National Republican., 1884-03-01

direct the construction Of seven steel vessels for
tne navy, consisting OF one cruiser OF 4OJO TONS
displacement, One cruiser Of 5000 tons, one us
patch boat OF 1900 tons, two heavily armed gun,
boas oil l5OO tons each one light gunOoat OF 10Y
TONS, ana one gunboHt not TO exceed yJO tons. ~
further authorizes the construction OF one steer
ram, one cruising torpedo boat, and two hatbor
torpedo boats, 1t prov des that the naval hlNls
sorry board shall examine all the plans, speciica-
uons, and contracts and materials Tor the YES els
and shall give the secretary Of the navy advice
and assistance thereon, but that tho board
shall have no authority TO enter INTO con, con:
until full and complete plans and specihca,
tions shall have been prepared and
approved in writing by the board or majority OF
its members, and that the contracts shall have a
provision binding the contractors to accept the
decisions Of the advisory board as to any changes
OF plan decided on during the progress OF the
work, aud no change involving greater expense
than $500 snail in any case be male WIN Ut the
builders. who shall be able to satisfy the secretary
Of the navy, that in three months from the max
ing OF the contract they VIII be Pr9phhred to
In thr course Of the debate preceding the pass
age OF the bill Mr. voorhees,. in opposing its pass
age stated that IL seven vessels were needed lOO
were, but he saw no present need for seven, as
that number would b9 utterly insufficient. Re-
viewing the other navies Of the world and show
ing their strength. he inquired whether we were
preparing Tor struggle with the armored ships nf
the great powers, or, ny seemed to him more likely
from the provisions of the bill, with the bateaux
of the house OF representatives when Spain built
thirty gunboats IN New YORK city in violation of
the laws of neutrality, aud he bad y from
the then American minister ut Madrid that
II was seriously discussed in official quarters
in spain to send their navy up to New York and
cut these gunboats out of the harbOr under the
very flag OF the United States. Such was the
contempt OF the Spanish authorities for the naval
power OF America. England" he said, "con-
fines our citizens In her jails whenever she
peases She hangs them without much respect
for the authority OF this government or holds
them as long she pleases, and berates them only
when she chooses. He had sometimes thought II
would lie dinlcult to kick or coerce this govern
into war with England. Certainly such war
was not desirable, but II gentlemen were legslat-
ing with view to n difhculty with England, II
was absurd to talk of seven ships. II war were
imminent he would vote to build 100 ships TO
carry at least n thousand guns"
Mr.. Riddloberger thought the very fact that
England could incarcetate our citizens when sne
pleased, and hold them as long as she pleased,
was u good argument whythe building OF ships
should be voted for, though no would rather the
number were l07 than only.
Mr.. Jones, of Florida referred to the unparla.
mentary imputations which had been heard In
the course of debate, which he characterized as
unworthy the senate.
The senate, 44O p. M, adjourned to Monday
next.