National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-07-26
THE NORFOLK NAVY YARD.

Hon. y. ID. Brady Makes Vigorous
Effort to Have One of the Naval War
Vessels Constructed at the Norfolk
Navy Yard.
In the House on Saturday, during the
consideration of the naval bill, the Hon. ].
d. Brady offered an amendment to the
fifth section Of the bill, providing that one
Of the vessels be built at the Norfolk navy
yard, which he supported in clear and
forcible statement. Col. Brady pressed the
matter In the House as far as he could with.
out endangering the passage Of the bill, and
although his and other good amendments
were rejected, II is nevertheless a fact that II
the eight Democratic members from Vir-
ginia IN the House had each secured one
fourth the number OF Democratic votes that
Col. Brady did Republican In favor OF the
measure It would have been adopted by a
large majority. In presenting the case Col.
Brady said:
Mr.. Chairman, I realize fully the importance
Of the passage OF the bill under consideration,
and have no desire 10 take up any of the time
of the committee except for few briet mo.
ments In advocacy of the amendment have
offered. 1t isa well.kuown fact that the navy
yard at Norfolk is superior In many respects 10
any navy yard in this country, II not In the
world. Admiral Decatur Rear Admiral Smith,
siye Secretaries of the Navy have, in their re-
lorts all agreed that Il Is, or should be made,
the great navy yard of the country. Its climlte
IL unsurpassed, its harbOr Is open all seasons of
the year, mechanics can work at Norfolk out
Of doors all the year around-indeed, II Is the
only great naval establishment OH the whole
Atlantic coast,
Now, as to the plant necessary for the con.
siruction OF these vessels, a very considerable
portion of II IL already on hand mt the Norfolk
navy yard. We also have the facilities In order
N nll N N.tu uNff o. a flnn
work. Millions of dollars Of northern capital
have been invested In our state to develop our
valuable iron and coal resources, aud we can
more readily than many other sections OF the
country furnish all the iron and steel needed
for the complete construction OF all these yes.
sells. As TO skille mechanics and lab9rers' |
assert that we have at Norfolk men who are
| equal In that respect 70 any elsewhere In this
| country or in the world.
These mechanics aud laborers are now and
| have been for months unemployed; idlenCss
| regns supreme at this magnificent naval eslab.
| lishmeni, aud our people, when Virginia pay
| the United States millions of dollars yearly
| of internal revenue taxes, are sadly in need of
work
Under tho provisions of the section as en-.
bodied IN the bill, and without the ameud-
mcnt j have submitted, the discretion as 10 the
| construction and completion of these vessels is
| lCnwiih the Secretary ofthc Navy. am no. in
| favor, in consideration of the treatment by the
| present Democratic administration of the
Norfolk navy yard, Of permitting that dlscre-
| find with him; but do claim tina. he Is under
| the influence of New York. kzWC have q New
| York President and a New York Secretary OF
| the Treasury and New York Secretary Of the
| Navy; ana, sir unless the amendment pro.
| pose Is adopted, in my judgment this work will
| go to New York and to the other navy yards In
| the north and the Norfolk navy yard will be
left out and our section Of the country will not
| receive the consideration II deserves in the
| distribution of the work authorized under the
| bill.
| nm mt here Mr. Chairman making mn an
| peal for my own party, because II Is a fact well
| known that we have had underthe present
| administration a clean sweep in the NorfOl
| navy yard, and the question of politics there
| fore has nothing to do with II, so far as an
| concerned. am for Justice to all scctionsaud
| ] believe that the Norfolk navy yard, with nj
| Its facilities, can do this work equally as good
| If not better, than any other navy yard In the
country. II can be demonstrated TO every fair
minded man that In many respects our Vir.
| gina navy yard is the best In the United
states, and az matter Of justice and fair.deal'
ing We should have at least one OF these ves-
sells to build [Applausc.l