National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-01
THE NATIONAL CONGRESS. q.
The Senate mistaken in Its Stand Relative to
the Greedy Relief Expedition,
And a New Conference Committee Will
Discuss the Problem,
The House Passes a Bill afieiting Unoarnsd Land
Grants in Several States.
A Day Devoted TO Interesting Debate Ina
Both Branches.


the President, transmitting further papers reat-
ing to the determinations against United States
commerce in Cuba and Porto Rico.
Also, communication from the secretary OF the
Interior transmitting in compliance with law,
the report of the commissioner of patents, show
ing tho operations of his office for the year ended
Dec. 81 1888.
Also, a Communication from the attorney gene.
raj statngthat his clerical force is insufficient TO
supply the copies Of papers called for by con-
gress and asking for further aid OF that character
and respectfully urging that the appropriation
for his department for the current fiscal year DO
made at once.
Petitions from citizens of various states, pray
ing for the enactment by congress of prohibitory
laws for the District of Columbia and the terri
tories were presented by Messrs Harrison, Miller
of California; Colquitt Logan, Van Wyck, sewell,
Hawley, Wilson, Conger. Mcmillan, and Frye.
The petitions were referred to the committee on
education and labor.
Mr. Coke presented as memorial joint reso-
luton of the legislature of Texas, requesting the
senators and representatives OF that state in con-
gress to urge tho passage of an act for the I'M
provement Of Galveston harbor on the basis OF
the pending proposition of Capt; james u. Eads
Bills were introduced as follows and appro-
priately referred:
By Mr. Blair; TO pay to employees Of the govern
ment wages hitherto withheld in violation OF the
by Mr. Plat: To relieve commercial travellers
from license taxes. It provides that any person
Of state or municipal corporation, who inter.
ieres with any commercial traveller selling goods
wares, or mcrCnunulbe Dy sample, IfhNGllUB from
another state than the one in which he lives, or
in which his principal lives or does business, shall
be deemed guilty OF misdemesnor, punishable
by fine and imprisonment; that all license taxes
upon commercial travellers in the District of
Columbia be repealed, and the money collected
THE same hill was introduced In the house BY Mr.
Cox on the eighth Instant
BY Mr.. Hale: To authorize the retirement OF
officers OF the navy after thirty years of service.
II provides that any officer Of the marine corps OF
tho line or staff, or ony person holding rank and
may be retired at his own request after thirty
years honorable service, with the rank and re-
tired pay OF his rank, and any officer, who may
have received the thanks Of congress for eminent
and conspicuous services, may upon his own re-
quest, and by and with the advice,and consent Of
the senate, be retired alter thirty years service,
with the rank and retired pay OF the next higher
Crude
provides that hereafter on the active list of tue
navy every second promotion to the grade of rear
admiral, every fourth promotion to the grade OF
commodore, every sixth to the grade of captain,
every eighth to the grade of commander, and
every tenth TO the grade of lieutenant commander
shall be made by selection; that all others shall
be made by seniority, as heretofore and that in
all cases promotions 10 any grade shall be made
from tue next grade below, provided that the
mental, moral, professional, and physical quait-
cations of each officer shall undergo the same
scrutiny as is now provided for by law previous to
promotion.
of officers is to make recommendations of not
more than three officers of the grade below as
being emlnently distinguished Tor character, at
,ainments aud proficiency, and the President may
select from the officers 30 recommended the one
who, in his opinion, Is most worthy, and nomi-
nate him: Provided That If none are found by the
board sufficiently distinguished for the honor. or
II the President disapprove of the selections then
The senior officer of the rank below the vacancy
The resolution offered Wednesday by Mr.. Plat
was then taken up and agreed TO- directing an in
vestigGton by the senate committee on postotlices
and postroads into the cost OF telegrapnic CORE:
spondcnce and how such cost has been affected
by contracts between the western Union and other
companies and by large stock dividends.
The senate then resumed consideration of the
question OF agreeing TO the report OF me commit,
Greedy relief expedition.
