The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-08-05
measure II u ould have been adopted by 4 large
maoriLy. In nresenting the aesa Col. Brnag

measure II would haze been adopted by large
majority In presenting the eese Col, Brady
said
Mr. Chairman realize frlly the Importance
of the passage or the bin under consideration.
and have no desire to take up any OF the time
of the committee except for few brief mo-
ments in advocacy Of the amendment baFe
offered. III ia q well known fact that the naFY
ward AT Norfolk il superior i'll many respects to
any navy yard in this country, if not III he
world. Admiral Decatur Rear Admiral smith,
successive boards Of naval officers, and shcaes-
ports al, agreed thet IL Is. or shotild be lssaee
the great navy yard OF the country us en-
mate is unsurpassed, It's naahor is open a SEQ
sons of the year. mechanics can Work y not.
folk out of doors all the year aroud-indeed, II
is the only great naval establishment on the
whole Atlantic coast.
Now, as to the plant necessary for the con-
struction of these vessels. very considerable
portion of it is already on hand at the Norfolk
Raw ward I'VE also have the facilities in order
to establish all the requisite plant to do the
work. Millions of dollars Of northern capital
valuable iron and coal resources, and we can
more readily than many other sections OF the
for tile construction Of all these vessels. Az TO
skilled mechanics and laborers. assert that
we have at Norfolk men who are equal in that
respect to any elsewhere in this country or III
the world,
These mechanics and laborers are now and
have been for months unemployed; idleness
reigns supreme at this magnificent naval
establishment, and our people, when Virginia
pay the United States millions of dollars yearly
AiNSN "
work
Under the provisions of the section as en-
bodied in the bill, and without the amendment
have submitted, the discretion as to the con-
struction and completion of these vessels is
left With the Secretary of the Navy am not
in favor, in consideration of the tire itment by
the present Democratic administration OF the
Norfolk navy yard, of permitting that discre-
ton to remain in his hands. | have no fault to
find with him but do claim that he is under
the influence of New York. We have a New
York President and New York Secretary of
the Treasury and New York Secretary OF tn e
Navy; and, sir, unless the amendment pro-
pose is adopted, in my Judgment this work Will
go to New York and to the other navy yards III
| the north and the Norfolk navy yard will be
left out and our section of the country Will not
| receive the consideration it deserves in the
| distribution of the work authorized under the
| bill.
am not here, Mr.. Chairman, making an APP
| peal for my own party. because it is q fact well
| known that we have had under the present ad-
| ministratiOn clean sweep in the Norfolk
| navy yard and the question of politics there
| fore has nothing to do with it, 80 far as l am
concerned. l am for justice to all sections
| and believe that the Norfolk navy yard, with
| all its facilities, can do this work equally as
good, if not better, than any other navy yard
| in the country. 1t can be demonstrated TO
| every fair-minded man that in many respects
our Virginia navy yard is the best in the United
| States, and as matter of Justice and fair deal
ing we should have at least one of these YES
| sells to build. ApplauSe,1