The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-10
BUILDING UP A NAVY.
The Subject Again Brought Up in the
Lower House.

WASHINGTON, April Elm the House to-
day the bill TO admit free of duty
articles intended for the St. Louis exposi-
tion in 1890, which may be imported from
the republic of Mexico and other American
republics and the Dominion of Canada, was
passed.
The speaker having laid before the House
the Senate bill for the improvement and
maintenance of national geological park
with the House amendments (providing
that the District of Columbia shall pay half
the expense), with a request from the SEN
ate for a conference, Mr.. McComas of
Maryland moved that the House recede
from its amendment Upon this motion a
long debate arose, at the end of which Mr..
McComas' motion to recede was defeated
by vote of 1S to l0q. The House insisted
on its amendment, and conference was
ordered
The House then went into committee of
the whole on the naval appropriation bill.
CHINA AS A POSSIBLE FOE.
In speaking to a verbal amendment Mr.,
Wilkinson of Louisiana said that he would
not emulate Great Britain in the building of
ships, but the empire of China had better
fighting armament to-day than that of the
United States. 1t had two hattle-ships
which could with ease sink any ship that
been taking extreme measures with Chiua
When the United States told China not only
that none of her subjects should come here,
but that that those who were should be
subjected to an enumeration not imposed on
any other people, it was part of proper pre-
caution to build ships which could cope
with those of the nation upon which con-
tumely had been cast. He advocated the
establishment of a navy yard at Algiers,
To faH ouft ha ~
yard on the gulf.
NECESSITY OF YARD ADMITTED.
Mr.. Lodge of Massachusetts said that no
one denied the necessity of establishing a
yard on the gulf. The matter of navy
yard at New Orleans had been pressed un-
remittingly by the members from Louisi-
ala, but the House would remember that
there was already navy yard on the gulf.
1t was at Pensacola. 1t was closed now. but
there was much government property there,
and its representatives were urging that it
be opened and put In proper condition.
The South Carolina people wanted the erec-
tion of dry dock at Port Royal. That
also was under consideration by the com
mittee. These schemes involved large ex.
penditure of money and should not be
entered upon without the fullest and most
careful consideration.
ELLIOTT SPEAKS FOR PORT ROYAL.
Mr.. Elliott of South Carolina pictured
the advantage presented by Port Royal as a
naval station, and advocated the con-
struction of Simpson dry dock.
Mr.. Adams of Illinois said that the people
he represented were very anxious for navy
yard at the mouth of the Mississippi river.
MIR. Coleman of Louisiana said that in
the committee on naval affairs he had pre-
sented the claims of Now Orleans for a
navy yard, in eason and out Of season, and
when the matter came regularly before the
House he would be ready to snow why New
Orleans should be selected.
Mr.. Davidson of Florida said that when
that time came he would present the claims
Of Pensacola aud show Why the navy yard
should be opened. Pendipg final action the
committees rose and the House at o'clock
adjourned.
A republican caucus was called to meet
tomorrow night at 80 O'Clock to consider
the order of business before thu House.
HALE's BATTLE SHIPS BILL.
Mr.. Hale's battle ships bill. which pro-
vides that for the purpose of increasing the
naval establishment there shall he con-
strueted by contract eight battle ships of
1880 TO TO- 900 tons each, two armored coast
defense vessels, three gunboats of 500 to
l,2O0 tons each, and five first-class torpedo
boats, was reported by Senator Hale to-day
rum Cu0 IldFal as an
amendment to the naval appropriation
bill.
Mr.. Hale also reported as an amendment
to the sanne bill the proposition looking to
the appointment of an Assistant Secretary
of the Navy at an annual salary of $4,000.
The Senate committee on naval affairs
to-day agreed to report favorably Mr..
Buffers bill, introduced yesterday, for the
construction of dry dock at Port Royal,
& O.