National Republican., 1884-04-11
Continuation Of the Consideration Of the Naval
Appropriation Bill by the Senate.
Mr., MCPHERSON in the Role OF Cham.
pion Of the House.
The Representatives in the Pleasing Task o.
Dividing the Surplus Revenue
Upon n Basis OF Mutual Assistance In Civ
ing Their Constituents n Fair Share.
THE SENATE.


several senators Mr.. Cameron modified bis motion
SO as to make 1t Monday instead Of Saturday. The
motion was agreed to.
The chair laid before the senate a communica-
ton from the secretary of the treasury trans
mitting information relating to miscellaneous ex-
penses Of star route attorneys.
Also, u communication from the acting secre-
tary Of the treasury urging the necessity for new
revenue cruiser for Alaskan waters, and recon-
mending the appropriation ofsf5, 900 for the pur.
pose.
Also, communication from the secretary Of the
navy showing the number OF enlistments in the
navy during the late war with tho states TO which
they were credited.
Mr.. Miller, Of California, presented as a memo.
rial joint resolution of the legislature Of Cali
iorna urging the adoption by congress of the bill
introduced by Mr.. sumner in the house OF repre-
sentatives relating To the postal telegraph.
Reports were made from committees as follows .
Mr.. Vest from the committee on commerce, re-
ported favorsbly Dill 10 authorize the construc-
lion of bridge across the Mississippi river at st.
Louis.
Mr.. Miller OF California, from the committee on
foreign relations, reported an original amendment
TO the consular and diplomatic appropriation bill
to take the place of the bill referred to that COM
mittee intended TO provide for the appointmont
OF a special commissioner to visit the principal
South American countries for the purpose OF col
lecting information looking to the extension of
our trade In that direction.
Mr.. Wilson, from the committee on postofices
and postroads, reported an amendment to the
pIoStoiee appropriation bill, to take the place ofa
bill referred TO that committee, intended to pro-
vide for the settlement Of postmasters' salaries,
under the act Of March 9, 1883
Bills were introduced and appropriately re-
by Mr.. Platt 10y requesD For the better protec.
tion OF citizens in their rights OF property, und to
punish infingers of patents.
by Mr. Bowen: To protect employees of railroads
engaged In interstate commerce.
Mr.: Hill introduced q bill TO declare forfeited
the lands granted to the New Orleans, Baton
Rouge and Vicksburg Railroad company. Mr..
Hill requested that the bill lie on the table for
few days, as he wished to make. some remarks
upon 1t before referring II to committee
The chair laid before the senate the calendar of
The bill TO authorize the secretary OF war to ex-
anime the claim OF the state of South Carolina for
rent alleged to be due for the use Of the Charleston
The bill TO authorize the same officer to adjust
and settle the account for arms between the state
United states was, after slight debate, laid over
until Monday.
On motion Of Mr.. Hale,the senate resumed con.
sideration OF the naval appropriation bill Several
Of the amendments recommended by the senate
committee were agreed TO without debate.
Dir. Beck In the course OF debate said the United
States could not send war steamer to California
without being dependent foreign nations for the
eoaling Of the vessel This was matter of regretto
On reaching the amending clause appropriating
ssOO,UOO TO complete the ordnance outfit of the
moved to amend the amendment by making the
amount S50O00O. He did this. he said, after lately
hSurluB STATEMENTS OI commodore SlCarQ that
an Increased amount would be necessary.
Mr. Becks amendment aud tnen the nnn' itaa's
ON reaching the amendment of the committee
that provides for the construction of the new steel
cruisers, a bill for the construction Of which the
senate had passed some weeks ago, Mr.. Beck
raised the point that the amendment as he sup
posed was new legislation and not in order. The
chair ruled that 1t was in order, like provisions
in all appropriation bills for increasing the e,tab
lishmen as provisions for increasing the efficiency
of a department, provisions for more clerks new
fIr "A
ject of the bill and the execution of the purpose Of
The establishment The chair therefore felt
Mr.. Beck remarked that he supposed, in that
case, we might build hundred new cruisers.
