The Portland daily press., 1891-02-05
FoRTIFIcATIoNs BILL PASSED.
Messrs. Dawes ard Cockrt u Amuse
the Sc 1ate.

WASHINGTON, February 4.-Senator Stew
art has introduced an amendment to the
pensions appropriation bill. which is identi-
cal with the silver bill as passed by the Sem
ate.
Mr.. Blair today presented the credentials
of his successor, Jscob FL. Gallinger, which
were placed on file.
After short executive session. Mr.. Cock
rell read the resolutions of the PHILADELPHIA
Maritime Exchange, protesting against the
passage of the Senate bill Of May, 1890, for
the monthly purchase of A. 100000 ounces of
silver. No such bill, he said, was passed by
the Senate in May, 1890. He criticized Sc
verely the views and action OF Edward At
kins0n on the silver and other economic
questions.
Mr.. Dawes took up the cause of his con-
stitnent. and spoke sneeringly Of "effusions"
OF those who traduced him. This seemed TO
anger Cockreli, who advanced to the aisle
close to Dawes's seat, and demanded t.
know whether he had said word about At
kinson that was not true; whether he could
not tell what a Democrat had sworn to with.
out traducing Democrat. Mr. Dawes dryly
expressed doubt upon that point. when
Mr.. Cockrell became still more excited, and
declared 1t beneath Dawes's position to take
such an under hand, bsck-handed way Of
meeting the question. The scene gave rise
to general laughter. There was some fur
ther interchange Of sentiment between the
two senators, after which the Notifications
bill was taken up.
The amendment reported by the appr0pri-
atoms committee. appropriating S400, 600 for
rihed seacoast m0rtars of cast iron, ho0ped
with steel, with Chandler's amendment re-
curing them to be wholly OF steel, gave rise
to long discussion. Mr.. Chambers amend
ment was agreed to, and then, at the sugges-
tion Of Mr.. Dawes. the committee amend
ment as amended, was rejected. The CON-
mittee amendments TO reduce the items for
completing the army gun factory at Water
vliet, N. Y, from S24S, ,743 to S14S. .743, to re-
duce the appropriation for machinery at
Watervliet arsenal from S468, 900 to S26S, 900,
were agreed to without discussion, and to In
crease the appropriation for board OF ord
nance and fortihcations.t) make purchases,
experiments, tests OF most effective guns,
small arms, etc, from S100, 900 to 500. 900,
was discussed
Mr.. Chandler defended the bureau of off,
GERS OF the army and navy against the at
tack upon them by Mr.. Teller for hostility
to all inventions Ia arms and ordnance ex-
cept such as were made by military and ma
val men.
Mr.. Cockrell moved to add to the para
graph, "and one additional member shall be
added to the board OF ordnakce aud fortif-
cation, who shall be civilian, to be nomt
mated by the President, by and with the ad-
vice and consent Of the Senate, to hold Office
for four years, and to receive salary of
$1,000 and actual travelling expenses"
Mr.. Chandler suggested two civilians.
Mr.. Cockrell accepted the suggestion, and
the amendment was modified accordingly
and agreed to.
The last committee amendment. to insert
a paragraph increasing to S4. 250, 900, the ap-
preparation In the fortifcati0n act Of last
session for the procurement OF heavy ord
nance. After long discussion 1t was agreed
TO.
Mr. Dolph offered an amendment appro-
priating a million dollars for plant for
heavy ordnance at some point on the Pacific
coast and for the appointment of board to
select the site. The amendment was disa-
greed to.
Mr.. Blair offered an amendment for an in
ternatiOnal conference looking to the sup
preston of kidnapping in Africa aud of
traffic In intoxicating liquors, gunpowder
aud firearms In Africa, aud to the reduction
or disbandment Of existing military and ma
val establishments.
Mr.. Sherman made statement to the ef-
feet that ratification Of the treaty agreed to
by the Senate today would attain the pur-
pose intended by the amendment, so far as
the suppression OF the slave trade and regu-
lation, or prohibition Of traffic In intoxicat-
ing liquors, arms and ammunition In Africa
was concerned. The amendment was disa-
greed to and the bill passed.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
of the military academy bill. But one
amendment was offered. This was agreed
to and the bill passed.
The pension appropriation bill was taken
up and went ever as unfinished business.
The Senate proceeded to executive bust
ness, and at o'clock adjourned.