The Portland daily press., 1888-06-16
GENERAL WASHINGTON NEWS.
Six Millions Wanted to Build ships for
Uncle Sam.
General sherIdan's Persistent crowI-
Ing Encourages His Friends.
Laborer and congressman-st Story OF
knute Nelson's Successor.

Laborer and Story OF
knute Nelson's Successor.
WASHINGTON, June 15.-The naval appro-
priation bill has at last been completed by
the House committee ON naval affairs, and IL
VIII be reported TO the House on Saturday
or early next week. One Of the chief features
OF the bill Is an appropriation Of S6,OO0,OOO
for the Increase OF the navy, s4,oOO,Oo0 being
for construction and 81, 00O,OOO for armament.
Strong efforts have been made TO induce the
committee TO provide for lot Of small YES
sells, which could be quickly built and would
afford more places for commanding officers
| but these efforts have not been successful.
Ih,e dhs Diil autnorizes tne construction Of four
600 tons displacement, each 10 have a
| guaranteed speed Of 10 knots; one unarmof-
| ed cruiser OF $500 tons. with guaranteed
sRee4 ot ~ ~ knots' ana one armored ship Of
about 1900 tons displacement, with no
| guarantee OF speed, but planned TO make not
less than IL knots. One Of the four must be
puilt IN navy yard. and all may be built
"a suen YARDS II the President Is satisfied
that none OF the bids made by contractors 4
reasonable. The acts Of March 3, 1885 Aug.
/ 3, 1886, and March 3, 1887, authorized the
construction Of ships TO cost In the aggregate
/ a trifle less than $20,O0O,0OO. The amount
| thus far appropriated for these ships Is S.
| $4,000. This Is exclusive Of about s7,OOO,-
| 900 appropriated for guns and armOr In 1886
| and 1887, OF which about S4.00O,0O0 will be
| required TO pay the contracts made with the
bethlehem Iron Works a year ago, leaving
| s5,00O,00o to the credit Of the Secretary.
Why Gen. sherIdan's Friends are
Confident.
| There is one thing in Gen. Sheridan's
favor, and that he is a most terrific growler.
He growls iabout everything, much to the
satisfaction Of his family and friends, who
dreaded very much to see in him the strange
and ominous patience that in most men in
dicates mortal Inalady. Gen. Sheridan has
never stopped stewing and fussing for a mo-
ment, except when he was temporarily over
come by weakness; He calls his peptonized
/ chicken slop. Nothing suits him. Every
| thing has to be changed, and that right
| away. He wants roast beef, claret every
| tnlng that ne ought not to have, and pitches
into the doctors right and left the instant he
can hold his head up from the pillow. This
encourages his family hugely particularly
Col Mike Sheridan.
| knute Nelson's Successor.
| Mr.. Knute Nelson, the erepresentatIvemem-
Der Of the House from Minnesota, whom the
Democrats rather prematurely counted as a
convert to the Mills bill, but who finally
came out against 1t, and predicted Cleve-
lands defeat on the tariff issue, Is happy
now. The cause Of his Joy Is tine Nomination
Of Sullivan g. Comstock, Of Moorehead,
Minnesota, to be his successor in Congress.
Nelson Is candidate for either the governor
ship or the senatorship in place Of Sabine.
He and Comstock are political and personal
lntimates, and he thinks the latter will aid
him In his aspirations. Comstock Is said TO
| be good protectionist, and Nelson has be-
come one, too. seeing the necessity Of II, IL
ne wants 10 be governor or senator. Com
stock Is man with a record. In 1871 he en-
tered the town Of M0orehead with pIckaxe
on his shoulder as a day lab0rer on the
Northern Pacific railroad. Today he Is a
leading citizen, with bank account Of more
than 100000. He is the man who was in
trusted with the pleasant task Of selecting
/ and laying out all the towns on the ManitO-
ba railroad. He had full authority, and
whenever he came across place that looked
TO him like an eligible town site he drove a
stake, laid out town lots, and moved on. He
did little real estate bargaining for him
self at the same time, and IS now enjoying
the fruits OF Il. Before engaging as laborer,
Mr. Comstock had been law student In
Omaha, but did not continue in the profess
| sion owing TO lack OF funds. While engaged
| as student he was a friend Of Henry M.
Stanley, w6o was at that time making
living as editor and manager Of an Omaha
paper. Nelson says that Comstock Is an
able man, who will make a creditabie and
valuable member Of Congress.
The Pension List.
The following Maine pensions have been
granted;
| ORIGINAL, INVALID.
Jas. W. Achorn, Camden.
Geo. II. Fisher, COrinna.
/ Chadbourne III. Warren, navy Auburn
Thomas Ward, Lewiston.
Albert Mcintosh, Belfast.
Eleanor NJ, mother Of Orren L. Stuart, ,Machias.
Minor OF John M. Weber, Gardiner.
RESTORATION AND INCREASE.
Thos. vlolette, oldtown.
| INCREASE.
Kendall Pollard, Locke's Mills.
Nathaniel 5. Hoyt, Bangor.
| REISSUE.
Elisha s. Chapel, navy, Pembroke.
VIM. L. Bailey, East Bradford.
Rayner and Reed.
The scene in the House, Thursday, be-
tween Rayner Of Maryland and Reed Of
Maine was exceedingly amusing Rayner
took umbrage at a statement made by Reed
two days age. that It was not worth while
for the Democrats to continue ''to lie" on
on the tariff question Rayner asserted that
tie word liar was only harmless and in
offensive when used by towards. It never
entered the vocabulary Of gentlemen unless
| they had the courage TO defend IL.
Here Mr.. Rayner paused, evidently ex-
| peeting response from Mr.. Reed, who sim
ply smiled his bland and childlIke smile.
waxing still more angry, Mr.. Rayner said
the gentleman from Maine did not seem TO
understand that man could be funny with
out being buffoOn and could even be a
clown without being vulgar.
Still Mr.. Reed made no sign.
Ihen hayner grew still more angry, and
charged Mr.. Reed with being the "'howiing
dervish" Of the monopolists, while he was
| denying that any monopOlists existed He
| said the gentleman was simply the 'harle-
quin Of political menagerie, while he claim
ed 70 De the Delphic oracle Of the Republican
| party" and he wound up his remarks In a
| paroxysm Of passion, which was responded
| to only by an outburst Of dersive Laughter
| and cheers from the Republican side, Mr.
Reed vouehsafng no reply save an amiable
smile.
| In the House.
/ There were many vacant seats on the
Republican side Of the House today. 1t was
estimated that about 80 Representatives had
gone to Chicago or were making arrange
ments to go. The attendance on the Demo-
cratic side was not much better and business
| could only be done by unanimous consent
| any member having II In his power to sus-
/ quorum.
After several hours spent in the consider
| alton OF private bills, the House passed the
bills for the relief Of Ellen r. Molloy and
/ John ii. Newman. At the evening session.
nineteen pension bills were passed.
Notes.
A post Office has been established at West
/ Fryeburg. Maine, with Mr.. r. o. Hutchin'
i postmaster.
General Sheridan continues to Improve.
/ There was no marked change In his cOndl-
| tion today.
| The Erie Belt Line Passenger Railway has
% %9een chartered with a capital Of s25OOOQ.