The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-03-01
WHITNEY'S WAR SHIPS
Under Fire In a Speech by Mr.. Bou-
telle Of Maine.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 2S.-The Senate bill
for the protection Of salmon fisheries in
Alaska was passed by the House. Mr.. Dunn
offered an amendment, which was adopted,
directing the President to cause one OF more
United States vessels to cruise In Behring's
Sea and other Alaskan waters, and seize all
vessels found unlawfully engaged in seal
hunting.
The Speaker was authorized to appoint a
committee of the members to cooperate with
a similar committee on the part of the Senate
to take charge of the arrangements for the
inaugural proceedings at the Capitol.
The question of public buildings then
came up, when Mr.. Bland objected to con
sideration until after the Felton-Sullivan
contested election case was considered.
The conference report on the agricultural
appropriation bill was presented and agreed
Mr.. Herbert Of Alabama, from the COM
mittee on naval affairs, reported the naval
appropriation bill with Senate amendments
thereto, recommending concurrence In some
and non-concurrence in others Of those
amendments.
Mr.. Boutelle Of Maine said II was not true
that the administration now about coming
to its end had succeeded in placing the navy
Of the United States, on an equality with
those Of other nations, enthusiastic state
ments to the contrary Notwithstanding. 1t
was not true the administration had mani
tested and developed such an exceptional
degree of ability In regard to the eonstrue-
| iton of the navy as to humiliate, by contrast,
| the administration Of the Republican party
| In tine past. He charged the Democratic
party in the House with refusal TO appro-
| pirate money to enable Republican admin
| istration TO proceed with the reconstruction
| Of the navy. The Republican administra-
| tiOn had been given but S2,z21 900 for the
purposes of the work. The Republican par
| ty had pursued generous policy throughout
the present administration to the present
time. The Democratic executive had been
| provided with S2S, ,43l, 900. exclusive OF the
| pending bill, to enable him to rehabllltate
| the navy. He claimed for the Republican
administration greater promptness anu en-
| cheney than was shown by the Democratic
| administration. AS an instance, he said thas
| the four Roach ships had been launched one
| year and nine months after the date Of the
| appropriations, while the four ships built
| under the present administration were
| launched three years and two months after
| the date of the appropriations. All the
/ Democratic administration had to show was
/ four vessels which were entitled to be called
| vessels-the Charleston, the YORKTOWN, the
| Petrol and the Baltimore-and one torpedo
boat. Think of this magnificent navy sel
cized the action of the Navy Department In
reference TO the contracts for he Yorktown
and Baltimore.
He had been informed that the successful
bids for the yorktown did not comply will
the department. advertisement in severa
particulars. The contractor was given
month 70 make new plans, and the next low
est binder protested that he was overruled
de was Informed the plans Of the yorktown
engines were submitted to the board of ma