Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-01
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL
THE NAVAL BILL PASSED BY
THE SENATE.

h1A4AN - IL
An Adverse Report on the Bill to Re
lieve the Cyclone Suferers-Mr. Ran
som Explains his Attitude in the
Matter-An UneYentful Day in the
House.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 29.-In the Senate
to-day, MIR. Ransom, from the Committee
on Appropriations, reported back adverse
ly the joint resolution introduced by him
last Monday, and referred to that commit
tee, providing for an appropriation to aid
sufferers by the great storms in the South
ern States. In reporting it back, Mr.. Ran
som. stated that the committee had given
the matter very careful consideration.
kilograms were sent to the Governors Of
the different States affected, and to other
persons in those States supposed to be
best acquainted with all the incidents Of
the storm and the subsequent sufferings.
and while the hrst accounts of great suf-
ferings of certain communities had been
fully confirmed, yet these sutferings were
not in the judgment of the committee,
of that widespread, ,transcendent and para
mount character which baffied all local.
individual, municipal and State relief, so
as to demand the Intervention of the gov
ernment. He could not let the oc-
casiOn pass, Mr.. Ransom added.
without saying that while in pre-
senting the resolution he had been
actuated by a becoming impulse it was
proper now that the country should know
at the earliest moment that Congress
would not take steps for relief in this in
stance. He said this in order that pri-
vate and local charity may not be i'm
peded. The example of the people of
those States, in their great ordeal of
suffering, could not but command the ad-
miratiOn of their cOuntrymen everywhere.
He (Ransom) might sometimes be car
ried away by enthusiasm for his own
people, but when he looked at what had
taken place among the people of North
Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and
Georgia and saw their resolution to bide
their faith, and not come to Congress
for relief even when an effort had
been made to give to them, it re-
minded him of the heroism of Fabricius
and Regulus and of the great
Athenian who sacrificed everything that
he might stand by his country. He hoped
that the noble example given by the af-
tflcted people in this case would be useful
to the richer and more powerful commu-
mites which might not be worse afflicted.
In conclusion, Mr.. Ransom thanked the
careful and painstaking consideration
which they had given to the subject.
Mr.. Garland said that he supposed that
the action of the committee was based on
the ground that they did not consider,
from the information received, that there
was any necessity for the interposition of
Congress.
Mr.. Ransom said that that was the
ground.
Mr.. Garland said that he did not under
stand such interposition to be declined on
the ground of the uncOnstitutiOnality of
such aid in cases where it was shown to
be required.
Mr.. RansOm-NOt at all.
Mr.. Garland said that he did not wish
it to be so understood, for no one doubted
the authority of Congress to extend aid in
cases calling for it. If a question had
risen on that he would have had some
thing to say.
Mr.. Ransom said that if this were the
time to discuss that matter, he RANSOM
would be able to show a line of prece-
dents faYOring the cOnstitutiOnality of
such action from the beginning of our
government to the present day. When
the matter came to be investigated it
could, he said, be but plain as to the con-
stitutiOnal authority of Congress in a case
of such imminent and impending ruin as
to exceed the capacity of local and State
aid.
The Senate resumed consideration of
the bill to authorize the construction of
steel cruisers for the navy. The question
Immediately before the Senate was the
amendment of Mr.. Jones, of Florida, to
the amendment of Mr.. Sewell. Mr.. Sew
ell's amendment provides for the building
of ships at one or more of the government
navy yards, while Mr.. Jones' amendment
provides that the building shall be appOr-
toned among the different navy wards
After further debate, the amendments of
Messrs. Jones and Sewell were voted
down.
Mr. Morgan withdrew his objection to
vessels being built by private contract,
and an amendment offered by him was,
after modification, accepted by Mr.. Hale,
embodying in the bill by direct words,
and not by descriptions merely, the sub
stance of the acts of 1882 and 1888, to-
gether with a provisO that bids may be
accepted not only from builders who may
now be ready TO build the vessels, but who
may be able to satisfy the Secretary of the
Navy that they can, in three months af-
ter the making Of the contract, be ready
to do so. The bill was then passed by 3S
yeas to 13 nays.
The bill as passed, authorizes the Presi-
dent to direct the construction of seven
steel vessels for the navy, consisting OF
one cruiser of 1900 tons displacement.
one cruiser of 1900 tons, one dispatch
boat of 800 tons, two heavily-armed gun
boats of 800 tons each, one light gunbOat
OF $50 tons, and one gunboat not to exceed
300 tons. 1t further authorizes the con-
structiOn of one steel ram, one cruising
torpedo boat, and two harbOr torpedo
boats. 1t provides that the naval advisory
board shall examine all plans, specifica-
tiOnS and contracts and materials for the
vessels, and shall give the Secretary of the
Navy advice and assistance thereon, but
that the board shall have no authority to
enter into contracts; that no contract
shall be entered into until full and com.
plete plans and specifications shall have
been prepared and approved in writing by
the board or majority of its members,
and that contracts shall have a provision
binding contractors to accept the deci-
siOns of the advisory board as to anv
changes of plan decided on during the
progress of the work, and no change in
vOlving a greater expense than $500 shall
in any case be made without the written
approval Of the board. American ship
builders who shall be able to satisfy the
Secretary of the Navy that in three months
from the making of the contract they will
be prepared to enter upon the work of
construction shall be permitted to bid
and contract.
The Senate then adjourned till Monday.
IN THE HOUSE.
The House, after some unimportant
business, went into committee OF the
whole on the private calendar. The first
bill taken up was one authorizing the
retirement of Alfred Pleasanton with the
rank of Major General, After good deal
OF discussion an amendment offered bv
Mr.. CutcheOn, providing that Gen. Pleas
anton shall be retired with the rank of
Colonel, was adopted, and the bill as
amended laid aside for favorable report.
One more bill for the relief of Louisa
Boldly was favOrably considered, and then
the committee rose and the dispute over
the Pleasanton bill began afresh. Several
members tried to kill it with amendments
by talking it to death and by points of
order. Pending a decision upon one of
these poi8ts of order several dIlatory
motions were made, and the roll call con-
Sumed the time until 5 o'clock.
The post office appropriation bill was
reported and referred to the committee of
the whole. The House then took a recess
until 1880 O'Clock this evening, the ses-
cioO n bn for tho Sidara flor, of r,o,,efo,,