New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-09
DEBATING THE GREELY BILL.
ANOTHER DISAGREEMENT IN COMMITTEE.
Mr.. HALEs EFFORT TO INDUCE THE SENATE TO RE-
cEDE FROM ITS PosITIoN--A PARLIAMENTARY
TAyGLE.

before Congress now for more than two weeks. 10
has had the fullest discussion 10 could possibly
have in the Senate. IL received most thorough
consideration in the House. Its provisions nave
been examined and scrutinzed Objections 70 10
have been voted down again and again by largo
maIorities. And yet, in spite of all tins, Senator
Saulsburys amendment providing that volunteers
only shall be sent on the expedition has been the
means Of delaying final action on the measure, and
has furnished the opposition with an opportunity
to antagonize it on the same grounds upon which
they were repeatedly defeated whenever II mas
come up for discussion. Two conference commit
tees have been unable TO agree on the volunteer
provision, and though the Senate showed will
ingness today to recede from its position, it
prevented from doing so by an unlocked for com
bination of circumstances which made action upon
the bill impossible.
The report of the conference committee stating
that the conferess had been unable to agree on tho
Senate amendment providing for volunteers only.
together with the bill presented TO the Senate
in the course of the morning hour. Mr.. Hale, IN
moving to take the matter up for discussion, said
that If nothing was done now the matter would 10
stranged by the attitude taken by the Senate.
Every further effort TO relieve Greely would cease
Upon his own responsibility and not at the sugges-
tOn of the conference committee he wished 20
test the sense of the Senate the question OF per-
sisting In the adoption Of the amendment. The
same question, II was true, had been passed upon
before but time was pressing and he thought that
the additional light which the Navy Department
was able to throw upon the matter would induce
Senators to reconsider the question. AS lar as
the crew is concerned, Mr.. Hale said, II
was the intention Of the Secretary TO order new
enlistment or re-enlstment of the men, and out OF
81 10 oh
relief party In the case of tie officers
DO difficulty would be encountered, as there were
only too many willing 10 go. He appealed to tho
Senate not TO leave this matter in suspense any
longer but TO take some action Every twenty
four hours wasted would lessen the chances Of sue
cess Speaking with great eaTnestuess on the sub
ject, he wound up his remarks by moving that tie
Senate recede from its position and pass the bill 40
IL came from the House
DISCUSSING A PARLIAMENTARY POINT.
Before the motion could be put it was discovered
that the BILL though lying at that moment on the
desk before the presiding officer, was not Before the
Senate In parliamentary sense. theoretically 10
was still in possession Of the House, and no motion
upon it could be entertained in the Senate.
discussion ensued 10 ascertain where Tire
bill really was. Mr. Edmunds laid down tLe
law. Mr. Hale and others made several suggestions
as to the best modes of sending the bill back to tina
House and securing It's return and reconsIderatlon
In the Senate, and before u decision was given hr.
Ingalls, was seen to restlessly In his seat, sd-
lust his spectaces aDd rise with his hands behind
his back-a favorite attitude with him whenever be
wishes to give anybody "piece of his mind" He
said that he had in some newspaper the state
ment that the Secretary of the Navy had bought
vessel in Newfoundland and entered into negota-
tions for the purchase Of two others, one in Scot
land and the other In England. He wanted 70
know by what authority the Secretary was doing
this and If fleets were TO be purchased by him or
built without the approval of Congress.
Mr.. Hale replied that the Secretary Of the Navy
and the Secretary Of War had Jointly assumed tbs
responsibility for this step. He explained that
there were few vessels to be had that were fit fer
Arctic service These could be got as
this season of the year only BE-
cause in short time from now they
would be engaged in the sealing fisheries and not
return until the beginning of summer, too late Ia
bo available for the proposed expedition. If they
were not secured now and if they were allowed TO
depart they could not be reached later on. There
was 10 desire on the Part Of the Secretary &c act
without authority of Congress He thought that
under the circumstances his action Ia tho matter
was justified by the necessities of the case. With
some bitterness he remarked that if Greedy and his
men were left to die he hoped they would die 10 q
parliamentary manner, as long as the Senate could
not consent to break its rules IN occasion liks
this.
MR. INGALLS, BELIEVES IN THOROUGH DISCUSSION.
Mr.. Edmuuds finally consented TO put amoticn
asking unanimous consent that Mr.. Hale be au-
thorized to move that the Senate recedo from its
position Mt. Ingalls objected and another discus
sion arose as to the best method Of bringing the bin
before the Senate After 1t had been allowed 20
simmer down, Mr. Ingalls, removed his attack.
Mr.. Halo. hs asserted, had constantly Impressed
upon tho Senate the danger of delay in this matter,
the necessity there was of acting promptly BE
tMr Haie) knew that an expedition could not sail
before May and If he charged the Senate with tri-
fling he stated what not bone out by the facts.
What motive was there in tins strange persistence
to induce the Senate to take hasty action Lleuten-
ant Greedy could not be reached now, and II was
better to discuss the matter thoroughly now than
to rush headlong into an ill-cOnsidered plan of re-
lief which was sure TO tnrn out dlsastro1sly. In
the course of his remarks he expressed his resent
mrnt nj the uu warranted action Of the Secretary Of
tho Navy in instucting the House conierees TO de.
feat the Senate amendments Mhen he "a thst'
Mr.. Hale denied that any such message
had been sent. The Secretary =, lad
merely written to the Speaker of the House
saying that the passage OF. tho smondment
would cndanger the success OF the enterprise, but
there was attempt 10 influence or prevent an
agreement In the committee
With pile of records In front of him, Mr.; ingalls,
fortified his position by saying that the CHAIRMAN
of the Appropriations Committee had stated In tho
House that he had received communication from
the Secretary which had for its object the preHen-
tion of an agreement among the couferees Ihls
Mr. Ingalls, maintained, WIS an nnper'inent lnTu,
sion and an evasion of the dominion of Legislation
on the part Of the Secretary by when ne squg. 70
a,,.rccs IN. ,ctinn of the chairman of the Com
mittce on Appropriations and by which he intended
10 defeat the Senate amendment.
nart of the Secretary Of the Navy TO influence Con-
ras. in Ills matter The bill was framed after due
eensidrr,tion aud after consulting both the Secre-
tary of War and the Secretary of the Navy.
IIets the discussion as 20 the exact standing Of tho
hill and tho quickest method of extrieating IL from
The bog into which Il hal fallen broke out afresh.
Messrs Hoar Hale. COnger, Butler and Ingalls, for