National Republican., 1884-04-09
The Senate Begins Consideration Of the Naval
Appropriation Bill,
And Is Evidently Wiling to Provide
Modern High-Power Cannon.
The House Devotss tho Day 10 Legislatng for the
Benefit OF the Territories
Also Listens 90 1ish-Toned Discussion
Between MesBrs. White and Eudd.
THE SENATE.

PUBIC IanOS n report 10 accompany lne Dlll Ill
ready reported from that committee to quit the
title of settlers on the Des Moines river lands.
Mr. Hawley, from the committee on military
aats reported favorably the bill for the relief of
Gen. William W. Ayerill. 1t was placed on the
calendar.
Bills were introduced and appropriately referred
as follows
BY Mr.. Garland: To provide uniform mode of
procedure in civil cases IN the courts OF the United
States.
BY Mr.. Hill For the deposit in the treasury of
the receipts Of the money-order system and for
the payment OF its expenses out of appropriations.
BY Mr.. Bowen: TO provide for the estab blish'
ment of terms OF court In the district Of Colorado
The senate proceeded TO the calendar Of cases
The bill for the relief of the officers and crew Of
the Monitor who participated in the action with
The rebel i5EnGlSd MGT5pac. being objected to by
Mr.. Hale asked Mr.. Cockrell to withdraw the
objection but Mr.. Cockrell said II was useless to
occupy the time of the senate with the bill after
the recent unfavorable action of the house OF rep
resenatives on similar bill.
Thefollowing bills were reads third time and
passed!
the Rio Grande river between the cities OF Eagle
Pass, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Mexico.
To authorize the construction ofsa bridge over
the river between the cities Of Laredo Texas,
and Nuevo Laredo Mexico.
Several bills for private relief were objected to
Tho hour Of . o'clock arriving, the chair laid
before the senate the bill to provide for uniform
States.
Mr. Hale stated that Mr.. Honr, who had intro.
duced the bill, did not wish TO press 1t at this
time, and he MIR Halel would therefore move to
take up instead the naval appropriation bill.
Mr. Plumb and Mr.. Miller, Of New York, thought
the peuro pneumonia bill entitled to precedence
over the bankruptcy BILL having been made
special order for time previous to that fixed for
The chair announced that the wording OF the
rule was such as to require him, when the time
for special order had passed, to place before the
which been mQde "A
order
Mr. Hoar yielded to Mr.. Hale in order to allow
the naval bill to be taken up.
Mr. Hale then changed his motion, and asked
unanimous consent TO take up the naval appro-
MIR. Beck objected. He preferred that a vote be
taken, lIhe vote would bring the naval bill up
of right, and would not leave the bankruptcy bill
pending es the unfinished business.l
Mr.. Hoar characterized the objection as ian
outrageous and tyranncal peryersion" Of the
Mr.. Beck retorted that the language of the sena-
tor from Massachusetts was wholly unworthy of
any but him.
The senate agreed to take up the bill.
MIR. Beck said that 1t was more than an appro-
priation bill, and suggested to Mr. Hale the pro.
made in the bill as 1t came from the house.
Mr.. Hale replied that the custom had been to
explain items as they were objected TO.
Many of the amendment proposed by the senate
committee were agreed to.
On reaching the previous relatory to ordnance.
Mr. Morgan inquired what was being done in the
way of manufacturing modern guns.
Mr.. Hale replied that the facilities for building
guns were very limited, and 1t was desirable that
our facilities of that character should be improved
Twenty-Five years age we had the best guns in the
world.
Mr.. Morgan said that while he had been in tho
the senate we had been trying to get guns for our
seaooast deienses. but had yet !gotl nothing. lie
would ask the senate whether 1t was not time to
begin thinking over this matter. He thought
- nothing should bring deeper blush of shame to
the cheeks Of an American citizen than to that
fifty or sixty million citizens were unprepared
TO defend themselves on their seacoasts. The
ors s' than eo ahn R
of the petty maritime powers of the world Mr..
