The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-26
THE HOUSE.
Passage of the Bill Providing for an Increase
of the Navy.
Passage

Passage OF the Bill Providing for an Increase
of the Navy.
WASHINGTON, July 24-Immediately after the
reading of the journal, the House went into
committee of the whole-Mr. Crisp, of Georgia,
In the chair-on the bill for the increase of the
navy.
Mr.. Boutelle, OF Maine, said the committee on
naval affairs had gone faithfully to work, and in
March had reported bill appropriating Sc. 1885,
600. This bill had slumbered upon the calendar
since that time, and the committee had been'un-
able to secure consideration for it. Now sub
stitute was brought in and the House was asked
to say to the people that the country did not
need the ships which the committee, in March,
said it did need. The House was asked to pass,
on the eve of the session, as lame and I'M
potent conclusion of all the great things the
Democrats were going to do for the navy, a
proposition 80 Clipped and hacked and emascu-
lated that its parents would not recognize it. He
wished to divest himself and his Republican col
leagues on the committee from all RESPONSE
biity for this action. Why had not
the original bill been brought upf He under
stood that the reason was that the Democratic
party in the House, distrustful of itself in open
legislation, fearful of what it might do if left to
its untrammeled course, had delegated the en-
tire power of controlling legislation to three
members, a steering committee, an lmperlum
in imperio. This tripartite executive of the DEM
ocratic party had put its mailed hand upon the
committee and said: Gentlemen, you shall not
have the &c. 000 600 appropriation before the cleo
tons. Wait another year Not this afternoon,
some other afternoon. Unless you permit us to
put pencil through half the propositions of the
bill, starting out with horizontal reduction of
the appropriations and then striking out what
we want eliminated, you shall not consider the
bill at all" This was the Judgment of the Dem
ocratic party as represented by the steering COM
mttee. He then went on to say that he would.
at the proper time, move to secure the passage
of the original bill.
Mr. Herbert said that the majority of the ma
val committee had not changed it's opinion in re-
gard to this matter, but it recognized the fact
that the committee was simply representative
of the House, and when it found that there was
an opinion in the House tina. the original bill ap-
propriated too much money and provided for
too many ships, it conformed the bill to the
sentiment of the House, and had no apology to
offer.
The original bill was then read by sections for
amendments.
On motion of Mr.. Buck. of Connecticut, an
amendment was adopted inserting in the bill the
provision contained in the substitute for dyna-
mite-gun cruiser
Mr. Boutele, of Maine, moved to strike out
the clause which authorizes the Secretary of the
Navy, in certain emergencies, to import the
arms for the new cruisers. Agreed to-101 to g..
The committee then rose and reported the bill
to the House.
Mr.. Herbert offered as substitute for the bill
the proposition agreed to by the committee on
naval affairs, and which has been published.
1t was agreed to-yeas III, nays l04-and the
bill as so amended was passed
The House then took recess until o'clock,
the evening session to be for the consideration
of land forfeiture bills.
At the evening session the bin declaring the
forfeiture of lands granted TO the New Orleans,
Baton Rouge & Vicksbure railroad was called up.
Mr. Laffoon, of Kentucky made d speech in
support of the bill. which, he said, returned to
the public domain between 300, 900 and 400, 00O
acres of land The bill was passed
The remainder of the session was consumed
in an Intellectual effort to secure quorum to
vote upon the Mobile & Girard land-forfeture
bill, and then, at 1885, the House adjourned.