The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-18

the Senate a communication from the Secretary
of the Navy in response to the recent resolution
of Mr.. Vest, which inquired whether any sur
veying party had been, or was aooat to be, sent
to Nicaragua to survey a route for the proposed
canal, and if it had been sent, under what au-
thority Of law. The Secretarys reply Is as fol
lows:
RESPONDING to the resolution of the Senate, I have
the honor TO state that orders have been issued to
Civil Engineer A. G.. MenocaL Civil Engineer Ii, ~.
Peary, and Ensign Washington Chambers to visit
Nicaragua in order TO make a survey OF the route Tor
the proposed Nicaragua canal. The orders have been
issued in exercise Of the general power Of this, de-
partment. under the President, to issue such orders
to all officers of the navy as be deemtd for the public
interest. The arrangements which have been made
contemplate a revision of the survey made on a
former occasion by Civil Engineer Menocal, and an in
vestigation Of any change in the route which has been
suggested as possibly available for shortening the
canal and diminishing its cost. The cost Of the ar
rangements made and contemplated, in addition to
the pay and mileage of the naval officers, is expected
to be $1,000 as an outfit. and about 81 600 a month
during the stay of the party in Nicaragua.
On Mr.. Vests motion the letter was laid on the
table. He said he would call itup at the earliest
opportunity, with a view to discussing the propo-
sition advanced by the Secretary of the Navy
that the right was vested in any department of
the government to order such an expedition with
out action by Congress.
Mr.. Dawes presented q petition, which was re-
ferred, praying that steps be taken to prohibit
the carrying into effect the lease, for grazing
purposes, OF the Grow Indian reservation, made
with the Indians by a syndicate of capitalists
and cattle men.
A large number of circumstances against rati-
f~cation of the Spanish treaty were presented
and referred.
Mr.. Brown, from the committee on railroads,
reported favorably a bill to extend the time for
construction of the st. Louis & Sartranclsco rail-
road through the Indian lands.
Mr.. Dawes offered a resolution, which was
agreed to, calling on the Secretary of the interior
- 1 : 1-.,o4,o - - - ar+ ~ ont ro1atinp IN
leases of Crow Indian lands for grazing purposes
and his action thereon. Bills were introduced
and referred as follows:
By Mr.. Van Wyck: To fix the rates Of transmits
sion Of messages by telegraph west of the Missouri
river, these rates not to exceed the average rates
east of the river to the seaboard; also, to fix
passenger and freight rates on railroads running
west of the Missouri river, which are not to ex-
Z coed the average rates east Of said river to the
seaboard.
Mr.. Butler introduced a resolution to author
ize the President to send to the proposed exhibit
ton of American arts and manufactures, to be
held in London, Eng, in 1886. the government
exhibits now at the New Orleans Exposition,
and appropriating 800, 900 to defray the expenses.
Referred to the committee on foreign relations.
Mr.. Morgan, from the conference committee
on the Atlantic & Pacific railroad land forfeiture
bill, submitted a report stating that the com
mittee had been unable to agree. Ordered
printed.
Mr.. Garland reported favorably, from the
committee on judiciary, and the Senate passed
a bill detaching Grundy county, Tenn, from
the southern division of the district of East Ten
nessee and attaching ii to the Middle Tennessee
district.
Mr.. Hale represented the importance of tax
ing UP the navy appropriation bill at the earliest
moment. be explained the status of the bill,
and said that as is came from the House it re
newed for the coming half year the lump ap-
preparation made last session for the first half
of the year. This method of appropriation he
dapraaaAaJ .avaanf IN .angnc vvhnpn tho fIInn of
the dispos al of Congress made it impossible to
avoid it. The regular appropriation bill had
passed the Senate and was in conference at the
close of last session. A new conference com
mittee had been opened by the Senate at the
opening of the present session, and the House
invited to Join in a new conference. No notice
had been taken by the House of this courteous
request. The Senate was not, however, by this
stopped from bringing before the Senate and
sending to the House a regular appropriation
bill Civ ing the detailed items of the appropria-
tion bill.
On motion by Mr.. Morrill,, and against the OBJ
lection. of Mr.. Hale, who desired immediate con
sideratton of the naval appropriation bill, the
Senate went into executive session.
Mr.. Morrill, said the executive business was
pressing, and would be disposed of in time to
dispose of the naval bill this Afternoon.
The doors being closed, the nomination of Mr..
McCulloch. to be Secretary, was taken up, and
Mr.. Riddleberger continued his speech in oppo-
sition to his nomination. He began reading the
last annual report of Mr.. McCulloch, as Secretary
of the Treasury, and incidentally mentioned
that he should, on its conclusion, read the two
previous annual reports. After an hours de
bate. consideration of the nomination went over
till tomorrow, and Mr.. Riddleberger gave way
to a motion to go into executive session. Before
opening the doors. the nomination of Chas. f.
Ashley. of New York, to be agent of the Indi-
ans at the Colorado River agency, Arizona, was
confirmed.
When the doors were reopened, consideration
of the naval bill was proceeded with.
Mr.. Hale said it was a modification of the reg
Mar appropriation hill. perfected by the Senate
committee, and passed by the Senate last ses-
sion, and now substituted as an amendment for
the House bill.
After the bill had been read, Mr.. Mcpherson
moved to strike out the words, 1.-The authority TO
construct the same 1.-THE new ships) shall take
effect at once" land insert instead the words
provided however, authority TO construct the
same shall not take effect until the steel cruisers
now under construction shall have been fully
completed and tested" In view of the criticisms
made on the ships under construction, and The
fact that a new administration was coming into
office on the 4th of March, Mr.. Mcpherson
thought it more fitting that contracts should not
be made now,
Mr. Hale said tho present Secretary had no
desire to make contracts, and could not do so if
he wished, as the bill required sixty days adver-
sisement for bids; that the Secretary, however.
did not wish to risk his reputation with The
American people by doing that which the Sena-
tor from New Jersey tMr- McFherson) indicated
he might do. MIR. Hale would consent to strik-
ing out the words objected to, but would not
consent to the insertion of the other words.
Mr.. MePherson's amendment was not agreed
to-yeas 10, nays 35.
On motion of Mr.. Hale, the words objected to
by Mr.. Mcpherson were stricken out. After
some further debate, the bill was passed sub
stantially as it came from the committee.
In the course of the discussion Mr.. Morgan
criticised the work Of the gun-foundry board,
and said tho npOpln If this pOuDtrNr VvOD1d haf ne
tonished if they knew how rich the United
States We're in every element that went to the
making of the finest steel and the greatest guns.
American steel he said, was readily capable of
such development as would place it far ahead of
any steel in the world.
The Chair laid the Senate interstate com
merce bill before the Senate, and Mr.. Slater
submitted a proposed amendment, to be moved
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