St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Naval Bill Causes a Lively Discus.
sion and is Re-cOmmitted to
the Committee.
Which Ensued Some Laughable Chaff-
ing and Interruptions.
The Senate.

WASHINGTON, April Sine IOlOWlnS Dill
were introduced and referred:
By Senator Hill, for the deposit in tn
treasury receipts for the money order system
and for payments of its expenses out of tn
appropriations.
By Mr.. Bowen, to provide for the establish
ment of terms of courts in the District o
Colorado.
The following bills were passed: To author
iZe the con Instruction of bridge over the Rio
Grande, between Eagle Pass, Texas, ant
Pridras Negras, Mexico, and bridge owe
the same river, between Laverdo, Texas, ant
Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.
The chair laid before the senate bill K
provide for a uniform system of bankruptcy
throughout the United States.
Senator Hale stated that Senator Hoar, WHIT
introduced the bill, did not wish to press it a
this time, when he, Hale, would therefor,
move to take up, instead, the naval appropri
alton bill. Senators Plumb and Miller On
" thought the pleuro-pneumonia bill emit
tied to precedence over the bankruptcy bill
Hoar yielded to Hale, in order to allow The
naval bill to be taken up. Hale the1
changed his motion, and asked unanimou
consent to take up the naval appropriation
bill.
Senator Beck objected. He preferred tina
the vote be taken. The vote would bring
the naval bill up of right, and would no
leave the bankruptcy bill pending as unfin
ished business.
Senator Hoar characterized the objection
as ''an outrageous and tyrannical proceed
ing"
Senator Beck retorted that the language O
the senator from Massachusetts was wholly
unworthy of any but of him.
The senate agreed to take up the bill
Many amendments proposed by the senate
committee were agreed to. On reading thu
provisions relating to ordnance, Senator
Morgan inquired what was being done in thu
way of the manufacturing of modern guns
and spoke at some length of the dcfenselesi
condition of our sea coast.
Senator Hale said the easy, happy-go-lucky
way in which we have been going along il
regard to, our natural defenses ought t.
cease.
Senator Bayard said from the appropria
tons for ordnance contained in the bill I'M
der consideration, one would suppose We
were legislating for the kingdom of Lilliput
rather than great nation like the United
States. China, he said, was buying 90(
guns, each one of which would cost as mucl
as the whole appropriation for ordnance il
this bill. He would favor the purchase by
the government of a large steam hammer
and the establishment of a foundry, which
would leave the government in a position
not to be entirely at the mercy of private
enterprises.
Senator Hale gave notice of an amendmen
to be hereafter moved, appropriating $50,
900 for the purchase and erection of plan
for casting, forging, rough boring and tenn
pering guns up to 100 tons ready for deliver,
at the gun factories, including the best pro
cess of liquid compression, if adopted. Also
100000 for a plant for gun factory fol
building guns from inch to Is inch calibre
including buildings and sprinrages.
Senator Vest said we had 900 miles O
sea cost, 81 500, 900, 900 of an uual commerce
which was rapidly increasing, and the re
sources and capabilities almost beggard de
scription; yet we were without navy,a com
mercial marine, and our sea coasts were lit
terly defenseless. Yet, since 1861, $685.,
100000 had been appropriated by congress;
for naval purposes. Italy, the land of mac
caroni and the lazZaroni had the largest wal
ship, and the largest gun on the ocean
while this great nation have cookie shell!
and naval pleasure boats, and no guns tina
amounted to anything. Yet we were called
upon to expend more money to be paid tt
the same contractor, John Roach, who is nov
building for the United States, vessels which
high authorities pronounced defective
Vest was not willing to give the money tx
the present secretary of the navy, to be by
him handed over to John Roach, for whom
according to the statements made on the
floor of the senate, that the secretary had a
one time been paid lobbyist. Vest pro
ceeded to speak on the merchant marine de
cay, which he said was due to the policy
which sustained such men as John Roach
No other civilized nation existed to-day tina
had not abandoned that policy. Before Yes
concluded his remarks, the senate went int