The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-26
NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS.
A Heated ( olIoquy Eni.vens the Proceed
ings In the House.

A Heated olloquy Enisvens the Proceed
ings In the House
Washington, March 25.-Boutelle, re-
publican, Maine, rose to a question OF
personal privilege and referred to the
controversy between Wheeler of Ala
bama and himself in the discussion of
the confederate disability bill yester-
day. He read from the Record to
show that Wheeler had altered the rec
ord in referring to the bill for the re-
tirement of General Grant, saying
many democrats voted for the bill"
Instead of "all democrats, ETC."
The record was corrected and the
house, in committee of the whole, took
up the naval appropriation bill. Bou-
telle made a general statement in ex-
PLANTATION of the bill. He said that
about 50, ,000, 900 was carried by the bill
for the increase in tine navy, already
authorized and $3.256,000 for work on
the four new battleships and is tor
pedo boats, authorized in the bill. The
two battleships being constructed at
Newport News would cost each 81. .220,-
600 for hull and machinery; 100000 for
armor and $1,000, 600 for armament. AS
suming that that would be the cost of
the four new battleships, authorized
by the bill, they would cost about $14,-
000,0 and the increase in the navy
authorized by the bill would cost, for
completion. about $35. 900. of which
but s., ,256.O00 was carried by the bill.
The grand total carried by the bill was
$21, ,61 1. .034. S2,46S, ,43S more than the cur
rent bill.
Cummings. democrat, New York,
gave the bill his hearty endorsement,
stating that in his opinion ii was the
most economical bill ever reported from
the naval committee. Our naval es-
tablishment. he thought. should keep
pace with the progress of the world
After a few remarks by Low, repub-
lican, New York. in favor of the BILL
the general debate was closed and the
bill was read for amendment under
the five-minute rule.
Bingham, republican, Pennsylvania,
offered an amendment to appropriate
5000, 600 towards the completion of dry
dock to cost not exceeding S750,000 at
the League island navy yard. Phila-
delphia.
Dingley made the point Of order.
which was sustained. that the appro-
priation was not authorized by existing
laws.
Cannon republican, Illinois. antagon-
lied the provision in the bill for the
erection of residences on the grounds
of the naval observatory. These build
ings, he said. were occupied BY naval
officers who were nominally in charge
of astronomical observa tions but who
practically knew no more about astron-
omy than the average member of con-
gress. Laughter)
BOutelle protested Indignantly
against Cannon's interference at the
work of the naval committee. He paid
a high tribute to the attainments OF the
naval officers. In the American navy.
he said. there had been some OF the
brightest minds in the scientific world
Robinson of Pennsylvania, who was
! educated at Annapolis and served IL
years as an officer of the navy. de-
| Tended the attainments Of these naval
| officers and po.ed fun at Cannon in a
/ good-humored way. soon after Can
non came .'ere from his prairie home in
Illinois for service" said Robinson. "he
| embarked n a steamer on the Potomac
river. While pacing the deck he start
| ed back in amaZement from an open
| hatchway, exclaiming: My God. she Is
| hollow" Laughter)
Later Wheeler. democrat. Alabama
| REQUIRED 10 the controversy he had