Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-25
ABLOODY SHIRT" BOUTELLE
Opposed Removing Restrictions
Against Ex-Confederates.
BUT NO ONE HELPED HIM
The Bill Was Finally Passed With but oHe
Negative Vote.
Mr.. MILLS MADE A RED HOT SPEECH
He Spoke in Support of His Resolution De-
claring Tnat Spain Should Grant to
Cuba the Right of Self
Government.

Washington. March 24.-Quite unex-
pectedIy today the house was plunged,
towards the close of the session, into
debate. in the course of which the war
was fought over again, and the issue of
which was the repeal of the last remain
ing restriction against those who served
in the Confederate army.
Mr. Hull republican, of Iowa, had pre-
sented from the committee on military
affairs, for the consideration of the house,
the senate bill which repealed section
1918, revised statutes, regulating the ap-
pointment of officers in the army or navy,
providing that no person who held a COM
mission in the United States army and
after was entered into the service OF the
Confederate States or any state Thereon
should be appointed an officer IN the
army or navy of the United States.
Mr. Boutelle vigorously opposed the
passage of the bill He said that 1t could
serve no practical purposes; was re-
Election upon the sentiment which had
enacted the original law one of the
measures, he said, which made 1t possi-
BILE for the government to live; that 1t
was too late now-.to write new detini-
tion of the duty of the man who took the
commission of his country; and he said
the house should not r1Uw declare that II
was a 1Rnl lBlIiS LOT dllCi AoN
Ing taken an oath to support and defend
his country, afterwards to draw his sword
against it, In the course of his remarks
Mr. Boutelle said that some concessions
should be made on the other side, and he
called attention to the fact that the con-
stitution adopted by South Carolina only
year ago levied, as he said, tax upon
residents who had served in the union
army by a discrimination in the matter
of the payment of taxes in favor of the
Confederate veterans. Hn.s
The bill was advocated by Genel :
Grosvenor republican, of Ohio; Picker,
republican, of South Dakota; Grow, re-
publican, of Pennsylvania; Walker, re-
publican. of Virginia, who succeeded
Stonewall Jackson in the command or
the latters famous brigade. and Mr.
Cummings, democrat, of New York The
bill was passed after two hours debate,
Mr.. Boutelle alone voting in the negative
The unfinished business when the
house met was the bill introduced by Mr..
Curtis, republican. of New York, to re-
duce the number of crimes subject to
capital punishment, and 1t was passed.
The house agreed to the senate request
for a further conference on the Cuban
resolutions
Mr.. Boutelle, chairman of thescommit-
tee on naval affairs, reported the naval
appropriation bill for the years lS96-7 ana
1t was ordered printed.
II carries an appropriation of sS1 49,
1873, of which 1851 ,034 is for the increase
of the navy. The items coming under
the latter head are as follows:
Increase of the navy--That for the pur-
pose of further increasing the naval es-
Establishment of the United States the
president is hereby authorized to have
constructed by contract four sea going
coast line battleships designed to carry
the heaviest armor and most poWerfui
ordnance upon displacement of about
IL 900 tons to have the highest practica-
bile speed for vessels of their class and
to cost, exclusive of armament, not ex-
ceeding SO, $50, 900 each; five torpedo boats,
to have a maximum speed OF not less
than twenty-six knots, to- cost IN all not
exceeding $S75.000; ten or more torpedo
boats to cost in all not exceeding $780,
600. and to have the highest practicable
speed for vessels of their class, and in
the construction of all said vessels all
of the provisions of the act of August 8,
1885, entitled IA act to increase the nav
al establishment" as to materials for
said vessels, their engines, boilers and
machinery, the contracts under which
they are built, except as to premiums,
which are not to be offered, the notice of
any proposal for the same. the plans,
dra wings and specifications therefor, and
the method of executing said contracts,
shall be observed and followed. and said
vessels shall be built In compliance with
said act save that in all their parts said
vessels shall be of domestic manufacture;
md subject to the provisions hereinafter
made, one sea going battleship and one
of said torpedo boats shall be built on or
near the coast of the Pacific ocean or in
the waters connected Herewith. and one
torpedo boat on the Mississippi river and
one torpedo boat on the coast of the Gulf
of Mexico, provided, that II 1T shall ap-
pear to the president of the United States
from the bddings for such contracts
when the same are opened and examined
by him that said vessels cannot be con-
structed at fair cost on or near the
coast of the Pacific ocean or on the Mis-
sissjppi river or the Gulf of Mexico. he
shall authorize the construction of said
vessels. or either Of them, elsewhere in
the Unfted States, subject to the limita-
tions as to cost hereinbefore provided,
provided further, that the contracts for
the construction of the vessels herein
provided for shall be made within ninety
days from the passage of this act.
Construction and machinery-On ac-
count of the hulls and outfits of vessels
and steam machinery of vessels hereto
fore authorized the vessels authorized
under this act, $7,670,679.
Armor and mament-Toward the ar
mament and armor of domestic manu-
facture for the vessels authorized by
the act of August 3, 1886; of those author
lied by the act of June 80. 1890; of those
authorized by the act Of July 10. 1892,
.aDd of the vessels authorized by the act
of March 3. 1Sa3 of three torpedo boats,
act sf July 26 1894; of the vessels au-
thorized under the act of March Q, 1895.
aod of the vessels authorized under this
act, S4,S71.454
Northumberland the completion of
the equipment outfit of the new vessels
heretofore authorized by congress, $2S7,-
900.
When afr. Hull called up the senate
bill repeating the law forbidding the ap-
pointment of any person as an officer In
the army or navy who held commission
in the army or navy al the breaking out
of the rebellion and who afterwards en-
tered the Confederate strvfce. Mr. Hun
said the bill was Intended tc wire out
the last restriction imposed upon The
Cunfederates. They were in congress, In