New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-24
THE SENATE PASSES TUE NAVAL BILL.
AN ATTACK BY MIR. MCPHERSON UroN TIE sEcRE-
TARY OF TIE NAVY.

TARY OF TIE NAVY
WASHINGTON. Feb. 23.-Whcn the Senate re-
sumed consideration of the Naval Appropriation
bill, today. the pending question was on the
Rollins amendment, providing for board TO scru-
tinze the active list of the Navy and select GER
tain number of officers of each grade to be retained
ON the active list the remainder to be considered
supernumeraries The point of order, raised yes
terday. that the amendment was inadmissDle as
proposinc general legislation, was sustained.
On motion of Mr. Hale the paragraph providing
that the Secretary of the Navy shall invite pro-
posals for the construction of three steel cruisers
end 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 $4,000.
On motion o. Mr.. Lapham, the provision that
hereafter no officer of the Navy shall be employed
ON any shore duty unless the Secretary of the Navy
shall determine that such employment Is required
by public interests was modified by adding: E1-
cept in cases especially provided by law"
Mr. Anthony, from the Committee on Naval AZ
fairs otrre an amendment making an approqria-
ton 10 enable the Secretary Of the Navy to buI.d
an experimental guubOat, to draw not more than
twelve feet of water. 10 carry one high-power
breech-loading rfied cannon of no. less than Ten
inches calibre 10 be able TO use the whole power OF
the main engines for manGuvring purposes, so as
10 be able TO turn round on her centre WltAOut
either advancing or receding, so tina the gun may
be aimed By the movements OF the vessel, and 10
have a speed of fifteen miles an hour.
Mr.. Mcpherson discussing the amendment, al
luded TO the presence Of the Secretary OF the Navy
in the Senate Chamber the otherday III conversation
with Mr. Anthony and went on to make an attack
unon the secretary as one who was lat home IN the
Iopbv" He had great respect for the President,
who had so far gwen the country an Adninlstra-
ton as worthy of approval any preceding it, but
he feared that when this appropriation bill should
have become a law-as 1T certainly would, because
the Secretary of the Navy had so ordained-even
the President would become convinced that mis-
takes were possible. The President had beaded the
list of his advisers with character and ability, the
unrest, ID best but even before reaching the end
OF the lst hal descended by one gigantic s'Iluc 10
the iobDy with all that that implied.
Mr. Anthony said he had offered TINS Amendment
nv IN tYuctIOn of the Committee ON Naval liaIS
and moi az the request Of he Secretary OF ne Navy
The Secretary had right 10 be on tue tOor oil The
Serate under the rules and his presence c4ed lOr
no such comment as that made BY Mt. McIhelsOil.
Mr. Rollins said no had heard Mr. McPheis' II 5
remarks Glth great surprise. mat senator CRIT
icism uu0u the Secretary WAS UNJUST ana uhRentf-
Gus in tie extreme. Mr.. Hale SAID the Secretary OIL
the NAVY could take care of himself. He raised the
point OF order that the amendment proposed new
legislation and the Char sustained the IOihV anu
ruled out the amendment; .,,.. .
The appropriation for the Bureau of Construction
and Regairs WIS increased 100000. The tnrd
section Of the bill reported from the committee
on ApprDpriatIOns providing Tor the appraisal ahd,
in the discretion OF the Secretary oI the Navy the
sale OF vessels which have been struck from t1e
Navy Register was ruled out OF Orler AS new e2lsld-
tlon Without iuTtheF alteration the Dill was re-
ported to the Senate and passed.