Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-10
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL
MIR. VEST DEBATES THE NAVAL
APPROPRIATION BILL.

Inc hhole Day Devoted to Discussion,
but no Action Taken-PubIfc Build
ings the Target at which the Repre-
sentatives Directed Their Oratorical
Fire.
WASHINGTON, April 9.-In the Senate
to-day, Mr.. Hill, from the Committee on
Post Offices and Post Roads, reported
fayorably the original bill to establish
postal telegraph system. Mr.. Hill re-
marked that the committee were unani-
nous as to the first ten sections of the
bill, which relate to doing the work by
contracts with the existing companies,
but that minority of the committee were
opposed to the sections relating to the
construction or purchase of lines by the
government.
The Senate again resumed considera-
ton OF the naval appropriation bill, and
Mr. vest continued his speech of yester-
day. Although we have no effective navy
at present he was opposed to putting any
money in the hands of the present Secre-
tary of the NAVY to construct one. he
cause 1t would pass into the hands of
John Roach. Referring to the SHIPPING
Dill reported to the Senate from the Com
mlttee on Commerce, Mr.. Vest said that
1t was like empiricism, which mistOOk a
deep seated disease for a mere cutaneOus
eruption, and treated the patient with
cutIcura and moderate doses OF sulphur.
Free ships, be SAID, were not what we
wanted but reform rather of the whole
protective system.
Mr.. Hale ventured to recall to Mr..
vests attention the fact that there was
nothing III the naval appropriation bill
relating to the tariff or merchant marine.
Mr.. Vests speech took the form of a
debate between himself and Messrs. Hale,
Edmunds, Bayard, and others. This de-
bate continued until O'Clock when the
Senate went into executive session, and
soon afterwards adjourned
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day, on motion of Mr..
CulbersOn, of Texas, the bill amending
the act regulating the removal of causes
from State to Federal courts, was made
the continuing special order for April II.
On motion Of Mr.. Dunn, of Arkansas. a
bill was passed providing for the adoption
of revised international regulations for
preventing collisions at sea.
Then struggle arose as to which of
the many pending special orders should
obtain precedence of consideration. Mr..
Dngley, of Maine, essayed to bring up
the shipping bill, but his effort was un-
successful, his motion being defeated by
l6 yeas to 1876 nays. Mr.. Reagan. of
Texas, met with like fate, his motion to
consider the Interstate commerce bill
being voted down by 101 yeas to 100 navs.
The Speaker ruled that the unfinished
business was the Oregon Central land
grant bill, but friends of various
bills providing for the erection
of public buildings united under the
leadership of Mr.. Stockslager, of Indiana.
and at 2:45 O'Clock the House. by a vote of
100 yeas to 81 NAYS, went INTO committee
Of the whole, with Mr.. Welborn, of Texas.
IN the chair on public building bills
Even then, however, there was no plain
sailing, the first bill called up by Mr..
Stockslager, for aepublic building at Keo-
kuk, Ia, being objected to by Mr.. ThOmD-
son, OF kentucky, who contended that
under the rules the objection must be re-
ported to the House and passed upon bv
that body. Mr.. Thompson was oyeTruled.
but much time was wasted IN debate
upon his point, and also upon the bill
ltsell when 1t was reached in due form.
Ii calls for total appropriation of $780,
900. a large number of amendments re-
ducing the. ultimate cost of the building
were offered by Messrs. Holman and
Warner, of Ohio, and seyerally defeated. !
but it was only after six tedious votes bv
the tellers that the bill was laid aside
with favorable recommendation. The
next bill was one apprOpriating 100000
for the erection of a public building at
Waco, Texas. This was bitterly opposed
by Mr.. Warner, on the ground that the
population and business of that city did
not Justify the large appropriation called
Tor, ana especially expressed his disap-
probation Of linking these bills !
together like sausages. There
might be some good meat, but
there was plenty Of bad. 1t was the
worst form Of legislation, and until this
special order was vacated he would resort
to every parliamentary method to defeat
these bills.
Mr.. Buckner, of Missouri, also entered
his protest against this species of legisla-
ton. The Democrats stood to-day exact
ly where the Republicans had stood two
years ago. They were putting on the
cast-of hahiliments of their friends.
After another very lively debate the bill
was acted upon favOrably. The commit
tee at 5:l5 O'Clock rose and reported the
keokuk and Waco bills to the House.
Without action the House at $50 O'Clock
took a recess until tomorrow morning at
IL o'clock.