National Republican., 1884-02-29
More Debate in the Senate on the Bill for New
Steel Ships.
Shall They Be Built at the Navy Yards
the Question Now,
The House Passes the PleurO-Pneumonia Bill and
Pays Tribute 10 the Late Mr.. Haskel's Memory.
Resolution OF the Liberal Union OF tho
German Parliament Read,
TIE SENATE.

resolution, concerning mortgages, leaSeS, running
arrangements, and other traffic contracts made by
the Union Pacific railroad since March, 1873.
Also, joint resolutions of the legislature of Ohio,
urging passage of u law for the equalization Of
bounties and increase Of pensions
Mr.. sabin presented joint resolutions OF tn leg
head Of navigation ofthe Minnesota river at New
Ulrn Brown county, Minnesota.
Bills were introduced and appropriately re-
By Mr. Ingalls,. To relieve the members Of the
original Fitz'John Porter court-martal of the OBJ
LEGATIONS Of secrecy us TO the votes of such men,
bcis.
ny Mr.. Beck: To regulate the retiring Of army
officers
by Mr. Hawley: To eouallzc tho rank and pay
OF certain staff officers Of the navy.
Also, to provide for the examination of officers
ofattllery before promotion.
BY Mr.. Call To provide for the relief OF persons
whose property has been conilscated.
by Mr.. Pendleton To facilitate the settlement
and development of resources of the territory of
Alaska, and to open an overland communication
Herewith.
In Introducing this bill Mr.. Pendleton stated
that he did so by request, aud did not want 10 be
held responsible for its contents.
The president pro TEN. designated Messrs
Conger and Coke to be visitors on behalf of the
senate to the United States military academy ut
West Point.
Mr.. Ransom, from the committee on commerce,
reported fayorably the bill to authorize the pur.
chase of a wharf for the use Of the government at
The senate proceeded, under the Ave. minute
rule to the consideration of bills not objected to-
AT the suggestion OF Mr., Blair the bill intro
duced by him and reported from the committee
on education and labor, to aid in the establish
ment and temporary, support of common 5chools
was made the special order for March ~, subject
70 the special order already made for that day,
being the bill for the relief Of FItzJohn Porter.
After passing u bill for the relief of Mrs Eliza
Howard Puwers, president during the war OF the
Florence Nightingale association of New Jersey
BY reiunding to her $500 expended from her own
funds Tor the benefit OF the soldiers, the senate. on
motion Of Mr.. Hale, resumed consideration of the
bill TO authorize the construction of steel vessels
After some remarks by Mr.. Mcpherson by way
OF correction Of statements made by tho pro-
motors OF the bill regarding the ships already Or
dered built, Mr. Jones, oi Florida, said that two
years ago, when the proposition was made to re-
Tire the old wooden ships, the understanding of
the government and of the country was that the
policy to be pursued was to replace those vessels
with new and better ships. And now when, as
result of that decision, the duty Of congress was
plain, and the attempt was made to build new
ship. objections were made and criticisms in
duged IN Of the course OF retirement of the old
Mr. Miller of California, expressed himself as
satisfied with the action by which congress
urea lhe old wooden SHIPS, whose expense for ie-
pair would be more than 20 per cent Of the cost OF
new ship. To go into battle with those Old
wooden ships would be like arming with bows
and arrows men who We're going into action to
fight force armed with modern arms.
Mr McPhersou inquired If Mr.. Miller would
built to venture into II naval eng cement with
any Of the formidable ironclads OF other coun-
tries.
Mr. Miller said no. He did not suppose any,
boiy expected II cruiser to engage an irpnclad.
It was not T. be supposed that We were going to
have complete navy when we had secured u few
cruisers. We should not he able to contend with
the navies Of the other great powers until we
should have ironcladS of cons ruction ana power
similar to those of the oiher great powers II we
did not do something now there would be a delay
oitwo years, and under the working OF the pres.
ent aw according to the uvernent of Admiral
Porter, tn re would not iu four years be q wooden
ship IN commission III our navy.
Mr. Mcpherson read statements of witnesses
made before The Committee naval n ffnir3
ing thai II would be six and not four years.
