The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-12
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Naval Appropriation Bill Passed, With
Port Orchard Amendments

WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. lin the Senate
Harris inquired of Spooner, chairman of the
committee on claims, as to the bill passed by
the House for the payment of findings of the
court of claims, in which bill he said many Ten.
nesseeans were interested. Spooner explained
that he had examined the testimony accom-
panying the findings of the court in some cases
included in the bill, and found that it did not
justify the action OF the court in the matter OF
the loyalty of the claimants. He had reason to
think that during the last administration the
interests of the government in the court OF
claims had not been faithfully represented and
protected, and he did not therefore feel justi-
fed in reporting the bill. He had, however,
drawn up an amendment which he had pre-
sented to the committee this morning and which
had been adopted, and he expected TO report the
bill and amendments to the senate today.
Teller offered resolution, which was agreed
TO, calling on the secretary of the treasury for a
list of all persons, firms associations by whom
silver bullion had been offered under the act of
July Is, 1890, the amount and price list of those
from whom silver bullion had been purchased,
the basis on which the estimate is made of the
market price of silver, and the amount and
prices of silver bullion purchased outside of the
United States.
Morgan offered a resolution, which was agreed
TO, calling on the secretary of the interior for
COPIES OF the regulations for carrying into effect
the land forfeiture act of September 29 1889, in-
cluding all instructions and decisions.
Consideration of the naval appropriation bill
was resumed, the pending question being ON the
amendment in reference 10 the site OF the dry
dock on the Pacific coast, whether on Puget
sound or on the Columbia river. The amend
ment recommended by the committee on appro-
priations leaving it to the secretary OF the navy
TO decide upon the site OF the dry dock, was ad-
yocatea by Dolph and Mitchell, while Allen ar
gued in support of his amendment fixing Port
Orchard, on Puget sound. as the site. The dis
cussion lasted so long that Hale threatened to
move TO lay the committee amendment on the
table. thus putting end to the whole thing.
The discussion was nevertheless continued by
Cockrell, Hiseock, Washburn, Call, Squire,
Spooner and Hale
Finally after nearly three hours talk, a vote
was taken on Aliens amendment and it was
agreed TO, yeas a. nays II. 1t directs the secre-
tary Of the navy TO acquire, lat cost not to ex-
ceed $4,000, tract OF 10 acres on Puget sound,
at Port Orchard, and TO cause 10 be erected dry
dock not less than COO 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"
Reading OF the bill having been concluded
and all the committee amendments 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 1t shall
have been submitted TO public competition by
advertisement
Hale offered as a substitute for Germans
amendment that no contract shall be made until
the subject-matter shall have been submitted to
public competition by advertising.
(1orman accepted the substitute. and il wa.
agreed to. The bill was then passed.
Wolcott. from the committee on the civil ser
vice, reported back without recommendation
the Senate bill - ensure preference in the ap-
pointment, employment and retention III the
public service to veterans of the late war; cal
epdaT.
The copyright bill was then taken up, but laid
aside informally.
The following bills were passed by the Senate:
The bill 10 provide for the disposal OF the aban-
dOuefi Fort Maginuis military reservation IN
Montana under the homestead and mining
laws, for educational and other purposes, with
an amendment; the senate bill creating two ad-
bill - facilitate the collection OF commercial
statistics required hy section ol the river and
haro0r appropriation acts of 1863 and 1851; the
Senate bill regulating the jurisdiction of courts
IN territories on habsas corpus proceedings.