The Portland daily press., 1885-02-14

MI. haHudil mas presented 10 LnS house ap-
preparations committee radical plan for
speedily putting our navy upon a respectable
footing. The plan which he is celebrating
proposes to authorize the appointment of
commission, OF whom the Secretary OF the
Treasury shall be the chief and the other six
members civilians who are skilled in the sew
eral departments Of naval ship architecture.
The commission is to be open to the COMPETE
tion of the world the submission OF plans of
five types of armored war vessels from the
great Lepanto type of the Italian navy down
through the various grades of ships OF this
character. For the models adjudged best,
prizes ara to bs given. The commission is
then to award to American builders at the
lowest bid the contract for building one ship of
each type as accepted by them. Any other
builder who wishes to construct a similar ship
may have 1t accepted at the same price, pro-
vided it possesses greater steaming power than
tho one contracted for. The intention is to
further appropriate money enough to begin
the construction of these ships as ordered by
the commission under the limitations imposed.
lands Opened 10 Settlers.
The President has by an executive order
opened to public settlement after May 10,
1885, Sll Of the lands within the Niobrara or
Santee Sioux Indian reservation in Nebraska
remaining unallottsd TO and unsolicited by the
Indians except such as are occupied for agency
or school and missionary purposes
The Indian Appropriation Bill.
The Indian appropriation bill was reported
by Senator Dawes from the Senate committee
on appropriation today and will probably be
taken up in the Senate tomorrow. AS COM
pared with the House bill it's gross increase is
$232 789. Ii appropriates $5 837, ,755 and con-
tains one item OF $25 600 for emergencies, to be
expended at the discretion OF the President
Commercial Relations With Mexico.
The President today transmitted to Con-
gress the report of the South American Com
rolnf dol ha
tween the United States and Mexico. 1t says:
We found the Mexican government desirous
OF cultivating the most intimate friendly rela-
tions with that of our country and willing to
promote through all the means in its power ex-
tended and complete commercial adjustments
with US. 1t is the desire of the Mexican au-
thorities to SO modify and administer the Gus
tom laws IN every respect that not only no in
Justice shall be done to our merchants and
traders bat on the contrary that they WILDE en-
couraged in seeking the markets of Mexico"
Another report forwarded by the commits
sioners from Havana contains suggestions such
as the removal of obstacles TO commerce found
in the unnecessary detention of vessels at
quarantine.
An Extra Session.
Mr.. Reed of Maine is reported as saying that
there are two things which would bring about
az extra 5essioE-One determined effort on
the part of the river and harbor men to pass
their bill, aud the other delay on the part of
the appropriations committee, which would
emharrass the Senate in their efforts to prop
erly consider the bills. This last contingency
he thinks the most dangerous, as he has sus-
pected that the purpose of the appropriation
committse in making this delay was to limit
the Senate in its time for considering and
amending The Senate, no thinks, might not
submit to this, but he disclaims any desire on
the part Of the Republicans to bring about an
extra session. lie says he has heard but one
man on that side of the House express a desire
to remain at the capital during the summer
and be vas hot one who would be likely to
bring an extra session about unless he effected
it through the defects in the rules of the
House.
NEW York, Feb. 13-A Washington special
to the Commercisl-Advertiser says the be-
lief is growing stronger hourly that it will not
be possible to sscDre the passage of ell the ap-
March and that an extra session is almost in
eNitnhla.