Mr.. Hale said he was aware that there was
mach impotence felt by senators at the poor re-
suits which had followed previous Arctic expedi-
tOus He deplored as much as anyone the pow
erty of those results but he hoped the disappoint-
ment in that respect would not inieTteJe to delay
or restrict the expedition now contemplated for
by delay or embarrassing restrictions there was
losing "the name of action" The
danger OF the absent men IS every day
once &C done to hasten the preparation and de-
parture OF the relieving party. To deprive the
President OF the right of selecting the men best
fitted for such service would be unwise. The
President, acting through or with the secretary Of
the navy, ought 10 have the right to search the
entire navy and select the calInest and most ju.
diciuus man, whose rank, position. and record
should be guaranty, so iar as was possible, that
this expedition should not lie a failure. and that
Il
possible, brought back to their homes.
Mr.. Hoar inquired what was the precise nature
ofthe expedition which this one was intended to
relieve.
Mr. Hale replied that its object was to establish
meteorological stations in the Arctic regions, and
WAS part OF II plan in which almost all the civil
Liked countries OF the world were to lake part to
secure more complete meteorological reports.
The oficer in charge of the signal service had
pretty much, ii not altogether, control of the ex-
pedtion; n naval officer was selected and put in
charge, and the party sent upon its dangerous
quest by tie government,
Mr.. Hoar inquired who gave the naval officer in
charge OF the expedition his orders.
Mr.. Hale supposed that the general character Of
the expedition was arranged IN the war depart
meut but presumed that the detail OF naval oii-
GERS was given by the navy department.. Then
the government followed the mater up by appro-
priGtlng money and directing expeditions for the
rescue of the party. So thai IL anything can be
said TO be mater OF governmental responsibility
Mr.. Hoar said he would vote to accept the con.
ference report, because, on reflection, and con-
trGry 10 his original Inclination, he had come to
the conclusion that the house of representatives
was right The navy was created with the uli'
mate object where necessary of exposing the
lives OF men who belong to IT,. II 1t were not for
the expectation that at some time or somewhere
tue safety or the honor of this country would re-
quire men to engage in the death struggle, no
need Tor Il navy would exist. When the govern
lnent took the responsibility Of sending men, with
assent and in large part at its expense into the
perilous northern seas there was by that yerv act
pledge given that every reasonable effort would
be nude TO rescue them If tney should need res.
IA
saving TIC lives OF tae missing men, IL was the
duty OfthG government to attemptit
Mr.. Plumb was willing that the President should
be allowed TO name the commander OF the eXpe-
diuou, but he did not think that the common sea-
mon should be compelled to so. The main bur
deuB Of such expeditions always rest not upon
the officers, but upon the men. They get neither
money nor fame. Whatever reputation comes vi
the expedition comes TO the officers.
Mr.. Miller, of California, thought the service Il
legitimate one for the navy. The original eXpe-
dillon was government expedition, ana the gov
ernment was pledged to send men TO It's rescue,
Not moment was TO be lost II the desired result
was 30 be accomplished.
MI, Frye was glad that the senae cOnterees had
agreed with The house COniGrecs, because the pro-
vision limiting the participants IN tue expedition
u those who should volunteer for II was not wise
one, Thete never had been desperate undertake
ing or "tOrlUrn hope that had not found some one
TO volunteer for It, The volunteering was some
times inspired by reckless courage, sometimes
by the compensation offered, sometimes
by overlapping ambition for nOoricty, sometimes
by higher motives. II such volunteer Tor the pay
or from reckless courage tlom an inadequate
realization of the dangers involved, they we're
not the men that were wanted; II they vOluu-
with tho hope OF gaining nOtUricty, they were
equally Objectionable. The men who ought IN 90
on suCh an expedition ought 10 be men not OF
courage merely, but OF caution, the Ollccfs should
be men of power, of dignity OF prudence, in
whom the men of the expedition can repose the
lives TO so great hazard. Four times out of live
what were termed fOrlorn hopes, TO which Yolun-
teeTs were invited failed OF success because OF the
very recklossless which had inspired the accept
InCe Of the task The President ought therefore,
to have power to select for this expedition the
most careful aud prudent naYigators and most
capable men,
Mr. salisbury stated that longer reflection had