The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-29
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS
The Senate Will Insist Upon Its Amend
ments to the River and Harb0r Bill.
The Urgent Need Of Heavy Guns for Coast De-
fenses-AnOther Spat in the House Over
Alleged Fraudulent Land Entries.
THE SENATE.
The Body Votes To Insist Upon Its Amend
manfs tn the River and Harhor Bill.

The Body Votes to Insist Upon It's Amend
ments to the River and Harbor Bill.
WASHINGTON, July 28-Mr. Mcmillan, from
the conference committee on the river and har-
Dor bill. reported that the committee had been
unable TO agree.
The Chair Mr. Sherman) thereupon laid be-
fore the Senate message from the House to
the effect that it had instructed its conferees to
insist on striking from the bill the items as to
Portage lake and Lake Superior ship canal; the
Lake Michigan and Hennepin canal the Stur
gen bay and Lake Michigan ship canal; the
Mississippi river improvements, and the Poto-
mac river improvements.
Mr.. Mcmillan remarked that there was a par
liamentary question as to the right of the House
to give these instructions and remove the con-
ference from being 'full and free conference"
The Senate conferees, however. had concluded
to waive that question, as the session was so
near it's close, and as the interests of the
country required action on the BILL He there
fore moved that the Senate insist on its amend
ments.
A long discussion ensued as to the right Of the
House to instruct its conferees beforehand what
to DO, but finally resolution was adopted that
the Senate insist on its amendments, including
those mentioned in the House resolutions
Senators Mcmillan. Coke and Gibson were
appointed conferees on the part of the Senate.
Mr.. Teller, from the committee on public lands,
reported bill to refer to the Court OF Claims
the G IN of William McGarrahan to the Panoche
Grande grant Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Sherman, from the committee on foreign
relations, reported back the resolution offered by
Mr. Call as to the arrest and detention of Ameri-
can citizens in Mexico. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Edmunds, from the judiciary committee,
reported a bill to detach certain counties from
the United States judicial district of California,
and to create the United States judicial district
of southern California. Placed on the calendar.
The Senate then took up the Notifications bill
The BILL as it came from the House, appropriated
$4,000 The Senate adds Sc, 0I0. 000 in accord
ance with the recommen dations of the ordnance
and gun-foundry boards regarding the manu-
facture of heavy guns.
Mr.. Beck said that what the country wanted,
and wanted now, was the big guns; they should
be bought now Of the best pattern from Krupp
and others abroad, and then guns should uti-
mately be made at home. But the government
should not wait, absolutely defenseless. until
guns could be made in the United States. He
wanted to see the ports of New York, Boston,
Norfolk and San Francisco fortified. He did
not believe that the bill would accomplish what
was needed now.
Mr.. Hawley, in speaking of the subject,
quoted approvingly from a letter Of Samuel j.
Tilden to himself conforming the apathy of
Congress in this matter, and said that no more
statesmanlike or patriotic sentiment had been
expressed among the people who call themselves
statesmen and politicians.
The consideration of the bill was interrupted.
and Mr.. Allison, from the conference committee
on the legislative appropriation bill submitted
report, which was agreed to-
Mr.. Dolph opposed the amendment authoriZ-
ing contract with the South Boston Iron
works for the construction of cast iron mortars,
to the amount of $50, 600.
Mr. German defended the amendment. The
amendment was further defended by Mr.. Plumb,
and was finally agreed to.
The argument against it was that the days of
cast-iron guns are past. but MIR. Plumb contend
ed that while that might be true as to ordnance
in general, it did not apply to mortars, which
still had recognized value in warfare
Mr. Dolph moved an amendment approprating
$2,OOO.000 for the construction of Notifications
and other works of coast defense. in accordance
with the recommendations of the board appoint
ed Dy the President under the act of June 2,
1885 He spoke in advocacy of the amendment
Mr.. Dawes opposed the amendment He
would trust to the good judgment of the Senate
not to kill the bill by overloadingit.
The amendment was rejected-yeas o. nays
&c.
Mr.. Plumb offered an amendment appropria-
ting $4,000 to enable the Secretary of the Navy
to provide additional tools and machinery for the
the Washington navy yard Adopted.
The bill was then reported to the Senate, the
various amendments were agreed to. and the bill
was passed
The Senate then took up the surplus joint
resolution, and then adjourned.
The following is the portion of Mr. Tilden's
letter to Senator Hawley. dated June 9, 1886,
and read by the latter as part of his speech to-
day:
"The apathy of Congress on this subject
would be incredible if it did not confront u.s. It
contrasts with the rivalry which is so conspicu-
Gus TO insist on our taxing a high tone toward
foreign nations on every occasion Of difference
between them and US. 1t contrasts, also, with
the favor which is shown to schemes of prodigal-
ity and schemes to waste the public resources on
things known to be absolutely useless. Among
the people the desire for liberal appropriations
towards the means OF public defense is well-nigh
unanimous; am well informed as to the popular
feeling from the circumstance that more than
seven hundred newspapers from all parts of the
country, and representing all political parties,
containing expressions upon the subject. have
6anw 1Av1%t %