Morning journal and courier., 1888-07-25
Fiftieth Congress--First Session.


Mr.. Cockrell, of Missouri, explained the
object which he had in suggesting the print
ing of the veto message in the Doherty case.
The Senator from Massachusetts, Mr.. Dawes)
had then suggested resolution to have all
the pension vetoes printed, and he (Mr. Cock
relD had offered it as an amendment; but to
his horror and establishment the Senator
from Massachusetts, had sprung into fear
full rage about it, and the distinguished Sem
ator from Connecticut (Mr. Hawlsy) had
been moved almost to tears on the Doherty
case, and the walls of wrath had been poured
upon the devoted head of the President.
These veto messages were excellent read
ing and the people were very anxious to read
them.
Mr.. Davis rep, Maine), chairman of the
pension committee, explained and justified
the action of that committee in reporting a
bill to pension Mrs. Doherty, who had suf-
fersd seriously from an explosion at the
which she had drawn (for three months) as
the widow of Daniel Doherty, he explained
that it had been given on the report (which
had turned out to be a fabMeation) of his
death. The President had seen fit to read to
Congress homi1y on its earelessness and re-
missness and had stated, as fact, that Dam
iel Doherty was living in Philadelphia, a pen
sioner in his own right. tfFalse as a buIle-
tin," which used to be a proverb, was per-
fectly applicable to that paper, for there was
not one word of truth in that allegation
Daniel Doherty had never enjoyed pension
the record in the pension Office showing
that his claim for pension had been disal-
lowed in the pension office.
Mr.. CockreIl asked Mr.. Davis whether the
pension to Mrs. Doherty was given because
of her injury at the arsenal explosion.
Mr.. Davis presumed that that had a certain
effect in determining the reporting of the
bill. Mr.. Ceckrel dared the committee on
pensions to make report recommending the
passage of the bill on the ground that Mary
eminent and had been injured in an explo-
sion. He Just dared them to do it.
The matter was allowed to pass over with
out action and Mr.. Sherman, from the CON-
mittee on finance, reported an amendment to
the sundry civil bill to incorporate in it a
provision to refund the direct tax.
The Senate then proceeded to the consid-
Grafton of the naval appropriation bill.
Among the amendments reported from the
committee on appropriations and agreed to in
the Senate was one inserting an item of So, 900
for quarters for surgeon at the torpedo station
at Newport, R. I.
The most important amendment reported
was to add to the item for the construction of
three steel cruisers 1.-TWO of them of about
three thousand tons at cost not exceeding
s., 100, 900 each, exclusive of armament, and
one of about 6, 500 tons at a cost Of not more
than 81 500, 000) the following: "Also three
gunboats or cruisers, neither of which shall
exceed 1 500 tons in displacement nor $500,
900 in cost, including any premium that may
be paid for increased speed and excluding
the cost of armament, said vessels to be built
either wholly of steel or with steel frames;''
to strike out of this item the words "and one
armored cruiser of about 2, 800 tons displace-
ment to cost not more than So, SOC, 000," and
also to strike out the provision that at least
one of the vessels shall be built in a United
States navy yard and that others may be built
at navy yards if the Secretary cannot make
reasonable contracts for their construction.
Mr.. Gray moved to amend the amendment
by striking out the words 81 700 tons" and
inserting the words "2 900 tons" and increas-
ing the cost from $500, 600 to $700, 900 each.
Mr. Hale, who is in charge of the bill, ia
vored Mr.. Gray's amendment and explained
the purpose of the committee in its recon-
mendations.
Mr.. Gray thought the committees amend
ment Ito substitute more armored cruisers
for larger and more costly vessels) wise
one.
Mr.. Morgan approved the committees
amendment except as to the striking out of
the provision for 1900 ton armored cruiser.
That he did not favor, as he regarded these
large vessels more efficient than forts in the
protection of harbors.
Mr. Hale defended the action of the COM
mittee and said he did not think that the
building or the not building of great heavy,
unwieldy armored ships raised the question
of whether or not the Senate was willing to
build up the navy. The navy was being
built up and reconstructed. Two of these
large ships, the Maine and the Texas, were
now being built at q cost of So, 00o, 900 each,
although the estimate was only two and a
half millions, but he did not think that they
would be completed during the term of any
Senator He did not want to see another of
them begun until it was known how that ex-
pertinent turned out. But he wanted to go
on adding to the navy from year to year fast
large steel cruisers which would be valuable
in war and valuable as deterrents to prevent
other powers from making war against the
United States. Senators Hawley and Hale
agreed with Mr.. Morgan in favoring the con-
struction of large armored ships in addition
to the swift cruisers.
In another statement by Mr.. Hale he said
that the two large armored ships being built
were the nightmare of the Navy department,
the bugbear of everybody who approached
them. The worst thing that could be done
class.
Mr.. Butler favored the construction OF
large armored ships and spoke of the uses
for which light cruisers were favored Ito
harass an enemy's commeree) as guerilla,
bushwhacking sort of naval warfare I'M
worthy OF q great uhblOAs NOt Ou6 OI BuCn
ships would be effective in naval fight with
q foreign power. He would supplement the
fast cruisers with at least dozen of the best
fighting ships.
Mr., Hale remarked that in such a naval con-
fiict as the Senator from South Carolina pic
tured in his imagination ship of even 100
tons would be worth nothing as against the
great ironclads of the Italian Russian, Eng
lish or French navies. If feet of that kind
were to be built Jip il would cost at least q
hundred millions.
Mr.. Stewart asked Mr.. Hale what class of
ironclads had been successful.
Mr. Hale replied that if that question was
asked of a foreign naval officer the answer
would be that they had not been tried. They
had been tried to some extent in the bonn
bardment of Alexandria, but had made no
great show there.
Mr.. Morgan, speaking of the general power
which strong lighting navy would give to
the United States said Germany would not
be sweeping the Pacific if the United States
has good fighting navy; not that Germany
was afraid of US, but she knew that the
United States was not going to arm in order
to defend the Pacific ocean. The building of
good fighting navy would do more for the
commerce of the country than any other
measure.
Mr.. Stewart moved to amend the house
clause proposed to be struck out by making
tons and the limit to cost $40, 900, 900 instead
of Sc, 500, 900.
Mr.. Gibson suggested to Mr.. Stewart to
modify his amendment SO as to provide for
two vessels of war of about Ii, 600 tons each
at at q cost of $40, 600, 600.
Mr.. Stewart accepted the suggestion, modi-
fed his amendment accordingly, and spoke
in favor of building up fighting navy.
Other speeches in favor of the building OF
large warships and strong navy were made
by Senators Butler, Reagan and Gibson, while
Mr.. Call advocated the amendment proposed
by the committee on appropriations.
Mr.. Hawley opposed the proposition for
building two Is, 900 ton ships of war.
Finally vote was taken on Mr.. Stewards
amendment and it was rejected, yeas 8, nays
Al, the affirmative votes being as follows
Butler, Evarts, Gibson, Hampton, Mitchell
Platt, Stewart and Stockbridge.
The question was then taken on striking
out the House proposition for 800 ton ar
mored cruiser and it was struck out-yeas 81
nays II.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Gray, linn
| iting the tonnage of the three gun boats OF
| cruisers to 2,000 tons and the cost of each tt
4