The Portland daily press., 1884-07-07

Mr.. Burnes of Missouri from the conference COM
mittee on diplomatic bill reported the continued
disagreement on one point in controversy the
clause appropriating $260, 1000 for the Nicaraguan
water way project. Mr. Burns opened the discus
sion ny statement OF the Monroe doctrine and by
the assertion that the Clayton Bulwsr treaty had
not been abrogated. Near the close of a brilliant
administrator OF tAe government certain rights
were obtained by twelve well known American
citizens to construct canal across the Isthmus in
Nicaragua and in the terms of the concession GER
tain work was to be done on or before the Oath of
October next. These twelve gentlemen were over.
taken by misfortune and the suggestion came hur-
redly to the appropriation committee that the con-
eesslon was Immensely snccessful that lit might be
made great prize to be drawn from the diplomatic
lottery OF the great American republic and that all
Congress 9a0 70 90 was to submit itself thoroughly
TO the Judgment and wisdom and integrity of the
administration in order to secure this prize. Mr..
Burnes then gave brief history of the conferences
on the subject between the appropriation commit
tee and the committee foreign affairs where the
question was asked, "Wnat would become
Of the Clayton Bulwer treaty?' The answer
BHlwer - treaty, and that correspondence
had been going on with regard to the propriety of
aprogatng IT, put no formal steps had been taken TO
that end and with that treaty over us we would be
compelled to do violence to our high character as
people we secretly, without notice, attempted the
violation OF that treaty. While one of the party
was bravely, boldly and openly asserting 1t had not
been violated and that it should not be abrogated
it had been suggested that it. would be an adyan.
tageous trade for the government to give "good
round sum- for the rights which were acquired by
the eoneessonaries. 70 that proposition the APP
pfOpI1dtlOn cOulllbC6e mao promptly answered that
not one dollar would this Congress give for any
such thing. Subsequently the suggestion was made
that the negotiation would be entirely with another
government and that not a dollar of the $3.50 900
should be paid to those twelve gentlemen. Follow
ing close on the heels of the $260,000 to come
either 81 200, 900, or good round sum-" Then
If all this were not child's play, il meant SIS 000-
600 for the experiment of building the canal or
according to other engineers, $500, 100000. In
conclusion he criticized the action of the Republi-
side of the House in pressing this matter upon
the House at q time when the session was drawing
to close, and when the Chicago convention was
drawing near.
Mr.. Washburn favored the appropriations and
characterized as entirely the impression
snat any part OF the S2oo,ooO was to be paid to
Mr.. Eaton Of Connecticut thought the country
would be false to ITSELF to its glory and to its honor
II 1t failed to take steps to secure the right of way
through the Isthmus.
At o'clock the House took another recess until
On rsassembling the Mexican pension bill was dis
cussed until p. M, when further recess was
taken until o'clock.
After recess the House c0ncurred in the Senate
amendments to half dozen private pension bills.
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania then presented the
conference report on the general deficiency bill,
PIRATES S. 1896 616 being $274 S49 In excess of the
amount carried by the bill as it passed the House.)
MIR. Randall then submitted the disagreeinQ con-
ference report on the naval appropriation BILL and
it was agreed to. Mr.. Randall said the committee
on both sides was determined, and but one way was
open-that the support of the navy be provided for
temporarily. He then submitted bill making the
temporary provision for the naval service for six
months ending Dec. 81 1884. The bill appro-
PIRATES one half Of the Of money land for like
purpos es and the continuing time provisions relat-
ing thereto) as were appropriated for the service of
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1884 subject to all
conditions that were imposed by said act, provided
that nethng is appropriated by this for special
ocean surveys and publication thereof" or for the
purchase and manufacture after full investigation
and test in the United States under direction of the
Secretary of the Navy, of torpedoes adapted to
naval warfare, or of the right to manufacture the
and for iXturas and manhinarv for
operating the same" Appropriation is made for
the maintenance of yards and docks for six months
and half The sum appropriated for continuing
the work on the new steel cruisers is still appro
priated for that purpose.
During the discussion which followed Mr. Reed of
Maine pointed out that in his speech on the naval
bill July L, Mr.. Cox of New York had ascribed
certain views upon the subject of new cruisers to
Admiral Porter which that gentleman had denied
expressing. Mr.. Reed found that in the speech
printed in the Record on that July /, Mr.. Cox
had made certain statements which he afterward
quoted in speech as having been made by Admiral
Porter. Mr.. Reed compared Mr.. Cox with George
~, who labored under the Authorization that he
had participated in the battle of Waterloo and in
sisted on the Duke of Wellington endorsing his
statements. The gentleman from New York who
had been at the head of the committee on naval
affairs, and who was sometimes subject to halluc-
nation had evidently devoted his mind to the
subject of the navy he had evidently become SO
fired with enthusiasm, and had so absorbed himself
in the subject that he had forgotten his
atty and for the moment had imagined himself to
be Lord High Admiral of the American navy.
Mr.. Cox said that if ignorance and impudence
made statesman, the man from Maine would be a
Bismarck. He had quoted Admiral Porter from
public reports. He had tried to show that the
cruisers were so and so, and he had proved it by
Admiral Porter, and at the last moment his kindly
friend from Indiana Calkips) had yielded to this
man from Maine, all reeking with meanness
towards the Democratic party, to attack small
man in the House. He liked to be good on Sunday,
but who was there in the United States of America
or in the everlasting universe, who could be good
that?
Mr.. Reed replied that the gentleman had made a
CHARACTERISTIC Speech in which he had avoided the
issue. The charge he had made was that the gen
tleman had put into the mouth of Admiral Porter
words which the Admiral had not spoken and he
had proved it over the signature of the Admiral
The gentleman had retorted with forced personal
allusion.
''You are not as honest man as L am" broke in
Mr.. Cox. you run railroad business; 1 never
MOI retorted Mr.. Reed, .sand the gentleman
never ran anything that required a head The
gentleman from New York pleads his size. 1 admit
it; if he pleads litteness in every other respect
will admit it. Here is plain charge and it is re-
ported in the Democratic newspapers that an
admiral in the navy has made certain statements.
the gentleman from New York himself made them,
and that he caused them to be promulgated all over
the country the statement of an ADMIRAL
''That is not true" cried Mr.. Cox.
sit is poor, pitiful apology" retorted Mr. Reed.
The matter was then dropped, and MIR. Randall
made some remarks concerning the civil administra
ton of the navy at the conclusion of which the bill
was passed.
Mr.. Holman presented the conference report on
the legislative bill, and it agreed to. Crhe bill
as agreed to contains an appropriation of $4,000
for Senators clerks.)
The appropriation committee was granted leave to
sit during recess.
After the announcement of several changes in the
personnel of committees the House took up the bill
providing for naval service with the amendment
placed upon it by the Senate,
Mr.. Randall moved to non-concur in the amend
ment. Agreed to-
Mr.. Hiscock of New York offered q resolution
which was agreed to- providing for appointment of
seven representatives to sit during recess and to
make inquiry relative to the manufacture of guns
of high power and metal plates and other material
for construction of vessels of and also inquire
into the manufacture and building of the same
whether by government or by private persons. The
Speaker appointed committee Messrs. Randall,
Hewitt, of New York, Burnes, Crisp, Hiscock. Reed
and Phelps.
The House then at 1906 took recess until 10
O'Clock Monday.