The morning call., 1891-02-12
CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.
Port Orchard Accepted as the Site for the
New Dry-Dock

Port Orchard Accepted as the Site for the
New Dock.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1l.-In the Senate
this morning Harris inquired of Spooner
Chairman of the Committee on Claims as to
the bill passed by the House for the pay
ment Of the findings of the Court of Claims,
in which bill, he said, many TennesSeeans
were interested.
Spooner explained that he had examined
the testimony accompanying the findings of
the court in some of the cases included in
the bill and found it did not justify the
action of the Court in the matter of loyalty
claimants. He had reason TO think that dur
ing The last Administration the interests of
the Government in the Court of Claims were
not faithfully represented and protected.
He had not, therefore, felt justified in re-
porting the bill He had, however, drawn
up an amendment, which he had presented
to the committee this morning and which
had been adopted, and he expected to TeporG
the bill and amendments TO the Senate to-
day.
Teller offered a resolution, which was
agreed 10, calling on the Secretary of the
Treasury for a list of all the persons, firms
or associations by whom silver bullion was
offered, under the act of July Il, 1890, the
amounts and the prices; the list of those
from whom the silver bullion was pur-
chased, the amounts and prices; the basis
on WHICH the eSllLldlG Is uldtlt Oh llldTkeL
price OF silver, and the amounts and prices
| of silver bullion purchased outside cf the
United States.
Morgan offered a resolution. which was
agreed to, calling on the Secretary of the In
terror for copies of the regulations for car
rying into effect the Land Forfeiture Act of
September 20, 1889, including all instruc-
tlOns and decisions.
The consideration of the Naval Appro-
priation Bill was resumed, the pending ques-
tion being on the amendment in reference
TO the site for dry-dock on the Pacific
Coast, whether on Puget Sound or on the
Columbia River.
The amendment recommended by the
Committee on Appropriations, leaving it to
the Secretary of the Navy to decide upon
the site, was advocated by Dolph and
Mitchell, while Allen argued in support of
his amendment fixing Port Orchard, on
Puget Sound, as the site.
The discussion lasted so long that Hale
threatened 10 move 10 lay the committee
amendment on the table, thus putting an
eud to the whole thing.
The discussion was, nevertheless, cOntin-
ued by Cockrell, Hiscock, Washburn, Call,
Squire, SpOoner and Hale.
Finally, after near nearly three hours
talk, vote was taken on Aliens amend
ment, and it was agreed to-ayeS "a, noes
II. 1t directs the Secretary of the Navy to
acquire, at a cost not exceeding S25, 600,
tract of 200 acres on Puget Sound, at Port
Orchard, and to cause to be erected dry
dock not less than 600 feet in length and 20
feet in width, capable Of admitting vessels
drawing thirty feet of water, the cost of the
dry-dOck not to exceed 100000.
The reading of the bill having been
concluded and all the committee amend
ments disposed of, German offered an
amendment providing that no money shall
| be used for the purchase of or payment for
| armor or gun steel unless it shall have been
| submitted to public competition by adyer-
| tSement.
| Hale offered as substitute for Germans
| amendment that no contract shall be made
| until its subject matter shall have been sub
mtted to public competition by advertising
German accepted the substitute and il
| was agreed TO.
The bill was then passed.
Wocott from the Committee on.Civil Ser
| vice reported back, without recommenda-
| tion, The Senate bill to ensure preference in
| the public service TO veterans of the late
war.
| The Calendar Copyright Bill was taken
| up, but laid aside informally.
The following bills were passed: Senate
| bill. 10 provide for the disposal of the
abandoned Fort Maginnis Military Reser-
| vaton in Montana under The homestead and
mining laws; for educational and other
| purposes with amendment; Senate bill
| creating two additional land districts In
| Montana; House bill to facilitate the col
| lection OF commercial statistics required by
| Section . of tho river and harbor appro-
| priaton acts of 1866 and 1867; Senate Bill,
| regulating the jurisdiction of courts in the
| Territories on habeas corpus proceedings.
| The House bill to IelinQuish the interest
| of the United States 10 certain lands in San
| ported and pltced on the calendar, was
| indefinitely POSTPONED, Adjourned.