New-York tribune., 1886-07-30
THE NEW NAVAL BILL.

As long ago as March 10 the House Commit
tee on Naval Affairs reported a bill for increas-
inc the Navy. 1t provided for the construc-
ton of various vessels for the completion of
the monitors, and for the building of torpedo
boats, and fairly represented the deliberate
opinions of members of the committee of both
parties That bill was hung up upon the cal
erdar of the House until last Saturday, when
it was thrust aside by the chairman of the
connnittee and substitute passed under pres
sure of the previous question without ade
ouate examination or discussion. The original
bill appropriated sc, ,425,000 for the new Navy.
TIE Democratic triumviratc decided that this
WIS too large an amount To be voted at one
session. and compelled the majority of the COM
mittce to Iecast the bill :nd to make something
like a horizontal reduction of 80 per cent all
around The substitute WAS Clmsily drawn
and was most inadequate and unsatisfactory
measure. 1t not only reduced the appropria-
ton to $3,50O,OO0, but embodied many
vicious principles that the Republican members,
while almost unanimously i'll favor of increasing
the naval establishment were forced to vote
against it. 1t was passed by vote of lis t.
lO3 without having been considered i'll Com
mittcc OF the Whole, and without the full and
detailed discussion which the importance of the
subject required.
In our Judgment it is the duty of the Senate
either to reject this measure outright or to
throw il into conference committee, from
which the original measure may be reported
with amendments providing for the purc'iaSc 81
the armament in this country. The response
bility of deferring legislation for the conStruc-
ton OF q new Navy is IA serious one, but the
Senate is under no obligations to accept so
wletchcd make-Shft as this substitute at
the discretion Of the notorious Steering Com
mittecr of the House. The Republican party
having initiated the new naval policy is com
mittcd to it and has no desire to thwait the
efforts of Democratic Administration or of a
Democratic House To place the Navy on foot
ing that will be crcditible To the country.
But the responsibility OF defeating carefully
prepared till like the one reported TO the
House h>t March and Of substituting for 1t >'
lame and impotcnt a ,ncaSurc as the one passed
last week /, one which the Republican majority
in the Senate ought not 10 cyadc.
Republican legislators In both House. of Con-
gicss will make grave mistake II they block
the passage of adequate and well -digc>tcd
measures for fortiiying the haborS and strength
cning the Navy. Public opinion iavors such
measures and il is the duty OF the patty In oppo
sition To forward them whichever they are PIE
sontcd IN good season and are worthy of sup
poit But Republican legislators are not under
the slightest obligation To aid the Adnlni-ta-
tiou and the Democratic majority IN the Lowe
House In dcopciat" attempts Ia retrieve then
hlundris and incompetence. At the close
the session appropriations tor new shipN, gun
metal and gun factories are abruptly proposed
and the Republican Senate l. expected to con
en- in them and Ia overlook the vicious pm
cipc, embodied il thon- The measures should
have been forced upon the delinquent and III
competent majority OF the House months ago
II j. too hate now to discuss then IN detail and
to remedy thoir defects. The whole subject
should lee deferred until another session.