The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-09
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.
THE SENATE
Discussion OF tile Naval BiH-TaIk About
Guns and War Ships.

Discussion Of tie Naval Bin-TaIk About
Guns and War Ships.
WAsmNGroN. April 8.-Bills were introduced
and referred, as follows:
By Mr.. Hill: For deposit in the treasury Of re
ceipts of the inoney-order system, and for pay
ment of its expenses out of appropriations.
BY Nh. Bowen: To provide for the establish
ment of terms of courts in the district Of Col
orado.
The following bills were passed:
TO authorize the construction of a bridge over
the Rio Grande, between Eagle Pass. Texas, and
Piedras Negras, Mexico; and q bridge over the
same river, between Laredo, Tex, and New La
redo, Mexico.
The Chair laid before the Senate the bill to
provide for a uniform system of bankruptcy
throughout the United States
Mr.. Hale stated that Nj. Hoar, who intro
duced the bin, did not wish to press it at this
time, and he (Mr. Hale) would therefore move
to take up instead the naval appropriation bill.
ATr. Plumb and Mr.. Miller, Of New York,
thought the pleuro pneumonia bill entitled to
precedence over the bankruptcy bill.
Mr.. Hoar yielded to Mr.. Hale in order to allow
the naval bill to be taken up. Mr. Hale then
changed his motion, and asked unanimous con-
sent to take up the naval appropriation bill.
Mr.. Beck objected He preferred that a vote
be taken. The vote would bring the naval bill
up of right, and would not leave the bankruptcy
bill pending as unfinished business.
Mr.. Hoar characterized the objection as an
Outrageous and tyrannical perversion Of the
cOurtesies of the Senate
Mr.. Beck retorted that the language of the
senator from Massachusetts, was wholly IN
worthy any hut him..
The Senate agreed to take up the bill. Many of
the amendments proposed by the Senate Com
mittee were agreed to. On reaching the provis-
ions relating to ordnance. Mr.. Morgan inquired
what was being done in the way of manufactur-
ing modern guns, and spoke at some length of
the defenseless condition of our sea coast.
Mr.. Hale said the easy. h~appy-gu lucky way in
which we have been going along In regard to our
national defenses ought to cease.
Mr.. Bayard said that from the appropriations
for ordnance, contained in the bin under cOnSid-
Grafton, one would suppose we were legislating
for the Kingdom of Lilliput, rather than a great
nation like the United States. China. he said,
was buying 800 guns, each one Of which would
cost as much as the whole appropriation for ord
nance in this bill. He would favor tine purchase
by the government, of large steam hammer and
the establishment of a foundry, which would
leave the government in a position not to be en-
tirely at the mercy of private enterprises.
Mr. Hale gave notice of an amendment, to be
hereafter moved, appropriating $500, 600 for the
purchase and erection of a plant for casting.
forging, rough boring and tempering guns up to
100 tons, ready for delivery at gun factories, in
GLIDING the cost of the process of liquid com
preston, if adopted; also, 5000, 600 for a plant
for a gun factory for building guns from six
inch to sixteen-inch ealiber, including buildings
and a shrinkage pot.
Mr.. Vest said we had ,10, 600 miles Of sea coast
and 81, 500, GOO, 900 annual commerce, which was
rapidly increasing, and our resources and capa-
bilities almost beggared description; yet we were
without a navy or a commercial malihs, and
our sea coasts were utterly defenseless. Yet,
since 1861, 1885, 600. 900 had been appropriated by
Congress for naval purposes. Italy, the
land of maccaroui and lazzaroni, had
the largest war-ship and the largest gun
on the ocean, while this great nation had
cockle-shells and naval pleasure boats, and no
guns that amounted to anything; yet, we were
called upon to eXpend more money to be paid to
the same contractor [John Roach, who was now
building for the United States vessels which
high authorities pronounced defective. Mr..
Vest was not willing to give money to the pres
ent Secretary of the Navy, to be by him handed
over to John Roach, for whom, according to a
statement made on the floor of the Senate,
the Secretary had at one time been u paid lobby
list. Mr.. Vest proceeded to speak on the mer-
chant marine, the decay of which, he said, was
due to a policy which sustained such men as
John Roach. No other civilized nation existed
to-day that had not abandoned that policy.
Before Mr.. Vest concluded his remarks, the
Senate went into executive session, and soon
i afta1. a1jonrua1