Morgan did not favor the conducting of nations
on war principles, but whoever, in the contem-
pation OF the at airs of nations, should altogether
ignore the times in which we live, and expect
to get along on Quaker principles. would make a
mistake. In order to preserve peace, we should
have means at Command TO satisfy other parties
@ II asy srHs ns Snd Win WIZ to
war was not right upon US, we were doing
nothing.
deiens eless condition Of the United States was
subject for most serious reflection. The easy,
happy -go,lucky way In which we had been going
along with regard TO our national deienses ought
Mr, Bayard said that from the appropriations
for ordnance contained in the bill under consld-
Grafton one would suppose we were legislating for
the kingdom of Lillput rather than for great
nation like the United States
Mr.. Hale agreed fully with this opinion.
Mr. Bayard inquired why not then take at
least one step toward remedying the evil? China
cost as much US the whole appropriation for ord
nance in this bill There being no demand from
the United states government, our private citizens
had had no incentive to invest their capital In
proper machinery for the manufacture OF heavy
ordnance OF a modern character. Whenever there
should be Il demand, private enterprise would be
directed to greater capacity for building heavy
guns. Mr.. Bayard would favor the purchase by
the government of large steam hammer and the
establishment OF foundry, which would leave
the government i'll position not to be entirely ut
the mercy Of private enterprise. government
Il powerful hammer m cd
to advantage at the same time that private enter
prise was encouraged
MIR. JONES' of Florida, favored appropriations
ior ordnance, but thought navy the first thing
hereafter moved appropriating $500 600 for the
purchase aud erection of plaut for casting forg.
;ns, roush 9orng; and tempering guns up to 100
tons, ready Tor delivery atgun factories including
adopted
Also, 100000 for plant for a gun factory for
building guns from 6'inch to l6.inGh callber, in
clTdiRg buildings aud shrinkage pot.
coast. 81 5000 OOO, 900 of annual commerce. wbieS
was rapidly increasing, and resources and clpabii.
ties that almost beggared description. Yet we
our seacoasls We're utterly defenseless. Yet since
1861 s3S5OOOOoO had been appropriated by congress
ofthe United States could be powdered into dust
by the guns OF foreign powers, and we could not
make ~ attempt TO prevent them, What
litical parties there was one thing that
al parties could agree upon, and that was
placing our seacoasts In proper condition of de-
tense. Italy, the land of maGaroni and lazzaroni
had the largest war ship aud the largest gun on
the ocean, while, this great nation had
cookie shells and naval pleasure boats,
and no guns that amounted to anything
Yet We were called upon to expeud
more money TO be paid to the same contractor
John Roachl, who was now building for us Yes-
sells which high authorities pronounced defect
i've. Mr., Vest was not willing to give money to
the present secretary OF the navy, 10 be by him
handed over to John Roach, Tor whom, according
70 statements mude on the floor OF the senate,
that secretary had at one time been the paid lob,
byist
Mr. Vest proceeded to speak on the merchant
marine, the decay of which he said was due to
me policy which sustained such men Us John
Roach, No other civilized nation existed to-day
that had not abandoned tnnt policy,
. While on this topic Mr. Hale suggested that, as
the committee on foreign relations had some mat
ters which 1t wished TO submit TO the senate in
executive session, II might suit Mr.. Vests con-
VenienGe 70 continue his remarks to-day,
MI, Vest agreeing, Mr., Hale moved that the
senate go into executive session. The motion was
agreed TO, and the senate at $40 p. m. went into
executive session, and when the doors were re-
opened al 5'b5 p. M. adjourned
THE HOUSE.
Mr.. ONein and Mr.. Randall presented resOu-
tions OF tho Vessel owners and Captains assoca.
tion, Of Philadelphia, urging an appropriation
for sustaining photographic offices in the seaport
cities, ana for publishing pilot charts. Referred.
The house then, as special order (at l9lb) |
went into committee of the whole (AIr Blackburn
iu the chair on bills relating 10 the territOues
The hTst plll taken up was one to authorize the |