Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-28
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL
NAVAL AFFAIRS STILL UNDER
FIRE IN THE SENATE.

ships Helpful in Preserving Peace
PleurO- pneumonia Still the Topic in
the House.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-In the Senate
to-day the Public Buildings Committee
reported fayorably Mr.. Browns bill
authorizing the erection of public build
ing at Augusta, Ca, at a cost not exceed
ing S2O0,000 for the building and site
thereof.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Morgan
for the appropriation Of money for the
improvement Of the bay and harbor Of
Mobile, Ala. 1t provides that 100000 be
made Immediately available for continu-
ing the improvement of the ship canal in
the bay of Mobile.
Mr.. Van Wick offered the following
resolution, for which he asked immediate
consideration:
ResOlUed That the Committee on Post Of
fees and Post Roads be directed to inquire
whether at any time the Western Union and
Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph COMPANY or
any officers or employees Of said companies.
have entered into a contract or negotiation
for the purpose of consolidating said compa-
MES, or making combination for any pur-
pose.
III an W 9Ch tADldlutU IudI SOiue
days age he had offered a resolution, con-
tining the time Of the negotiation referred
to within one year. The evidence of DR..
NOryin Green yesterday before the Com
mittee on Post Offices and Post Roads had.
he said, clearly established the fact that
contract was made and executed two
years ago, but the Elder Garrett had de-
feated the operation of the contract,
He desired to know why.
4 flor q Hahafa Nv MoCr,.~ po
land, Platt. Ingalls, and Hill, Mr.. Van
Wyck's resolution was, without the OBJ
lection Of that gentleman, referred to the
Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads.
SHERMAN AFTER MONEY.
Mr.. Sherman, from the subcommittee
on Privileges and Elections, submitted a
report to the effect that that committee
were unable to continue its work because
there was no money with which to pay
witnesses. The joint resolution appropri-
ating money for the committee had, Mr.
sherman reported, been sent on the 2lst of
February TO the House of Representatives
and had not yet been acted upon by that
body. The Secretary of the Senate had
refused to pay vouchers for the expenses
OF number of witnesses on the ground
that there was no money available for the
purpose. The committee had. therefore.
declined to summon further witnesses.
and would suspend work until furds
were provided, when they would continue
and speedily complete the investigation.
TEST OATHs REPEALED.
The House bill repeating the test oath
was taken up and passed, after being mod
flied by an amendment proposed by the
Senate Judiciary Committee, providing
that no person who held commission i'm
the United States army or navy before the
war, and was afterward engaged in the
military, naval or civil service of the So
called Confederate States, shall be ap-
pointed to any position in the army or
navy Of the United States.
JONES ON NAVAL AFFAIRS.
Consideration of the bill to provide for
the construction of new steel cruisers for
the navy was resumed. and Mr. Jones. of
Florida, addressed the Senate. While
agreeing with much that had been said bv
the opponents Of the bill with respect to
extravaganza and bad management in the
past conduct of the government, so far as
the navy was concerned, be could not, he
said, agree with them in their opposition
to the bill before the Senate.
The ships there provided to be built had
been recommended by Il naval board COM
posed of experienced officers. As to the
details of construction we would, i'm the
nature Of things, be obliged to trust to the
skill and patriotism of such men. Sena-
tors could not expect to set up their own
judgment in a matter of this technical
character against the lifelong experience
Of naval officers.
WHY A NAVY Is NEEDED.
Upon the general question of necessity
for greater efficiency in the navy, while
he would not say that the United States
wanted any such fleets as those of Eng
and and France, he would not hesitate
to say that it was most imperative public
duty to give the country at the earliest
practicable moment navy that would be
able to sustain the national honor. There
was not ship now in commission in our
navy that could compare fay0rably with
one Of the naval vessels even of Brazil.
[ Undoubtedly this was a great republic
with a great moral power, but what do
the other nations of the earth care about
moral power. When an emergency should
arise all that they would care about would
be the element OF force. The troops of no
nation were going to invade this country.
for they knew that they could not destroy
it, but they could seriously tarnish our
national honor by their naval forces,
and if diShOnOr We're e.er brought upon
us through foreign fleet. the American
people would never forgive the public
men who had neglected to place the navy
in a condition of reasonable efficiency.
There were things that were more valua-
bic than dollars and cents, and one Of the
most valuable of the possessions of the
American people was their national honor.
The United States had become the place
Of refuge of oppressed millions from
all parts of the world. Under the
inspiration of liberty the people of every
land had sought protection under the flag
Of this republic.
The consequent exceptional position
which the United States occupied toward
other nations might at any time lead to
complications. He would
therefore, favor the development of our
navy, not for the purposes of war, but as
a greater guarantee of peace.
Mr.. Cockrell inquired If the country
had been or was going to be attacked:
Mr.. Hale replied that it was easy to ask
such questions. The country had been
going along for nineteen years in an easy
''happy 90 lucky" way, which. Mr.. Hale
presumed, suited the gentleman from
(COckrell), but he thought it
hardly probably that it would be able to
get along so well during the next twenty
years. This measure was not meant to
invite war, but to avert it, A respecta-
BILE naval force on the waters of the globe
was one of the best means of avoiding in
difficulties.
THE NAVAL DEPARTMENTS GUILT.
Mr.. Beck said that he expected to vote
for the amendment, and did not on that
account propose to be characterized as an
opponent of the naval development of the
country. He criticised severely the past
policy of the Navy Department of navy
yards, and insisted that as long as the
government could import material at an
average OF 40 per cent. less than private
individuals, the navy yards should, and
under proper management would be able
to build naval ships more cheaplv than
private individuals could possibly do.
THE TARIFF IN THE CASE.
Mr.. Butler stated that, so far as the tariff
question involved was concerned. he
would join Mr.. Beck in his regret. but we
were dealing with things as we found
them.
Mr.. Jones, of Florida, inquired of Mr..
Beck whether he would favor sending
abroad for ships.
Mr.. Morgan said that we did send
abroad tor almost everything we put into
them-Our guns, our steel, etc.
Mr. Beck stated that a great majority
OF the American people were willing that
we should get things wherever we could !
get them best and most cheaply. We had
the right to send to Germany for guns, to
Austria for t0TpedOes, and to England for
if we could get those things
more cheapy there than elsewhere. and |
we had our own merchants, whom we
paid as well as anybody else did. All !
other nations bought their goods where
they could get them most cheaply, Eng
land used Krupp guns made in Germany
and Whitehead tOrpedOes made in Aus
fria and GOT pVprVtb1Dp plSa whore cbo