Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-24
In the House.

the Appropriations Committee reported the
sanlry civil appropriation bill to-day, which
was ordered printed and referred to the Com
n IL .ee on tie Whole.
Mr.. Lefevre (O.) offered resolution,
Which wos referred, recitiDg the exclusion of
American pork from Germany and the levy
ing Of a discriminating duty on wheat and
rye, and that an attitude had been as
suned against American petroleum, and di-
reCtiug the Committee on Foreign Affairs To
inquire into the prOpriety of a like dscrimi-
nation against German products.
Ia the hour for consideration of business,
TO which not ten members objected, MIR.
Blount (Gd.) secured the passage of the
Senate bill providing for the erection of
public building at Macon (Ga.) at a cost not
4 exceeding $1,000, and Mr. G.. ID. Wise (Va.)
the passage of the Senate bill approprlating
$i08O0J for the completion of the United
States custom house at Richmond, Va.
NAsHNGTOS, Feb. %. Hewitt (N.Y)
in discussing the naval appropriation bill
argued that two essentials for new ships
were speed aud weight of metal He was
heartily IN favor Of the proposition to re-
build the navy. Mr.. Cannon (Il.) said he
had been told by the OF her side, and notably
By Mr.. Randall, that there was no great
harry about the navy, and that it could be
done al some futdre time; but recently he
had been struck by new light, as sudden as
that which struck down Saul at Damascus.
lie cOntended that the Naval Advisory Board
now existing had boiled down the wisdom
and experience of the world, and that their
views were far more valuable than those of
such board "A this bill proposed. lie want
ed a navy, but said there was no way of get
ting it by the plan of awards
Mr.. Reid Me.) expressed his surprise that,
after the eoursesof the Democratic party III
the past, there should be produc such eggs
from such a bird. tie criticised the bill,
which, he said in effect. declared powers that
were TO be incompetent for the duty devolved
upon them. He was opposed to- non-respon-
sthle agents, and said the idea of non -polItI-
cal boards was the worst. 1t opened the
tdoOrs to more corruption, for the Republican
newspapers would not attack 1T, for fear of
hitting political friends, and the Democratic
papers for ike cause 1t proposed TO give
prize for a vessel they were going to build,
then a prize for a vessel they were not going
% build. This WAS IN keeping with the
policy of the Democratic party, which al
ways gave a chrome for incompetency.
fLaughter.)
Mr.. Randall pa defended the action. of
the Democratic party IN the last session,
which had literally appropriated for the
completion et cruisers already begun, but
had wisely waited their completion in order
that their efficacy might be tested. Now, he
said when they sought IN an honest, straight
forward way to accomplish what the other
side had desired. why should they oppose it.
Mr.. Curtin Pa declared that wooden
ships and monitors are things of the past,
and said there was not an armed ship of for
eign nations that could run down navy mon
it0rs. and he then proceeded TO euloglze
modern armed vessels when he Was inter
rupted by Mr.. Hiscock N. ". who said
there was nothing IN the bill which required
that ships should be of metal.
Mr.. Curtin Cir surprise is that sop
He was assured that such was the case, and
exclaimed. "Ihen / won't vote for the bill.
loud laughter.) He said he would offer an
amendment to the bill, requiring them to be
of metal.
Mr. McAdo1 ND advocated the con-
structi0u of ships IN the government navy
yards. Mr.. Eaton Conn said two things
were needed. navy and proper harbor de-
fenses. and he should favor harbor defenses
before a restoration of the navy. Mr. kel-
ley Pa asked if Mr. Eaton did not think
that the bin should say what kind of vessels
should be built. IN view OF the fact that the
Aghest authority had declared the last ten
&mored vessels built by the British govern
inent were unseaworthy. Mr.. Eaton replied
that Il the British admiralty had
been unable to build SHIPS neither
in America could tell what kind of ship
should be built. In the course of his remarks
he said tbat the complications growing out
og the fishery questions would make an oc-
cHsiou when the navy might be desired and
nee,led. Mr. Ellis tia.l said the British
government spent $iS.oo0,Oo IN the con
straction of nine iron-eitds, which had
proved failures aud the French Minister of
Mwina had recently ordered seventeen iron
clads stricken from the list. Naval skill all
over the world was at pause. for it had
been found that the massive iron sinps were
"A esssiiy destroyed by torpedo as
the n est skif. He gave the
views "a different authorities Ou the subject
OF fast shius. rams and toruedoes. in their
relation to heavy armorpd ships lfe insists
that the present want was lightness asd
next action. tie defended the civilian fea-
ture of proposed commission and SAID while
naval officers were walking the ql'arter decks
af Hampton Rtpids. Sec'y Mallory, a civ
iliau II the Confederate navy. and Swede,
trirseo were preparing % reyolutfonize the
<1av1i warf4re II the world. Mr.. Ellis de-
rreciata8 sny rarty difference on the a1es-
ton and hored ah parties would unite IN
u1aknQ ihe navy. as ln former days the pride
of the whole nation. The general debate
shen closed Mr Thomas. III. raised the
f,sfuts ~ ortiar chat this section propOeed
new legislation and Wae not ~ orsler. i he
Chair sustained this pcint ~ order and The
section was stricken ont.
Nr railoit All offered an amendment
providing fcr TOE completion IF hr~t-ciss-
steel cFuiser provided for by the ast - Ana
q tS*A agreed -. 9 - 81 Mr. Randall.
Who h.s.4 tts,t.s,s4o tha amendments. offered
further amendment providing thtt tns e1H
slrncfsolf sl,all IS approved IS the Secretary
II %4te Aal,lrfstt.
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