Wichita eagle., 1889-02-12
SENATE

| WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE credentials
| of Mr.. Coke for his new senatorial term
were placed on file.
| Mr.. Dawes presented petition from l2O
| Indian residents at Hampton, Va, against
| the continuance of the ration system as an
encouragement to idleness, and recon-
mended their equivalent in farming implc-
| ments and stock. He spoke of the sug-
gestion as being wise and judIcious, and
said it was doubly remarkable from the
fact that the memorial was in the hand
writing of one of the students and was
signed in their handwriting by all but
three of the 120, and was their own I'M
prompted idea. 1t was little singular
that there should be any law in the way of
an Indian changing his rations into agrl-
culture or other implements SO that ne
might by his own labor support himself;
but such was the fact. He asked to nave
the petition referred to the committee on
appropriations and hoped that that COM
mittee would make the necessary recon-
mendations. The petition was so referred.
Mr.. Sherman said that he had been in
structed by the committee on foreign rela-
tons to move an executive session. he
made the motion, which was agreed to,
and thereupon, at 1925, the galleries were
cleared. the doors closed and the senate
W cAcCuliNC OuSiBCoSs
The doors were reopened at $40 ana leg
islative business was proceeded with.
Mr.. Frye having been called away by a
death in his family, the Union Pacific
funding bill was laid aside and the naval
appropriation bin was taken up.
The amendment reported by the commit
tee on appropriations for the construction
of two steel cruisers, or gun boats, OF 500 to
1900 tons displacement tc cost in the ag-
gregate exclusive of armament) not more
than 100000. or one steel cruiser Of about
1000 tons at a cost of not more than
100000 and Of one ram for har-
Dor defense, was agreed to without
discussion. This is in addition to the pro-
visions of the bill as it came from the
house under the heading Increase OF the
Navy."l
Mr.. Chandler moved to strike out of the
paragraph for construction Of one armored
steel cruising monitor the words 'of the
type and to be constructed according to
plans and specifications to be furnished by
Hon. John r. Thomas of Illinois, to be
approved by the secretary Of the navy"
He characterized as anOmoly in legislation
and almost as ludicrous the provision that
a vessel of such size and cost Zone and one
half million dollars should be constructed
after the type and upon plans and speclti-
cations to be furnished by member of
congress. Such type and plans and speci-
ficatiOnS ought not TO be leglslated on
the next secretary of the navy in that way.
The present secretary had had the disposal
of S2e, DOC, 600 for the increase of the navy
by any conditions. But this
bill contained provision that Mr.. Thorn
as "a lawyer, not designer of ships
should furnish the next secretary of the
navy with one ship and that the Pneu-
matte Gun company should furnish him
with another Not only was it vicious to
put MIR. Thomas into the bill, but il his
plans and specifications were not approved
by the secretary of the navy the construc-
ton of the ship must stop.
Without discussion of the amendment
the senate adjourned.