The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-02
THE HOUSE.
Consideration of the Naval and Fortitications
Appropriation Bills.


WASHINGTON, July 1.--Mr. Randall submitted
the report of the conference committee on the
naval appropriation BILL announcing inability to
agree. The chief items of disagreement are on
the appropriation for new cruisers and continue
ton of work upon the double turreted monitors.
Mr.. Randall said nothing but an instruction
from the. House could induce the House conferees
to yield these two points, because they had not
that confidence in the manner Of the construc
ton of these cruisers that warranted further ex-
penditure of public money in order to duplicate
them; besides there was not thrown around
these propositions that safeguard in the expend
iture of money which present circumstances
known to the country warranted, and which
should be thrown around the department.
which was now a subject of investigation.
As he had said before, there was nothing that
would induce the present confeRees to yield on
these two points except direct voteof the House;
and when that vote was given he trusted the
House would select some other conferee than
him. @
Mr.. Calkins said the question was, whether
the building of navy should be delayed another
year, and whether, after expanding millions of
dollars monitors the work should close. The
investigation in the Navy Department had moth
ing to do with the cruisers or monitors.
Mr.. Randall admitted that was so. but as
serted that it should have its effect upon mem
bers in appropriating money for a department
where there had been maladministration.
Mr.. Calkins referred to the prompt reparation
which Great Britain demanded and received for
any injury done to one of her subjects abroad
and contrasted it with the timid conduct of the
United States when one of her citizens had been
maltreated and abused. There were petitions in
the foreign affairs committee which would show
this abuse and maltreat1nent Under the leader
ship of gentleman who was a prominent can
didate for the presidency, the FIAT had gone
forth that the navy should not be built up until
after the next presidential election. Ii that was
the position the gentleman chose to assume, the
Republican party was ready to meet it; but if an
appeal would do any good, he would like to APP
peal to the good sense of gentlemen-not as
partsans, but as Americans--and ask them not
to take a step backward in building up our navy.
Mr.. Randall said he did not believe the dignity
of American citizens in any part of the civilized
world had been seriously dealt with by any ma
ton. His experience had taught him that
wherever an American citizen behaved himself,
he was respected, and that the words Il am an
American, were everywhere safeguard
Mr. Calkins called attention to the case of
Wheelock against the Venezuelan republic.
Mr. Randall-What was your administration
about
Mr. Calkins-No administration can enforce
the dignity of a government unless the legisla-
ture viii put in its power guns and . navy to en-
force it.
Mr. Randall-Did your administration ever
appeal to this House for force to vindicate the
honor and dignity of the government Applause
on the Democratic side.]
Mr. CaIkins- Repeatedly.
Mr. Randall know anything abont this
House, whenever any appeal comes from any
administration, no matter what we think of it
all the members will have one voice and one
vote here in defense of our country Applause
on the Republican side.
Mr.. Reed-It is appealing now, and your vote
is in the negative.
Mr. Randall-Because you want to construct
vessels that we believe twelve months will show
are not equal to the second-elass ornaments of
the world
Mr. Reed--Why, then, make the necessary
amendments TO build vessels that are good
Applause on the Republican side.
Mr. RandaI-You had the last Congress, and
leadership of the gentleman from New York
Mr.. Hiscockl to give q dollar toward the COM
pletion of any monitors.
Mr.. Eaton said there was no case Of an Amer
lean citizen before the foreign affairs committee
that could not be settled in an hour There was
no necessity for iron-clads Of any character to
take care Of any American citizen, SO far as the
foreign affairs committee were aware.
The conference report was agreed to.
Mr. Calkins then moved that the House recede |
from its disagreement to the steel cruisers
amendment Lost--yeas 80. nays A7 The fol
lowing Democrats voted with the Republicans |
in the ALTERNATIVES: Messrs Belmont DORIS
heimer Finertg, Morse, O'Neill of Missouri, and
Sumner of California.
"a similar motion in regard to the monitors /
clause was also lost yeas, So; nays, l39
The House further insisted on its disagree /
meut and Messrs. Randall, Holman and Calkins /
were appointed copferees.
Mr.. Townshend from the committee on CON I
ference on the postofice appropriation BILL re |
ported failure to agree. The only points in
controversy are those reducing by per cent
the Compensation to railroads for mail transpor /
tation, reducing to so per cent Of this amount T
the compensation to lsnAEgFa roads for similar /
service. and increasing from $400l 600 to a.
100000 the appropriation for railway mail clerks 7
conferees to agree. The House confeFees were
willing to compromise, hut the Senate demanded /
unqualified and complete rescission on the part I
of the House.