Mr.. Miller thought tina even in that case the
emergency called for the earliest aci ion. He was
In iayor OI making liberal appropriations for the
building qfa avy. lie wa. IN favor at construct.
ing American mcu-oi-war from Amehu an mate
rlai, by American workmen, 10 be manned hy
American svamen. Here we were, IL nation OF
between fifty aud sixty mill ons of people, occu.
pylhg continent, win coast live greater in eX-
tent than the crcumIeTence Of the globe, with itS
Multitudin0ls buys, inles, sounds and deep
TivetWHys, fringed and d cUrated by great cities
aud prosperous towls-a young nation, II
might be, Tut a na,iuu growing with Il
marvellous growth and ~ engtening with pro
dislous strength II nation proud imperlOus, SELF.
sntistlcd. ann II was time that 4 that nation
wi, he'd 10 axe Us pace among the great ma ions
OF the earth aud contend with them for The COM
mcrce of this western hcmisl here, II should be
pTep9i cd 10 NEE the egcroGchments % those who
may become jealous OF the Unit Il suites.
The example oi Tree government, free institu-
tiuns is spreading the Guntagiun oi free thought
aud feedom Of action among AL the peoples of
the globe, ana is eugeudcring al instinct OF
hutIed, mali Q, ana unfriuudlnes OF imp .Iinlists
ara monarchsts I rou!hout The world. There
was such tn NJ, Mr.. VI Her con inu d. as ma.
tiou pride and national no or. lie wanted to
Sc Anne lea ready to resent any insults thai might
be heaped up her come iroui what quarter tney
Mr., Butler read II letter which he had Just re
CelNed IIom Rear admiral Il dg rs, nuw on the
lei,rSd list OF the navy. Ia this eller The rear
admiral states mat there was evident misnppre-
tension as 70 the purchase by England OF Kiupp
cannon. He did not mink there was one Krlnp
gun mounted on an English sht tp or IN an Eu glsn
iorliCaIiOn. Tint wise county was rich in gun
makers, and It's Whitehead torpedocs We're also
made III England. We had several tn uusand
miles OF coast aud uot good gun tor its defense
ant what we most ncetU ed was gunmakcrs and
plant for making guns, NJ country, The admirals
lett'r continued, was wise IN failing to provide
the means OF forging Its own method of de.ensG
Even the strongest free trader, would agree that
the country 81 ould foster tue ability OF It's own
people to provide Tor their defense Efficient guns
could not be made quickly. They would have to
be made TO order ana would take time. well
armed nation was much less likely to be attacked
thun nation that was practically uunrmed
MI hawley remarked that England hal It great
by IN American patent, England required that
everyone OF them should he built ~ EIg aud.
MIR. BuyaId supported the bill of the COMMITTEE
and was unwilling 10 vote for the amendment OF
Mr., Mcpherson. II COHid not be denied that there
had lecu great amount OF mHhdminis ration In
connection with the expenditure of funds for the
navy during the la I eighteen years, bu with re-
gald to the question oI naval efficiency, there had
been an absolute revolution in naval nrChiteC-
ture, ana although the United States had made
the first departure from wooden to iron ships
for naval purposes IN tie buiI ding of the
monitor, yet they had not kept pace with
other nations in disPl0Ciug wooden by iron shi ps
the country has come to tho conclusion
however, that something shout be done
toward putting the navy in an efficient cOndl-
ton. MI BayHId reviewed the action o. congress
iOr the last few years with regard to the navy,
aud continued that it WAS impossible for senators
to ignore hat there was, for one reason or an
other, a great deal OF dslruSt IN the head Of the
navy department. In the opinion Of many men
the Presidents selection Of an inCuml ent for that
position was not Il wise one. This was not IL ques-
tiOn Of personal assault but OF the llluess Of tho
person lor the place. There was no hing IN the
hnttccdents or requirements OF the indytdu |
lAir, Bayardl would be reluctant tp give pain 10
any man, but these were puylG questions, and
should be dircussed In a plain, open, and public
manner. II was in no other spirit that he referred
10 TINS subject, II partly lOr ths reason that
congress had placed restrictions upon the build.
lng of the shll now IN course of construction.
MI Hale here remarked that he had given no.
tce OF mn amendment TO the pending blIl, which
would throw tho protection OF the acts o 1852 and
1888 around the ships now pgOpO'ed and that
amendment was itself suggested by the secretary
OF the navy,
hr, BayGrd was glad to hear this He held II to
be part of the duty of legislators to p' event sus
picioh with regard TO matters involving the eX-
nendlture OF money, and IL was well kuOWn mat
there hRd bean suspicion and great deal OF
angry ana perhaps some unjust comment hereto
lore with regard to naval contracts. Mr.. BnyUrd
quoted Admiral POrters statement 10 the Ell ct
that ron sLlp' would last fuy years without any
substantial repair, except of the maChincry, and
uuing the imp rhnco of having capacity Mt
home for building our naval vessels Referring
IR n luft