The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-15
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.
THE SENATE.
MIR. Ingalls, Occupies the Chair-Passage of
the Naval Bill.

the Naval Bill.
WASHINGTON. April 14.-The Senate was pre-
sided over to-day by Senator Ingalls,.
Among the petitions and memorials presented
were resolution of the recent convention of
inventors held at Cincinnati, opposing any
change in the patent laws that may tend to the
injury of property in patents; Also petition
signed by Mrs. James A. Garfield and 800 other
citizens of Cleveland, Ohio, praying for the pass
age of bill providing for the return Of the Nez
Perces Indians to their old home also, ointreso-
luton of the Iowa Legislature, praying that the
minimum sum for which changes may be made
from State to United States Courts may be in
creased; also petition from tobacco dealers, re-
monstrating against agitation of the tobacco tax
question, and praying that the tax be allowed to
remain as it is; also, a memorial from the Board
of Trade of Albuquerque. n. NJ, complaining
of certain acts of the Territorial Legislature
and praying their annulment
Mr. Sherman, from the committee on library,
reported favorably the House joint resolution
granting certain publications to the Cincinnati
law library
The following bills were introduced and re-
ferred
By Mr. Miller, of New York: To amend the
act to prevent the importation of adulterated
and spurious tea, approved March 2, 1883.
By.Nr Sherman: Authorizing the President
to appoint and retire John c. Fremont as major
general of the United States army.
By Mr.. Slater: To forfeit the unearned land
grants of the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany, and restore the same to settlement. he
said he would ask that it lie on the table until
Thursday, when he would call it up for refer
ence.
A message was received from the House an
nouncing the passage of resolutions in memo
riam of the late Representative Herndon, Of
Alabama.
Mr.. Pugh said he would on Friday next call
up these resolutions for action.
The Senate then resumed consideration of the
naval appropriation bill, the pending question
being on the amendment proposed by the Senate
committee to provide for construction OF new
cruisers.
Mr.. Bayard again objected to ENGRAVING the
amendment upon the naval appropriation bill,
the Senate having already passed a bill to pro
vide for these same cruisers.
He raised the point that the amendment was
not relevant and on that called the yeas and
nays
The Senate decided that it was relevant-yeas,
25 nays, IA. A vote was then taken on the
question of agreeing to the amendment itself,
and it was agreed to-yeas, q; nays, Is.
The remaining amendments proposed by the
committee were then read seriatim and agreed
TO without debate.
Mr.. Hale then moved the amendment of
which he gave notice some days ago, providing
for the purchase of Il plant for rough boring
and tempering guns up to one hundred tons.
On Mr.. Beck making objection that 1t was new
legislation. Mr. Hale said he would not urge it,
and so withdrew the amendment. He desired,
however to urge the other amendment which
he had also given notice of, namely, that which
appropriates 100000 for gun factory for com
pleting guns from six inches caliber to sixteen
inches caliber, including buildings and shrinkage
pit
Mr.. Bayard moved, as a substitute a clause
which, after modification suggested by Mr.
Allison, and another suggested by Mr.. McPher
was fO he atar IF
War and the Navy with the assistance of the
gun-foundry board which the amendment re-
wives, to report to the next session of Congress
a plan and estimate for the preparation and
purchase of plant for gun factory to complete
guns from siX-inch caliber to siXteen-inch cali
Der, including buildings and shrinkage pit and
to report full and detailed estimate for cash
work on the aforesaid, and whether the same
can be better and more economically performed
in establishments owned by the government,
or by private contract, or by
combined system whereby said work can be
accomplished partly by the government and
partly by private contract, and in what annual
installments said appropriation can most econ
omically be made
Mr.. Hale had no objection to Mr. Bayards
amendment. and withdrew his own
An amendment was agreed to directing the
Secretary of the Navy to report to Congress,
next session, plan or plans for the construction
of one armored vessel for the United States
navy, not exceeding 800 tons displacement, the
COSO OI Gue WIFI machinery ana armament.
and the time which construction of such vessel
will take
The bill was then passed, as amended.
Mr.. Plumb, from the committee on postofiees
and post-roads, reported the postoffce appropria-
ton bill, which was placed on the calendar and
ordered printed, Mr. Plumb saying he would
call it up at an early day, probably on Wednes-
day.
The Senate took up the bill to establish a uni
form system of bankruptcy throughout the
United States. The bill was proceeded with by
sections Several sections were agreed to with
but slight debate, while some, to which amend
ments were proposed, allowed to lie over
until the sections unobjected to had been dis
posed of, in hope that an agreement may be
reached whereby debate and delay in its passage
will be avoided.
Pending debate on the bill the Senate went
into executive session and soon after adjourned
THE HOUSE.