National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-01

suggestions to make they should BIO made at the
right time.
A, soon as the senate had adopted provision to
which the secretary was opposed, that Gentleman
had set TO work II cOuneract the effect of the
scnates action. While willing to concede to the
secretary of the navy all that was MS due, Mt.
salisbury trusted the time would never come
when the United States senate would abdicato It's
functions and place them IN the keeping oil Ine
Mr. Mcpherson stated that when the senate
acted on the amendment limiting the class OF par.
Elephants to volunteers That amendment expressed
the unanimous Judgment Of the body not single
vote was heard against II. TO pass bill without
such provision simply implied cowardice III the
navy and desire on Us rartto shirk manly duty,
1t was Mr.. Mcphcrson's conviction that volunteers
would not be wanting who would be both brave
and iudlcious. Volunteers had always been found
hitherto. When the jeanette hnd been for wear
and half in the northern seas unheard OF a con-
dition Of things existed not unlike the present
The then secretary Of the navy came before con-
gresS and was able to furnish estimates OF the cost
Ofa relief expedition, and the amount called for
was freely given. No such thing was then heard
of as detailing men from tho navy To 90 on such
an expedition. Volunteers were asked for and the
officers and meu OF the navy-tO their credit
1t should be said-had come promptly forward to
perform the porilous duty Of seeking out their
missing countrymen. To withdraw the "volun-
teer' provision now would, therefore, IN Mr.. Nc.
Pherson's opinion, be an implication of cowardice
In our navy. He was not opposed to the relief
expedition, but he saw no reason why congress
should not place some limit to tho amount Of
money which the secretary of the navy might
use for the work. As the bill stood II would give
that secretary u power which congress ought
never to give to any officer OF the government.
When the bill was first discussed senators were
heard Directing 10 this want of limitation in the
amount to be appended, but since that time the
senate SO emed to have discovered that II was not
the proper thing TO do to interfere with the secre
tary of the navy in anything on which he had
set his heart. AS the bill stood u was one which,
for sublime audacity and bold impudence, had
never been paraleled In either house of congress.
The senate refused by vote Of 20 to q to agree
to the report Of the conference committee,
inrt "A MnplprgOn tnuliTlnn
to the position of the bill If he snoud submit a
proposition limiting the expenditure, stated that
he wished 1t understood, without any reservation
whatever that the secretary of the navy did not
seem to comprehend that the people of this coun =
try had not implicit confidence In MIN.
Mr. Allison slated that this bill had not ema-
mated from tho secretary of the navy. nor even
from the senate, but came without any Limitation
on the appropriation, from the house OF repre-
which the senator from New Jersey lMr. McPher-
son belonged.
was true, but whatever that body might or might
not do, he (Mr. McPhersOn) was not responsible
for its action. 81 hold" said he, "a commission
from the state of New Jersey in this body. and
while hold that commission 1 shall perform my
duty and guard their interests to the utmost OF
my power no matter what the house OF repre-
sentatives and no matter what any other senator
may do"
Mr. Hale stated that the secretary OF the navy
had no interest in the bill except such as became
| u high minded, honorable, exalted public SER
want
Mr. Sherman had no doubt that the secreta ry OIL
the navy would administer faithfully tho pro-
visions of the bill.
The senate resolved to insist on Its amendment
and ask the house of representatives for further
conference, and it appointed u committee for the
purpose of comforting with such similar commit
| tee as the house might appoint.
| The senate then resumed consideration Of the
| bill reported by Mr.. Bayard from tho committee
on private land claims, providing method of set
| Ting the incomplete titles TO the lands acquired
| by the United States from the republic of Mexico
| EOusi1ara ble debate puSupl narticiDntp1 in
Messrs. Bayard, Plumb, Maxey. Dolph. and others
| but, without concluding consideration OF the sub
ject matter motion to go into executive session
was agreed to.
After few minutes spent in executive session
the doors were reopened, and the senate, ut AL
| p. M, adjourned until Monday next.