Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-27
FlFTY-FlRsT CONGRESS.
The Proper Naval Policy of the Country
Mr.. Burrows Speaker Pro Iem'
By telegraph 70 tho Dispatch.l

umns. and especially. if the committee
ebould recommend new duties or an IN
crease of existing duties, to state the rea-
sons in each case for such addltioh OF in-
crease. In the course OF discussion MI.
Sherman suggested the difficulty ana even
impossibility of the Committee on l iu.!'
oiving tbe reasons for its recommendation
In each of the three hundred items covered
in the bill. The reasons might be gwen
generally. but not in regard 70 every, item.
Tie moved TO strike out OF the resolution
the words "in each case" -,
Nv Plumb opposed Mr.. Shermans
amendment. He would rather nave the
whole resolution disagreed TO. lie knew
that the statement would require g9od
deal Of time. but 1t had been gwen that
fine present revision of the tarlf would last
Gov fen or fifteen or twenty years. The re-
mort of the Finance Committee therefore
oupht TO be ample in every individual case
70 exnlain the position of the committee
40 as TO satisfy those of US who are in gene
raj accord with the protective idea, when
tbe bill is supposed to represent, and to en-
able rs to explain why we votedto increase
duties when the expectation was that we
would vote TO reduce them
Mr.. Harris favored Mr.. Plumb's resoiu-
tion as absolutely necessary for intelligent
discussion Of the subject matter.
Mr.. Shermans amendment was disagreed
Mr.. Reagan moved to amend the resolu-
tion 60 as TO require in cases OF compound
duties. specific and 0d rdlOrem, column
showing the equivalent al cdtorem amount
of duty.
Mr.. Morrill, stated that the clerk of the
committee was engaged nights and Sun-
days in preparing the statement calleo lor
in the first part Of the resolution, but as 10
the information called for by Mr.. Reagan
that could be furnished better by the Urea
sury Department than by the Finance Com"
mlttee. ~
CAMS amendment the words where prac-
ticable."
MIR. Blair: And where not practicable the
committee can give us reasonable guess.
Mr. Reagan's amendment, modihed as
SUGGESTED by Mr.. Allison. was agreed to.
The resolution was further amended, on
motion of Mr.. Hawley, by making 1t apply
also to reductions of duties. and as thus
amended it was agreed 10.
MIR. George, from the Judiciary Commit
| tee. reported a bill subiecting national
bank notes and Treasury notes TO State
taxation. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, from the COMMITTEE
| on Judiciary. reported the following pilI rs
| a substitute for the original-package
/
| Senate: That when any intoxicating
| LIQUORS shall be transported from one state
| or Territory to another or from any for-
! eign country such liquors shall. when the
| actuRl and continuous transportation OF
| the same shall have terminated, be con.
| sidered TO have ceased TO be subjects or
| interstate commerce and be part OF the
| common mass of property within the State
| or Territory and subject to the respective
powers of the State or Territory IN respect
| 10 all police regulations of prohibition, re-
| gulation, or taxation. =,
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr..
Call calling for information as TO the land
ing of an armed force from the revenue
cutter McLane at Cedar Keys, Fla, was
taken up, modified, and agreed to.
The Senate then resumed consldera-
ton of the navy appropriation bill. the
pending question being on Mr.. CockrelP s
| amendment to strike out the provision for
| the construction of three heavily armed
| battle-ships at a cost Of four millions
| each.
In the course of Mr.. Cockrell's remarks,
| in adverting to his amendment, he read
from part of a report made some time
| ago TO the Secretary of the Navy the decla-
ration that 1.-THE United States must main-
tain a navy at least equal in strength TO
the most powerful navy in the world"
This started long general debate upon
the question of the proper naval policy OF
tins country.
Mr.. Cockrell held to the opinion that it
was not wise, expedient, ludiciOus, or pc
litic to engage in the construction of great
battle-ships There was no necessity Tor
it in order TO protect national honor. The
! American flag was perfectly safe IN every
part of the earth and among all nations,
kindreds, and tongues. The United States
could rely on securing justice without any
manifestation of physical or visible force.
He trusted, therefore. that his amendment
would be agreed to. and that the provision
for three battle-ships would be struck out.
Messrs Reagan and Voorhees, supported
Mr.. Cockrell's views.
Mr.. Stewart argued that if the United
States were TO maintain its policy IN con-
| nectIon with the Monroe doctrine IL must
possess a navy that would enable it to pro-
tect the weaker nations on the western
| Hemisphere, and to enforce the DEGREES OF
arbitration that might be rendered. Either
the Monroe doctrine would have TO be
abandoned or the navy would have TO be
| built up.
Mr.. Gray. while quite agreeing that the
strength of the United States depended
largely on the fact that the nations OF the
world had become familiar with the power
of the republic 10 get ready when an
emergency arose, did not think that re-
lihnce on that power was exactly opposite
TO anything involved III the amendment.
The United States could not go on forever
living ID fools paradise" relying on its
ability TO get ready for a fight. 1t would
not do for tho United States TO fold It's
arms and believe itself competent to main
tain its honor and dignity unless ID had at
least beginning from which preparations
could be made when an emergency arose.
Mr.. Butler opposed the amendment ia
strike out the provision for three battle
ships. He had supposed that the policy 10
90 on and construct a respectable navy
had been fixed and determined upon. He
would not only vote for the appropriation
regretted that il was not IN his power "a
vote for eight battle-ships instead OF
three, as he should do without hesitation.
While be did not look for war between the
United States and Great Britain it should
be remembered that there were some deli
cate and difficult questions pending be-
tween the two governments. He hoped
that they might be settled by negotiation
or by arbitration. but so long as human ma
ture was as IL was it was unsafe 10 assume
that the United States was in no danger OF
collision with foreign powers.
MIR. Blalr moved to amend the provision
for three battle-ships by inserting the fol-
lowing: But this provision shall not be
available until the Government of Great
Britain shall have been requested by the
President TO withdraw all her naval forces
from American waters aud 10 dismantle
her naval stations in both North and south
America and in the adjacent Islands and
shall have declined or shall haya neglected
| for one year 10 do 30. Mr.. Blair advocated