The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-02
GBy Associated Press J
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
XLVIILth CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, March 1, 1884.
SENATE.
The Senate was not in session to-day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.

The Senate was not in session to-day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Under q call OF committees the follow
ing bills were reported:
By Mr.. Hammond, OF Georgia, from the
Committee on the Judiciary: To change
the time Of holding terms Of the court in
the Northern District Of Georgia. Placed
on the House calendar.
Bv MIR. wilkins, OF Ohio, from the Com
mittee on Banking and Currency: To pro-
vide for the issue Of circulating notes to
the national banking associations. Re-
ferred to the Committee OF the Whole.
Mr.. Buckner submitted minority re-
port.
Bv Mr.. Reagan, OF Texas, from the
Committee on Commerce: To establish a
board of interstate commerce and TO regu-
late such commerce. Referred to the
Committee of the Whole.
The House at ITO went INTO a Committee
of the Whole (Mr. Converse, of Ohio, in
the chair on TIE naval appropriation bill.
Mr.. Thomas, Of Illinois, condemned the
system of comforting relative rank upon
the staff of the navy, and called attention
to the thoroughly helpless condition OF the
navy, declaring that there was scarcely a
I
one or more war vessels here and lay the
great cities of the Atlantic or the Pacific
coast under contribution.
| Mr.. Finerty, Of Illinois, said the Appro-
priation Committee seemed determined 10
| be economical in the weakest point OF ma
! tional structure. The world was aware
| that the condition OF our defensive marine
at the present time was menace to the
well-beng of this country II in the event
of war it should be unprepared to meet any
enemy OF respectable strength. lie was
sensible to the fact that war navies could
not be built in short time, but there was
nothing TO hinder the construction
OF ships which would enable the United
! States, in the event Of sudden hostility, 10
prey upon the commerce OF her Antagonist
| Ii made little difference who was RESPONSE.
! BILE for the present depleted condlllon OF
the navy, the fact remained that virtually
the United States had no navy. He was
| not professional alarmist, who wished Ia
say that we are on the eve oil war. lie dlo
not desire war. He wanted to see the
country peaceful and prosperous. Bu'
peaceful and prosperous she could only re-
main when she had the means to avengt
insult, to defend her honor, and TO assert
| the supremacy Oh HeI haOiohoi h',S
He wanted to see the work begun by the
Forty-seventh Congress followed up by
the Forty-eighth. Congress might tall
about the Monroe doctrine, but 1t couiC
hear the click of the European spade al
Panama as it dug the clnal TO bind the AT
Iantic and Pacific together. What Europe
dug with the spade she would maintain
with the sword. The sooner the country
saw TO il that it was not left to the mercy
NJ events the better for the nation. Thi'
was the time TO prepare for danger.
MIR. Finerty's brief remarks were listened
to intently, and at their conclusion he wa
applauded. ,.v, A..
After speeches by Messrs. Belford, An
derson. and Hiscock, the committee rose.
ON motion Of Mr.. Reagan, OF Texas, th'
interstate commerce bill was made thu
continuing order Tor March 18th:
On motion OF Mr.. Slocum, OF New. York
the shipping bill was made the continuing
order for March 18Th.
The House then, at 4:35, adjourned.