Morning journal and courier., 1885-02-24
Mew aaren Gully Mgorning gonrnal aud Gunrier

cept Senators Brown, Call, Morgan and
Pugh. All the nays were Democrats except
Senator Hill. Senator Sherman, who had
voted with the minority on the point of or
der, did not vote on the main question and
Senator Van Wyck, who had voted in the
same way, had paired.
The bill as amended was adopted, and at
$50 the Senate went into executive session
and at 1880 P. m. adjourned.
Houston motion of Mr.. Payson, of Ill
inois. the House concurred in the Senate
amendments to the Texas Pacific land grant
forfeiture bill, and on motion of Mr.. Hop
kins, of Pennsylvania, the House concurred
IN the Senate amendments to the bill to pro-
hlblt the importation of contract labor.
The regular order was demanded and the
States and territories were called for the in
PRODUCTION of bills for reference only. A
small number were introduced and appropri-
ately referred
Mr.. Randall moved to set aside the order
giving this day to the consideration of bust
ness from the Committee on the District of
Columbia; agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Randall the House then
went into committee on the naval appropria-
ton bill, and general debate on the proposed
increase of the navy was resumed. Mr..
Long, of Massachusetts, expressed his will
lingness to aid Democratic administration
in rebuilding the navy. He favored the
proposition of the bill, believing it would Sc
cure the addition of four formidable vessels.
Mr.. Dorsheimer, of New York, argued that
the contest between the guns and armor had
been and is still in favor of the guns. He
said the provision in the bill
requiring American material to be
used would defeat the building of
ironclads, for no one would venture the
plant necessary to construct steel or COM
pound plates for these vessels. He believed
vessels built in compartments SO they could
not be sunk, with high rate of speed and
the most destructive armament, better than
ships built with a view to resist assault. He
favored relief of the departments from re-
striction as to money, believing the work
could be done much cheaper if the coptrac-
tors could be assured there was no necessity
for going to Congress to ask for funds to
complete the work.
Nj Hewitt, of New York, argued that the
two essentials for the new ships were speed
and weight of metal. He was heartily in
favor of the proposition to rebuild the navy.
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, said that they
had been told by the other side, and notably
by Mr.. Randall, that there was no great
hurry about the navy, that it could be done
at some future time; but recently they had
been struck by a new light as sudden as that
which struck down Saul at Damascus.
He commended 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 such
board as the bill proposed. He wanted a
navy, but saw no way of getting it by the
plan of awards.
General debate was then closed. Mr..
Thomas, of Illinois, raised the points of
order that this section was new legislation
and not in order and that it changed existing
laws. The chair sustained the point and the
section was stricken cut.
+ Mr. Talbot, of Indiana, offered an amend
ment providing for the completion of the
first-class cruiser provided for by the act of
August 5, 1882; agreed to, 81 to 81.
Mr.. Randall, who had opposed the amend
ment, offered further amendment provid-
ing that the construction shall be approved
by the Secretary of the Navy; adopted.
Mr.. Thomas of Illinois, offered an amend
ment appropriating So, 2O2, 7O4 for the com
pletion of the monitors; disagreed to.
Mr.. Boutelle, of Maine, offered amend
ment providing for the return of the Greedy
relief steamer Alert to the British govern
ment with the thanks of this government;
adopted.
The reading of the bill was then conclud-
ed, when the committee arose and reported
the bill to the House. Mr.. Randall demand
ed an aye and nay vote on Mr. Talbot's
amendmentssto complete the steel cruisers
and it was ordered. All the other amend
ments were agreed to. The amendment pro-
viding for the cruiser was adopted; yeas Ill,
nays 80. The bill was then passed and at
$50 the House took recess till 8 p. m.
The night session was devoted to the con-
sideration of business pertaining to the Dis
trict of Columbia. The House passed the
bill to give title to property sold for taxes
and several minor matters relating to that
district The House at 1850 adjourned until
tomorrow