New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-13
THE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
A DEBATE on THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL.

A DEBATE on THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
WASHINGTON, Feb, 12.-In the House to-day
Mr. Turner OF Georgia, gave notice that he would to-
morrow after aiding of the Journal ask the House
10 proceed to the consideration OF the Mississippi con-
tested election case OF Chalmers VS.. Manning.
On motion OF Mr. Stewart of Vermont, resolution was
adopted directing the Committee Expenditures in the
Department of Justice In making investigation into the
expenditures accounted prosecution OF charged
with frauds the Government and especially In the
Star Route mail service, TO inquire into the manner ID
which such being conducted and into the
conduct efficiency good faith of all officials or per
sons in the pay of the Government In connection with
such and whether guilty parties have beer
duly prosecuted.
At o'clock the House went Into Committee of ts
Whole Mr. Converse of Ohio in tho chair the Naval
Appropriation bill.
Mr. Calkins, Of Indiana confined his remarks upon
the bill to criticism of such OF its provisions
az he regarded as unwise calling attention
frat TO the provdon that hereafter of the
ces In the various grades in the line and staff corps OF
shall be reduced TO the number fixed for the several
grades Of such corps by the Naval act OF 1882.
stand perfectly STILL far promation concerned,
for period. of from I'VE to a., seven ven
aopropriae sufficient amount Bureau OF Nayiga-
ION and he argued 6 that t6e aPBroPation should 90
this subject he ncdenty favored the consultation Of
of the Bureau Construction and Repair and the Bureau
OF Steam Engineering He objected to the provision that
no part OF the appropriated Tor the Bureau OF Con-
striction and Repair shall be applied TO the
repairs Of any wooden ship when the estimated
cost OF the repairs shall exceed 80 per cent
OF the estimated cost Of new ship or
the same size He criticised the bill for diyerng the I'M
expended balance or the appropriation made last year for
the monitors, and reapprOpriang Tor the
Bureau of Steam Engineering; and contended that the
MoAadnOck" the Pacific coast. should DO put In as
forward a condition tho three monitors on the
Atlantic coast. The appropriation for competing
equipment outfits for the new cruisers
was rdlculousy small while the failure OF the Commit
tee on Appropriations make appropriation for ord
nance outfit a great mistake, and when tue ne"
cruisers were finished there would be nothing 10 put upon
them except smooth-bOre popguns There were
millions dollars worth OF property on the Pacific coast
and the little country OF Chill could three weeks de-
stroy every dollars worth Chill had i've armored vessels
while the United St9tes had not vessel a1Oat which
could stand before of them for ten minutes. Put the
thirty vessels United States together in front Of one
of these Gillian vessels and she would sink every Que or
them 1t that the United states was not In the
presence enemy, but the fact remained that she do
poeketed insults not only from Chill but from almost
every country face OF the globe because she Ina
no navy by which she could enforce her rights.
Mr. Randall inquired whether the new cruisers we're
not intended prey enemys commerce rather IMAM
to fight. 49, -. 4. - .
start In the right direction.
The Committee then rose. ~ .
Mr. Lacey OF MICHIGAN, introduced bill for the survey
of water route connect the waters OF Lake Michigan
and Detroit River. Referred.
The House then, at ago, adjourned.