Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-02

Mr. ToWnshend, from the committee on
conference on the post Office appropriations
oiil, reported a failure to agree. The only
points IN controversy are those reducing BY
per cent. the compensation to railroads for
man transportation, reducing TO so per cent.
OF TINS amount the compensation Of land
grant roads for similar service. and increasing
from 1900. 600 TO S4300.0O0 the Augmentation
for railway mail clerks. Mr.. ToWnsbend
said that Ii was impossible for the cOnferees
70 come to anV agreement The HOuee con-
Ierees were willing to make a compromise.
but the Senate demanded an unqualified and
complete concession on the part Of the House.
AIter iurtner discussion Mr.. HOrr moved that
the House recede from its disagreement 10 the
Senate amendments touching compensation
to land grant and other railroads for mail
transportation. This was agreed to by ll6
yeas to l02 nays.
THE BILL DISPOSED OF.
Mr.. Horr moved to recede from the dis
agreement to the Senate amendment increas-
ing the appropriation for the compensation Of
railway mail clerks, and the motion was
agreed to by l23 yeas TO 80 nays. This dis
poses OF the bill as far as the House is con-
cerned
The House then. at 4 O'Clock. went into
committee Of the whole, with MP. Blount of
Georgia. IN the chair, on the fertilization ap-
preparation bill.
Mr.. Hewitt said that as between the two
bills he preferred that of the minority. He
thought that the majority bill was unneces-
sarliy liberal for the wants of the people.
Mr.. Randall maintained that there was no
immediate necessity and no prospective ne
ces.ity Tor the armament contemplated by the
majority bill. That bill involved an expendi-
ture OF several millions and ultimately meant
an expenditure Of more than one hundred
millions.
Mr.. Ellis, OF Louisiana. advocated the ma
jority bill. He had heard more errors
stated in the course of this discussion
than he had ever heard before in debate.
Many VINO had spoken had proved their utter
ana absolute Ignorance of the subject, The
defenceless condition of the country was con-
ceded. Did the gentleman from Pennsylvania
lRandalD deny it?
Mr. Randall-There is but one other thing
defenceless, and that is the Treasury Of the
United States.
Mr.. Ells-The Treasury is amply defended
so long as the gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA
insists that taxation shall not be reduced at
one end and that nothing shall be spent at the
other end.
Mr.. Randall-we win discuss that ques.
Mr., Ellis-You voted against considering
it.
OUR DEFENSELESSNESs
There were, Mr.. Ellis said, 1900 miles of
sea coast in the United States, including over
aOO cities, which embraced II 100000 of people,
and nearly one fourth of the entire wealth of
the nation, that We're absolutely at
the mercy OF whomg OF powerful
nation like England! Certainly of
France! Certainly Of Germany! Certainly
OF any other powerful nation Certainly
what more OF Japan, of Mexico, Of Chilli, of
any llJtle insignificant power that happened
to have an armored vessel with ten inches of
armOr and capable of getting into American
harbors That was disgraceful condition of
affairs in the first place, and was dangerous
condition Of affairs in the second
place. He denied that the ma
Jority bill marked departure from the
settled policy of the governmedt, and de-
clared that it was but re-
turn to the splendid policy of
the Democratic party before the war.
lie called attention to the length of time
which would be required to construct guns of
an approved pattern, and inquired whether
Congress would wait to read its duty by the
flames of its burning cities, invaded by for
eign foes. If we would preserve peace let us
be prepared for war. IL we would resume
the spirit of our forefathers let us make every
city blythe sea and every harbor which fioated
our commerce safe and secure. The clerk
then proceeded to read the bill by paragraphs
Mr.. Randall raised the point of Orderagainst
so much of the first paragraph of the majority
bill as provides for the construction of new
works al the deep water harbOrs of the coun-
try, but subsequently withdrew the point and
offered the bill reported by the minority of
the Committee on Appropriations as a substi-
tute for the majority bill On verbal amend
ment to the substitute no quorum voted, and
after the roll call it was agreed that the sub
stitute should be reported to the House and
vote taken on 1T tomorrow morning. The
committee then rose and the House adjourned.