The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-04

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-TSpeciall-
Among the petitions and memorials
presented in the Senate to-day and ref
erred, was one from tho banks of New
Orleans deprecating any further dis
cusston OF the free coinage scheme.
The House bill to amend section $50
OF the revised statues Tin reference to
temporary designations to fill vacan-
cies in case Of death, sickness or absence
of heads of deoartments) was
reported back with substitute Tho
substitute amends three sections of tho
revised statues on that subject and
limits the time to thirty days OF such
resignation, except where duties are
exercised by an assistant secretary, in
which case there is no limitation
The discussion showed the prevailing
sentiment to be in favor of the House
bill; so the substitute was rejected and
the House bill passed.
The consideration of tho fortification
bill was then resumed. The first item
that attracted notice was one appropri-
atlng million dollars for the purchase
of oil-tempered steel for high power
coast-defense guns of 8, 10 and IL inch
calibre. The committee on appropria-
tions recommended reduction of tho
amount to SS00,o00, and Mr.. German
moved still further reduction.
Mr.. Dawes opposed Mr. Germans
amendment, and advocated that of tho
committee on appropriations. Referring
to Mr. tawley's speech of yesterday as
to the absolute necessity of coast de-
fences, he said that the committee on
appropriations was in harmony with it,
to the utmost limit of prudence. But
the committee found itself standing
between the devil and the deep sea-"
On ono hand it found itself confronted
by the sentiment proclaimed by the SEN
ator from Missouri, (Nr. Cockrell) that
there was no necessity for any tortitica-
tons whatever, and that nobody would
approach the United States in hostil,
attitude, however exposed the coast
might be, and allied with that Senator
was his distinguished friend from New
Hampshire, (Alr. Blair. who proposed
to turn the Notifications bill into q mis-
sionary enterprise in Africa.
On the other hand was the proposition
OF the Senator from Oregon (Dolph) to
appropriate 1T once Sl2l, COO, 900 to be
expended over several years for coast
Qualifications. While tho committee
! did not come to the Same conclusion as
the Senator from Missouri that nothing
SiiOuitA w NOlit, III ulu uOU DeIleNo III
the policy OF tho proposition of tho
Senator from Oregon.
The committee deemed it wiser to
make the necessary appropriation year
by year. After another long debate
upon the same lines rs that Of Yesterday,
ana participated in by the same Senat tors,
Dolph, Hawley, Allen and Blair, Cor
mans amendment was rejected. Then
the discussion upon tho general subject
OF coast defense was continued by
Plumb, Higgins, Chandler Reagan and
Dawes.
The discussion having at length
closed, the committee amendment ro-
ducing tho appropriation for Oil tenn
pcred steel from 81 900, 900 to $500, 900
was agreed to: Yeas, 80; nays, :; Chand-
Ter, Cullom, Dolph. Frye, Hawloy,
Stewart and Teller voting nay.
The next amendment reported by tho
committee on appropria lions was To in
sert the following paragraph: For
ech-loading Sea-coast mortarS, cast
iron, hoped with steel Of twelve-inch
calibcr, 500, 900, provided that contracts
may be made for not more than one-half
of mortars herein provided for to DO
constructed on Pacific coast i'll discre-
ton of the Secretary of War.
Mr.. Chandler moved to amend tho
brccch-loading rihed steel mortars Of
twelve-inch calibre," etc. The amend
ment was discussed at much length, but
no action was reached
MIR. Morgan gave notice that on Friday
morning ne would ask to take up tho
bill to amend the act incorporating tho
Nicaragua Maritime Canal Comps
and would submit some remarks upon it.
The Senate concurred in the House
amendment to tho Senate bill for n pub
lie building at st. Paul, Minnesota, re-
ducing the amount from ST, 100000 to
$780, G0. The bill now goes to tho
President.
The Military Academy appropriation
bill was reported and Mr.. Allison said
he would ask tho Senate tomorrow to
take it up and pass it.
a short executive session followed,
and then the Senate adjourned.
North Carolina Negroes in Washington,
WAsHINGToN, Feb, g. [Speciall "A
delegation Of white and colored Repub-
leans from North Carolina were before
the Senate committee on commerce to-
day, some to protest against and others
to favor the confirmation Of James Ii.
Young, to DO collector of customs for
the district of Wilmington, n. C. Obiec-
tons made against Young iss by few
members of the delegation who are
administration men, and are op-
posed more to the President than to
the confirmation of Young. Congress-
man Cheatham is amongst those who