Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-12
AT WASHINGTON.
The Secretary of the Navy
Mot to Be Hampered.
THE SMALLs-ELLIOTT CONTEST
Discussion of the Methods of Elec-
tiOn Said to Be Popular in
South Carolina.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD

bOuOA OSA OAAAs~
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
WASHINGTON, February 11.-In the
Senate, Dawes presented a petition from
100 Indian students at Hampton, Va,
against the continuance of the ration
system to Indians, as an encouragement
to idleness, recommending their equlva-
lent in farming implements and stock.
Referred to the Committee on Appro-
priations.
Sherman said he had been instructed
bv the Committee on Foreign Relations
to move an executive session. Motion
agreed to. The Senate proceeded to ex-
ecutive business.
The Senate, in secret session, passed
the following bill: "Be it enacted" etc.,
"that there be, and his hereby appro-
priated, out of any money in the treas
ury not otherwise appropriated, the sum
Of $3.50, 900, to enable the President to
protect the interests of the United States.
and provide for the security of the per-
sons and property of the citizens OF the
United at the Isthmus of Panama in
such a manner as he may deem ex-
pedient."
It was learned that the Committee
on Foreign Relations has received
no news of any outbreak at Pan.
anna, but deeming it best to be prepared
for any that might occur, decided to ask
for the passage of the bill at once,
as an independent measure. rather
than risk the delays and uncer-
tainties attending an amendment to an
appropriation bill. The troubles that are
feared are such as are incident 10 the
discharge of body of laborers whose
means Of gaining their livelihood are
thereby cut off, and who, in their des-
peration and distress, may resort to
violence and bloodshed. 1t is under
stood that it has been deemed wise by
the authorities of the United States, Great
Britain, and other nations having large
number of their citizens employed on the
Panama Canal, to arrange for bringing
them home in case of their wholesale
discharge, and not to suffer them to re-
main on the Isthmus in destitution and
want. To provide for this. the amount
of the appropriation was increased from
S1O0 900 to $3.50, 900. There was but a
slight opposition to the passage of the
bill.
The doors re.opened at 8 :15, aud legis.
lative business was proceeded with.
Senator Frye having been called away
by death in his family, the Union Pa
cifc Funding bill was laid aside, and the
Naval Appropriation bill taken up. The
amendment reported by the Committee
on Appropriations for the construction of
two steel cruisers, or gunboats, Of from
500 to 1900 tons displacement, to cost
in the aggregate, exclusive of armament,
not more than 100000; of one steel
cruiser, of about 1000 tons, at cost OF
not more than 500, ,OO0, and one ram for
harbor defence, was agreed to without
provisions of the bill as it came from the
House under the heading, Increase Of
the Navy" Chandler moved to
strike out of the paragraph for
the construction of one armored
steel cruising monitor, the words
''of the type and to be constructed ac-
cording to plans and specifications to be
furnished to the Navy Department by
Hon. John r. Thomas of Illinois, to be
approved by the Secretary of the Navy"
He characterized as an anomaly in
legislation and almost as ludicrous
provision that vessel of such size and
cost ($1, 100000 should be constructed
after type and upon plans and specifi-
cations to be furnished by member of
Congress. The present Secretary of the
Navy had disposed of 5000, 600 for the
increase of the Navy, unfettered by any
conditions, but this bill contained
provision that Mr.. Thomas Ia lawyer,
not designer of ships), should furnish
the next Secretary of the Navy with one
ship, and that the Pneumatic Gun Com
pany should furnish him with another.
He had been uniformly against that kind
of legislation where inventors and
designers besieged the doors of the Com.
mittee rooms and resorted to all sorts of
log-rolling in order to get special en-
actment favorable to them. The whole
thing was broad farce.
Cullom opposed the amendment, and
read several letters from high naval Off
GERS endorsing and commenting Thomas
plans and specifications.
Chandler said he had merely desired
to call the attention of the Senate to the
manifest improperly of tying up the
hands Of the Secretary of the Navy as
proposed. Not only was it vicious to put
Thomas into the bill, but, if his plans
and specifications were not approved by
the Secretary of the Navy, the construc.
ton OF the ship must stop.
Cullom said Thomas had been mem
Der of the House good many years and
a member of the Naval Committee. In
that position he had given close attention
to the subject of ships of war. 1t had
turned out that Thomas information,
study and investigation had resulted in
his gathering up a plan for cruiser, and
that the Navy Department (after ap-
pointing board for that purpose) had
adopted and approved his plan. With
out disposing of the amendment, the
Senate adjourned.
The House.
WASHINGTON, February lin the
House, after some sparring as to prece-
dence in the matter of consideration on
behalf of several bills, Crisp, OF Georgia,
as question of the highest privilege,
called up the Smalls-Elliott contested
election case, and the House by a vote
of 135 to S5 decided to consider it.