thing to continue the work upon them.
Mr. Voorhees, thought the Senator was mis-
taken. He understood 100000 had been spent
in rebuilding" these vessels which cost about
S6,0OOOOO, and there was not a senator upon the
hoOr who could make an estimate of the amount
that would be required to complete them. This
whole business was a scandal, an outrage and
crime, and it should have been ended by order
ing the Secretary of the Navy to take the vessels
ont of the hands OF John Roach and other
private contractors and have them completed in
the government maynard.
Mr.. Bayard said it was simple business ques-
tion whether it would be wise to vote millions
OF dollars to place engines and machinery in
these four double-turreted iron elads. In 1877
the construction of these vessels under the con.
tracts maze DY the preceding secretary OF lie
Navy had been suspended by Secretary ThOmp-
son; the cloud of suspicion then cast upon the
work had never since been fully removed though
IL had been attacked, unjustly, he Thought, in
some cases. The advisory board had examined
the question fully, and had reported in favor of
completing the ships, ana it seemed wise for the
Senate to be guided by their recommendation.
Mr.. ingalls, inquired how much money in ad-
ditlon to what had been already expended upon
these vessels would be required to complete
them.
Mr.. Allison replied that the estimates footed
up So, SOL sos.
After further discussion, Mr.. McPherson's
amendment designed to exclude the Puritan
was rejected-yeas 16, nay "a.
The amendment of the committee making an
appropriation for engines aud machinery for
the dOuble-turreted irOnclads, in accordance
with the recommendation of the naval advisory
board, was agreed to-yeas Of. nays ~.
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 some
time ago, providing for the appointment OF
board to scrutinize the active list of officers of
the navy and select certain number of each
rank to be retained, The others to be treated as
supernumeraries, etc.
The point of order was raised that this was
new LEGISLATION, and pending decision the SEN
ate adjourned