National Republican., 1883-02-24
Fair Progress Made With Legislative Work in
Both Ends Of the Capitol.
The Senate Passes the Navy Bill Shorn
Of its New Legislation.
Tho Utah Bill Debated With Considerable Spirit and
al Some Length.
The House Practically Complete the sun
dry Civil Bill.
TILE SENATE.

MIR. Gall had inquired WnaJ nhu become III
the conference Of the provision for the relief
of the Seminoes in Florida.
Mr.. Dawes said the senate confcrees had
been compelled TO give Il up in order to secure
an agreement oil the bill.
Mr.. Call protested, on behalf of the people
of Florida and Of the Seminole Indians in that
state, against the refusal Of congress year after
year to do them simple justice. The con-
ference report was agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Hale the senate resumed
the consideration Of
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL
The pending question was on the amendment
offered yesterday by Mr.. Rollins providing for
q board TO scrutinize the active list of the
navy and select n certain number Of officers Of
each grade to be retired on the active list, the
remainder to be considered supernumeraries.
The point of order raised yesterday that the
amendment was inadmissble, rs proposing
general legislation, was sustained.
On motion of Mr.. Hale, the paragraph pro-
viding that the secretary of the navy shall
invite proposals for the construction OF three
steel cruisers and u dispatch boat was amended
so as TO exclude the armament of the vessels
from the proposals.
The appropriation for the bureau of yards
and docks was increased $6i 1000, on motion of
Mr. Miller, of California.
On motion of Mr.. Lapham. the provision
that hereafter no officer of the navy shall be
employed on any shore duty unless the secre-
tary of the navy shall determine that such
employment is required by public interests,
was modified by adding, except in cases spe-
cially provided by law"
Mr.. Anthony, from the committee on naval
affairs, offered an amendment appropriating
100000 to enable the secretary OF the navy
10 hut1 al ru upI, IN lrnxy NOT
more than twelve feet of water, to carry one
high power breechloading rihed cannon of
not less than ten inches caliber to be able to
use the whole power of the main engines for
maneuvering purposes so as to be able TO
turn round on her center without either adj
vancing or rcceding, so that the gun may be
aimed by the movements of the vessel, and to
have q speed of fifteen miles an hour.
Mr.. Mcpherson, discussing the amendment,
alluded to the presence of the secretary of the
navy in the senate chamber the other day in
conversation with Mr.. Anthony, and went on
TO make an attack upon the secretary as one
who was "at home in the lobby" He had
great respect for the President, who had so
far given The country an administration as
worthy of approval as any preceding II, but
he feared that when this appropriation bill
should have become n law las Il certainly
would, because the secretary Of the navy had
80 ordained) even the President would become
convinced that mistakes were possible. The
President had headed the list Of his adviser
with character and ability, the pur.si aud
best, but even before reaching ilie end of the
list had descended by one giimuiic stride 10
the lobby with all that that implied.
Mr.. Anthony said he had offered this amend.
ment by instruction of the committee on naval
affairs and not at the request Of tho secretary
of the navy The secretary had right TO be
on the floor Of the senate under the rules and
his presence called for no such comment as
that made by Mr.. Mcpherson.
Mr.. Rollins said he had heard Mr.. McPher.
sons remarks with great surprise. That sem
ator's criticism upon the secretary was unjust
and ungonerous in the extreme, and he (Mr
Rollnsl hoped it would not be repeated.
Mr.. Hale said the secretary of the navy
could take care of himself. He raised the
point of order that the amendment proposed
new legislation, and the chair sustained the
point and ruled it out.
Mr.. Lapham offered the following:
Provided. That no cadet appointed to the naval
academy prior TO the passage Of the act OF Aug. o.
1852, shall In any manner be affected by said act
but shall be retained IN the service in oil respects
as lisa d law had not been passed.
Mr.. Hale made the point of order that this
was legislation, and the point was sustained
by the chair.
Mr.. Vance gave notice that to-day he would
ask unanimous consent to take up the bill on
this subject reported by him this morning
from the committee on naval affairs.
On motion of Mr.. Miller, of California, the
appropriation for the bureau of construction
and repair was increased 100000
The third section of the bill as reported
from the committee on appropriations, pro
viding for the appraisal and, In the discre
tion of tho secretary of the navy, the sale Of
vessels which have been struck from the
navy register, was ruled out of order as new
legislation.
When the bill had passed from the com
fniifan nf fha uhnla ni ha Mr
MCPHERSON moved to strike out the provis
ion limiting the amount to be expended upon
the repairs of wooden vessels in each case tC
twenty per cent. of the estimated cost of q
new ship of the same size and like material
Lost.
The bill was then passed.
The Utah bill being the regular order wai
temporarily laid aside, with the consent o
Mr.. Edmunds, and the senate took up the bill
making appropriations for
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
which was considered, amended, and passed
Mr. Allison, from the committee ON appro
priations, reported the legislative, executive
and Judicial appropriation bill, and CAV,
notice that he would call ii up and ask til,
senate to dispose of IL to-day.
Mr. Allison submitted the report of tn,
committee on conference on the consular ant
diplomatic appropriation bill, which wa
agreed to.
lHc btHulc rcsuHeu lnc CONSIDERATION OF
THE UTAH BILL.
The pending question was on Mr.. Blair
amendment making the prohibition of votinl
apply only TO persons" tried and convicted
of polygamy or bigamy, instead of TO al
"females," rs in the bill. Lost--aycs 0
noes 81.
Mr.. Logan believed polygamy to be a can
Ger in the body polite which should be Gu
out by the roots. Therefore he would vot,
for this bill or for any other legislation
within constitutional limits to eXtirpate thii
evil and IL legislation should fail and h,
could have his way he would resort to stronger
measures.
Mr.. Call said this bill was direct attacl
upon the constitution of the United State
and q ilagrant insult to the Christian re
ligion, and argued that if congress was author
lied to deprive citizen of the right to yOt,
because ofany opinion he might entertain a.
to the pr0priety of having more than one wife
II would have the equal right TO prescribe tn,
possession OF u dozen wives or the practice o
strict celibacy ms necessary qualification fol
the exercise of the right Of suffrage Polyg
amy would be eXtingushod by tho attacks OF
the Christian religion and the influences o
our civilization and our economic laws
Mr., ingalls, moved to amend section o
the bill so rs TO prohibit voting by women IN
any territory of the United States
Mr.. Edmunds opposed the amendment be
cause he desired to conGne tho onnration n
TINS law to the special case for which it wa
framed, aud not to raise the general question
of female suffrage.
a 81 4