Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-04-19
SD CONGRESS.
House Passes the Naval ApprO-
priation Bill,
But Refuses toPass Boutelle's Amend
ment for Increase Of Navy.
The Nomination OF r. E. MilIisen as Postmas.
ter Of Gardner Confirmed.

washington, April l>-Th House
went into committee OF the whole on the
naval appropriation bill. Elliot of South
i Carolina favored the clause for an increase
of the navy in the precise language in
which it i coueheti in the pending measure,
hut was opposed to the amendment of the
gentleman from Msine lBoutelle) for the
construction Of two additional battIe>hips.
White of Iowa opposed large appropriation.
for the navy
Martin of Indiana, opposed. as raising one
more monument To barbarous warfare. tht.
building OF a new war ship. Covert of New
. Y Nork, said the bill reported by the com
mittce on naval affairs and the amendment
offered by the gentleman from Maine
/ Bontcllc were in the direction of the sup
/ Por, and maintenance of the general govern
Hent. congress had the assurance of the
secretary Of th.. navy that the recommcnda-
tons covered by the bill and by the amend
nIent were essentially necessary at this june
turc. 1t lad the assurance, that the appro-
priatiou sought TO be made By the amend
ment coull he protitably expended.
The clause reported by the committee is
too conservative 10 meet the demand Of the
times anil it was demanded by the pro-
grr>,ivc people of the country, that the
amendment should hrcom, at this time the
llw Of Ii. ianl
BuutrlIc of Maine, in advocating hi,
amendment, urged the Importance of imuc
liatvly proceeding with the construction of
two new battle Ship. This was simply a
question whether Congress would perform
the duty of the hour now. or whether ii
would put off that performance for twelve
months.
Miller Of Wisconsin, favored the Boutclle
amendment and Herbert took tine ground
that if the Democratic party struck out the
clause tor the construction of the additional
cruiser 1t would commit political blunder.
Had it not been that during the few wears
past, the navy of the ni,cd States had been
rebuilt. this country would today be m
yolv,A i'll a destructive war with Chilli
Boutclle's amendment was then rejected
80 To la3 ten Democrats voting in the
affirmative and no Republicans in the
negative.
Cummings, New York offered an amend
mrnt prov iding for the construction of one
hattlcslip and five torpedo boats. Lost,
- to 81.
Bnutelle offered an amendment proyid-
ing for the construction of two steel gun
boats al Il cost OF ~,r'Hi.lHH fatn. ami ten
torpedo boats at sl2O.uou each. Lost, Ia
to I0i.
Cummings then offered an amendment
providing for tho construction of four
torpedo cruisers at Sjou,ooo each. two
light draught sunhoats at S}jn. 600 and two
tirst-class torpedo boat, at Sl2o 500 each.
Rejected.
The motion recurring on llolmau'S mo-
lion to strike out the provision for the con-
ytruciion of one new cruiser. 1t was defeat
ed. - TO 800.
Holman moved 10 strike ont the new
cruiser and substitute therefor four torpedo
boats
This motion was greeted hy remark by
Boutcile that it would save time TO make
/ four row boats. while oFcil of Missouri
/ Thought tia, RATS would be preferable.
/ The motion was lost, - to I0j.
/ The committee rose and Boutrllc moved
/ To rccommit the hill with instructions to the
T committee on naval affair, tu report it back
/ with a clause. incorporated in his original
amendment. for the construction of two
/ battlcship~ at : n00 .UOu each. and ~ tor
pc,lo boats, at ,Si2U,uOu each. but the mo
ion W.T., defeated yeas, 81 NAYS l3I.
( The bill passed and the House adjourned.