The Portland daily press., 1885-02-27
The Naval Bill.
Congressman Reed ON RandaIPs Plan for
Building N Navy.

In the House Tuesday, while the naval ap-
preparation bill was under discussion, Mr..
Reed paid his respects to the paragraph which
embodied Randall's plan for building . navy
as follows The paragraph, subsequently,, was
struck out on point of order:
Mr.. Reed of Maine-I confess NV surnrise
that after all this incubation on the part of the
Democratic party, extending over a period OF
twenty-five years, there should be produced
such an egg and such abird as is contained IN the
second section Of the bill. For years they have
stood out against appropriations for the navy,
and at last they present themselves with an
abundance, which at once shocks and horri-
fes my friend, the gentleman from Indiana
(Mr. HolmaD). And we'll 1t may, for both In
manner and in matter 1t is Of a most astonish-
ing character.
1t proposes IS to its manner to indict and
con let the government of jncompetency be-
fore 1t is formed. 1t proposes to put the gov.
ernment into commission as far as q navy Is
concerned. And in defense of the details OF
its matter my friend, the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts, has succesded in evoking not praise
for himself, but blame. He says that Of the
t1ree civilian members 1t will be impossible to
obtain one at the price, and of the naval mem
bers thar they ought to be the heads Of bu-
reaus, which is not in the bill. Consequently
there is left with the smile of his approval on
ly the Secretary OF the Navy that Is to be-
Then this board is to call for plans, and then
ships; and then, to use the eloquent language
of my friend from Massachusetts,, they are to
cease to be "fungus upon the body-politic."
Why, Mr.. Chairman, look at the genius OK
the Democratic partyl Here 1t finds ITSELF
thanks to its own neglect In times past, with
the business on its hands Of building navy
and the very first thing 1t does is to declare
that the regularly constituted authorities Of
this country that are to be, and that are to be
appointed under its auspices, are unfit to do the
work. For mart daoira IN dfata khfa
business OF non-responsibility. 1t is the curse
OF this country. 1t comes TO us under the
pleasant guise of non-partisanship, and we
have one striking example in this country Of
the result OF that soft method Of doing busi-
ness. If there is any State to-day that is
cursed with perpetual charges Of corruption il
is great State in this country where almost
all the government is carried on by means of
non-partisan boards. The result is that such
boards are exempt from all criticism. The
Republican newspapers do not attack them be-
cause there are Republicans on the boards:
the Democratic newspapers refrain from attack
because they would hit their friends; and
under such system corruption has run riot
say further, establish this board give il this
noD-respons1 BILE character, and add to that an
unlimited appropriation-the doors of the
Treasury swung open for the hands Of this
board to reach in--and what will be the re-
sulH Why, Just look at one interesting little
item in the bill. The board are to give prizes
"a first prize $40 0000-what for2 For vessel
we are going to build, A second prize So, 600
what for? Fer vessel we are not going to
buildl (Laughter)
Well, sir, that is consistent with the history
and the pract ce of the Democratic party; it Is
always giving a chrome for incompetency.
Renewed laughter Why, look at it, Mr..
Chairman What is the object and purpose of
this bill? Is IL business? No; it Is politics.
1t is for the purpose of having an unlimited
sum to spend; and that purpose is shown out
side OF this section of the bill. Here Is q
wooden frigate that has been long resting in
the Brooklyn navy.yard; the winds Of nine
teen summers and winters have blown through
her timbers unhindered, and all this time our
economical Democratic friends have never
thought of taking that frame and erecting it
into vessel; but the moment their own frigid
frames have been revivified by the advance
CLEANS Of the coming sun they begin to look
around to find methods Of spending money
which they have rejected during all these
long years.