Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-08-07
Our Washington Letter.
wAsH1Seros, D. G., Aug. A.

There was an interesting discus
sion in the House this week, when
the bill for the increase OF the Ma
w" was taken up. Heretofore, any
thing pertaining to the Navy, has
been regarded as a good joke, and
dealt with in most remarkable face
tious and frolicsome manner. 1t
was therefore, surprise to all when
the usual innocent levity was dis
carded, and q serious and dignified
attitude assumed. Representative
Herbert Of Alabama, contrasted the
splendid condition of the Navy prior
to, and during the war, with its pres
ent deplorable state. Since the war
the Navy had been left to rot, until
to day, for purposes of defense, it
was utterly worthless. He said that
one vessel from the Brazilian Navy,
Ca fourth rate power), could be TAX
en-. and defeat the entire American
fleet, in the most approved "Sulli
van stylen He said also, that our
ships, could neither fight nor run
away, being deficient in both
strength and speed. Mr.. Herbert
explained the provisions of the SUBJ
stitute bill, stating that if it were
agreed to, and IL the vessels now in
course of construction were complet-
ed, an appropriation of S4,000,000 a
year would be required for years
in order to secure material, though
moderate increase of the Navy. A
Member IN speaking Of the bill, said
that in the past the republican par
ty had been hampered in the great
work of rebuilding the Navy by the
indisposition Of its democratic
friends to entrust that work to the
hands of republican officials. The
country therefore had right to ex-
pect upon the accession of the demo-
cratic party to power, some substan-
tial and energetic progress towards
the construction of an effective and
reputable Navy.
Secretary Whitney has been ar
IDENTIFY advocating an appropriation
for naval purposes. but the House
and Senate evidently take but little
stock in his appropriations, and
therefore do nothing towards ac-
complishing the most important and
necessary feature of every civilized
Government.
Let me see-I was looking over
the calender yesterday and there
were just four hundred thousand
bills left, not acted upon, and Con
gress about TO adjourn. The notori-
Gus character Judge Waxiumn
from "way-backn mas by far Il e
greatest number of bills before the
House
Most Of his bills are engrafted up
on the river and harbor bill, rivers
more particularly, when ever one Of
the Judges constituents down in
away-backn discovers new creek or
river after a storm the Judge is inn
mediately notifed--and he of course
Immediately notifies the House and
brings in new bill or an "adendusn
to the river and harbor BILL
The Judge has peculiar manner
of addressing the House He al
ways says gentleman and ladies'
when he is not in hurry and wants
to be particularly palite. Here is
one of his characteristic speeches
verbatim ct neutrality-suspicious.
and ladies, that river down thar in
my distric is generally small river
when it don't rain, but when it do
rain that river is marvelous-it
breaks over all bounds, it runs riot
and If I could only keep that river
in it's bounds / could float skiff on
it any day-but | must have dams
dam the water up, you see it all
gifts away just about the time we
want to use it. If we could only
keek that water thar for a while we
could have nice dams, and we could
do all the grinding for the whole
neighborhood."
About this time the speakers gavil
comes down and the Judge quits
kicking all the same, though Con-
gress will adjourn now in day or
SO without really having done any
thing except froth up at the mouth.
/ do no4 really like to sum up what
they have done until they have done
it. but next week | will endeaver to
give brief summary of what the
"dissembled wisdom of the nation
has done. ALlC.