The chair stated that no did not think the num-
Der of cruisers would make II difference.
Mr.. Beck said he would not take an appeal
from the decision of the chair, as he presumed the
chair knew the rules of the senate better than he
The chair expressed himself as, in bis belief
fully supported The distinction, he said, was
very broad between general legislation and pro-
visions of the character of that under discussion
General legislation was legislation of permanent
affairs logslatian that did not exhaust itself by
It's own force. which every provision of an appro-
priation bill did. The provision under Considara-
tion wNsa provision for the doing OF an act which,
when once done, would leave the law no longer
in force. The chair therefore entertained the
belief that however great the magnitude of the
provision referred to, 1t was within the rule, and
IN order.
sideration, and was of the belief that the pro.
vision was in order; but he could not bring his
mind 10 agree that 1t was proper for committee
on appropriations 10 include In an appropriation
bill legislation which would increase the number
Of ships OF the navy or oi regiments of the army.
the rule was tho same as Il this new provision had
been one TO buy single. gun or cartridge, or any
other thing for the use oftne naval establishment,
and that the magnitude and importance OF the
subject did not affect the application to 1t of the
law OF the senate.
Mr.. Hale remarked that the rule permitted
amendments to be made aDnFODriutinu hills In
this way for the purpose of calling the attention
OF the other mouse 70 the subject involved in
order mat by n committee OF conference other
wise the Two houses may come TO an understand
inS,r NOpno,so, .o,, 10 a., ,,..,
rules OF the senate said about this matter. The
fact was that the house OF represep had not
tconcluded action on the bill providing for these
cruisers which had already been passed by the
senate. II was discouresy and an indignity to
that body to engrait the provisions of that bill
into an appropriation bin, and Mr.. Mcpherson
had no doubt It would be SO considered by the
house. Then in case the two houses did not come
TO an agreement 1t would again be charged that
the democrats were trying to starve the govern.
ment. He did not wish to see any money applied
TO duplicating the ships now under contract until
II should appear whether they were a success.
Mr.. Beck stated that he mad made the point
OF order because he knew the rules of the senate
had been strict abou! those matters, but he would
be overruled. According to the ruling Of the
chair, we could build hundred cruisers by an
amendment TO an appropriation bill as easily as
the bill the further provision that John Roach
should be the builder because he would get the
building. That would be in order he supposed.
The general welfare clause would cover the
provision. Then Mr.. Roach would contribute
$4,000 to the campaign fund. Mr.. Beck also OBJ.
jeGtcd TO the duplicating OF the ships present In
course Of construction until their working quali-
ties were tested. Al any rate, these were not war
ships proper, but were commerce deStroyers,
whose duty IL might become, in case of foreign
war, TO destroy American commerce, since our
commerce was carried IN English vessels.
Mr.. Blair asked whether the senator supposed
that in case OF war with England our commerce
would be carried In the ships of that nation?
Mr.. Beck answered that in case oil q sudden war
thatships going around Cape Horn or sailing from
Asiatic ports would know nothing OF II till they
should reach port,
that Americans were TO reverse the rules OF civil.
lied warfare and destroy ships ana commerce
merely because they were captured.
Mr. Beck replied that the cargo As we'll as the
ship was asnenable 10 the pr.1o law lie was
strongly In favor of an efficient system OF coast
deienses, with guns enough 10 protect every i'm
Mr., Jones, of Florida, said that to him 1t was
hulniliatng TO have II pareded before the mon-
archical governments Of the world that the Amerl.
can government was in such condition that II
could not trust its officers including its president,
70 take step in the direction of building up the
public force, This was NO question Of party.
Whether the party in power were democratic or
republican, there are some things essential to the
public interest that must be done. Nr. Jones'
knew only the president of the United states in
this matter, 1t was 10 him that the power was
him the Incumbent Of the Sishest office
IN the world. When that officer Informed the
senate that the interests of the people of the
United States required that som mething should be
done toward putting the navy In condition be-