Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-17
0'NEILL'S NAVAL PLEA.
THE TIME TOO SHORT FOR RE
PUBLICANS TO STEAL MUCH.

Liberal Appropriations for Works Oi
Improvement Urged in Order that the
100000 Idle Laborers of the Country
May Obtain Work-Trade sure to be
Benefited by Such Policy.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-The principal
speech in the Democratic caucus last
evening, in opposition to the resolution
that the Democratic members should
stand by the majority of the Appropria-
tiODs Committee in the matter of appro-
priatiOns for the current and coming fiscal
years, was made by Representative
ONeill, Of Missouri. He took strong
ground to the effect that the Democratic
party should no longer refrain from
making generous appropriations for
the naval service from fear of
mlsmanagement of the funds
by the Republican administration.
Within six weeks the government would
pass under Democratic control. and no
delay should be made in the work of
building up navy. A hundred thousand
able-bOdicd men throughout the country
were out of employment, and it should
be the policy of the Democratic party to
appropriate literally, not only for works
erection of harbOr fOrtifcatiOns and the
construction Of navy commensurate
with the power and Importance of the
nation. The money which would thus
flow into the channels of trade would raise
the United States from the humiliating
position OF being at the mercy OF any
third-class maritime nation of the world.
RANDALL's VIEW.
The Democrats of the House want to
see the navy rehabilitated under the next
administration, but they have not been
able to agree as yet whether appropria-
tlons for the reconstruction of the navy
should be made at this session for use in
the next fiscal year, or postponed until the
next session. The caucus Of yesterday
was to determine this, but the caucus de-
termined nothing. Mr.. Randall contend
ed in the caucus that appropriations for
the new navy should be postponed until
Congress should learn from Cleveland and
his Secretary of the Navy what was want
Ell for the new navy. He claims that
majority Of the Democrats, if not a ma
JOrlty of the caucus, are with him.
HIS argument was, that inasmuch as the
only estimates Congress now has are
those of Secretary Chandler. they must be
the basis OF any present legislation re-
spectlng the new navy, and that it was
obvious that these might not agree IN any
particular with the estimates Of Mr..
Chandler's successor, so that the appro-
priations might be entirely unsuitable.
Mr.. Ellis, of Louisiana, also a member
of the Appropriations Committee, who adj
vocated the immediate appropriation in
lump sum, and in no other way, of enough
money to enable the new administration
to begin to rebuild the navy next year,
also claims to be followed by a majority
of the Democrats.
HIS CAUCUS MAJORITY.
lie claims majority of the caucus be-
cause, he says, that he carried an adj
jOurnment against Mr.. Randal's wishes.
Mr.. Ellis told the caucus that the Demo-
Gratis ought to get all the credit for re-
habllIating the navy, and that to that end
they ought to put an immediate appro-
priatiOn through the House lest the Re-
publican Senate, when the naval bill for
the next year came 30 it, should put on
appropriations for the new navy which
would put the House in a dilemma.
If 1t voted for them the Republicans
would get the credit of them. If they
voted against them they would seem to
vote against the new navy to be built by
a Democratic administration. No resOlu-
ton was adopted by the caucus. Of
course If the Ellis Democrats can get the
Republicans of the House to support their
proposition they will beat Mr.. Randall,
but otherwise Mr.. Randall will beat them.
ihey say that the Ellis men will have to
hold an extra session of the next Con-
press