The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-24
THE HOUSE.

Defeat of Mr.. Randall's Scheme for Rebuild
| ing the Navy.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-Mr. Randall, chair
man of the committee on appropriations, re-
ported the sundry civil appropriation bill, which
was referred to the committee of the whole, Mr..
Bland reserving al points Of order.
Mr.. Lefevre offered resolution recitirNs tla1
roscrt4Iauy Is DISCRIMINATING against imported
American products, and instructing the com
mittee on foreign affairs to inquire into and re-
| port whether the interests of the United States
do not require the adoption of like discrmina
pire. Referred.
| On motion of Mr.. Payson the Senate amend
| ments were concurred in to the House bill for
feiting the Texas Pacific land grant
| On motion of Mr. Hopkins the Senate amend
ments to the House bill prohibiting importation
of contract labor were concurred in.
The States were then called for introduction
| of bills, but very few were presented, the most
| Important of these being one introduced by
Mr.. Perkins, to open up the Oklahoma lands to
| homestead settlements.
| Mr. Randall then moved that the House go
| into committee for further consideration of tie
| naval appropriation bill, and, though opposed by
supporters of the river and harbor bill, the mo-
| ton was carried-yeas, 1885, nays, 125-and tie
House went into committee as indicated, with
| Mr.. WellboFn in the chair
| Considerable debate ensued on the second sec
| ton of the bill, which contains Mr.. Rand;lls
| scheme for rebuilding the navy. Finally, Mr.
| Thomas raised point of order against the sec
| ton, that it changed existing law, and was not
| in the interest of economy
| Mr.. Stone raised a further point that the
subject-matter of the section should have been
| properly reported by the committee on naval
affairs, and was not within the jurisdiction of
| the appropriations committee.
The Chair declined to rule on this latter noint
of order, but sustained that raised by Mr.
Thomas, and the section was stricken from the
bill
Mr. Randall then wished to postpone further
consideration of the bill for the present, and to
proceed to consideration of the deficiency bill,
but objection made
Mr.. Talbot offered an amendment appropriate
ing ST. 78O, 900 for the completion of a steel
cruiser of not less than 5000 nor more than
G, 900 tons displacement, the armament therefor
having been authorized by act of Congress APP
proved Aug 5, 1882
Mr.. Thomas favored the amendment as being
a practical beginning to the work of building up
a navy.
Mr. Hewitt, of New York, said what we
wanted was real navy and not sham one,
and the addition of this ship to the navy would
give another failure To appropriate for it
would be simply money thrown away.
Mr.. McAdoo regarded the amendment as
proposition to produce an American Esmeralda,
and, so regarding it, he would vote for it. The
amendment was adopted-91 to 81
On motion of Mr.. Randall the amendment
was amended by adding proviso that the Sec
rotary of the Navy shall approve the construc-
tion of said vessel.
Mr. Thomas offered an amendment appropri-
ating So 2040 900 for completion of the Puritan.
Terror Monadnock, Amphitrite and Miantono-
NAH, provided their completion shall be recon
mended by the Secretary of the Navy. Lost-64
to 3d.
On motion of Mr.. Boutelle an amendment
was adopted providing for the return of the
Alert with the thanks of this government. to
the government of Great Britain; for the trans.
fer of the Bear to the Treasury Department, to
be- used as revenue cutter in Alaskan waters,
aud for the use of the Thetis in the navy as
surveying vessel.
The committee then rose and reported the
bill to the House The action of the committee
in adopting the Talbot amendment was ratified
by the House-yeas, ILL., nays, 90.
The bill was then passed, and the House took
recess until s o'clock in the evening, the ses-
sion to be for consideration of business relating
to the District of Columbia.
The House. at the evening session, passed
few unimportant bills and adjourned