The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-19
BUILDING Up A NAVY.
A Lively Discussion Over the Appro-
priation Bill.


priation Bill.
! WASHINGTON, April 1s.-Easter Monday
opened dismally, rain fell in torrents, walk.
ing was unpleasant, and there was a mix
ture of chill and warmth about the
atmosphere which was very disagreeab le
| The result was that the attendance Of mem
| bers in the House was small when the hour
Of noon arrived.
Mr.. McRae from the committee on public
lands moved to suspend the rules and pass
the bill to adjust the swamp land grants
and to fix limitations for filling claims there
under.
The motion to suspend the rules and pass
the bill was defeated, yeas l13, nays n, not
two-thirds voting in the affirmative. The
| House then went into committee OF the
whole on the naval appropriation bill. MIR.
! Elliott of South Carolina favored the clause
for an increase Of the navy In the precise
language in which it was couched in the
pending measure. He believed that the
committee on naval affairs had followed
the wisest and safest course. He
was opposed TO the motion of the
gentleman from Indiana Mr.. Holman) to
strike out the provision for the construction
of one cruiser and also to the amendment Of
the gentleman from Maine. (Mr. Boutelle,)
for the construction of two additional battle
ships Mr.. Boutelle in advocating his
amendment, urged the Importance Of i'm
mediately proceeding with the construction
of two new battleships. This was a simple
question OF whether congress would per-
form the duty of the hour now, or whether
it would put off that performance for
twelve months.
WHY WAR WAS AVOIDED.
Mr.. Herbert took the ground that If the
Democratic party struck out the clause for
e "a
would commit political blunder. Had it
not been that during few years past the
navy Of the United States had been rebuilt
this country would to-day be involved in q
destructive war with Chile. II the idea of
the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Holman)
had been carried out, to-day the ports of
New York and San Francisco might be
under tribute. The fact that we had navy
had prevented hostilities.
Mr.. Boutelles amendment was then re-
jected by a vote Of 65 to l02, ten democrats
voting in the affirmative and no repub-
hcans in the negative
Mr.. Cummings of New York offered an
amendment for the construction Of one
battleship and five torpedo boats. This
was lost by a vote Of rs to SO.
Mr.. Boutelle offered an amendment for
the construction of two steel gunboats at a
cost of $500, 900 each and ten topedo boats
at $3.50. 600 each. This was lost by vote Of
IS to 104
Mr.. Cummings then came forward with
another amendment for the construction Of
four torpedo cruisers at $500, 900 each; two
light draught gunboats at 1850, 900 each,
and two 1rst>class torpedo boats 1920 900
each, but it mel with similar fate.
HoLMAN's MOTION DEFEATED.
The motion then recurring on Mr.. Hol-
mans motion to strike out the provision for
the construction OF one new cruiser, it was
defeated by vote of IS 20 100.
Mr.. Holman moved to strike out the new
cruiser and 20 substitute therefor four tor
pedo boats. fsThls motion was greeted by a
remark by Mr.. Boutelle that 10 would save
time TO make four rowboats, while Mr.
O'Neill Of Missouri thought that RATS would
be preferable. The motion was lost by a
vote Of As to los.
The committee then rose and Mr.. Bon
telle moved to recommit the bill with in
structions to the committee on naval affairs
to report 1t back with clause incorporated
In his original amendment for the con-
struction of two battle ships at a, 900 900
each, and ten torpedo boats at $4,000
each. The motion was defeAted-yeas 81.
nays 1874. The following democrats voted
in the affirmative: Messrs. Amerman, An
drew, Bacon, Bentley, Gable, Cadmus.
Caminetsi. Castle, Clancy, Cochran
Coombs, Covert, Cox Of New York, Cum
mings, Durborow, Fellows, Little, Mag
ner, McAleer, Meyer, ONeill Of Missouri.
Rockwell, Sperry, Stewart of Illinois and
Weadock
The bill was then passed and the House
Ad iourned