The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-25

all said vessels all Of the provisions
OF the act Of Aug. 3. 1856 entitled AN
act to increase the naval estimate" as
to materials for said vessels. their en-
gines boilers and machinery. the con
tracts under which they are built eX-
ceDt as TO premiums, which are not 10
be omered; the notice of any proposals
for the same, the plans, drawings and
specifications therefor and the method OF
executing said contracts shall be Observ-
ed and followed, and said vessels shall
be built in compliance with the terms
Of said act, save that in all their parts
said vessels shall be of domestic manu-
facturc, and subject to the provisions
hereinafter made, one sea-going battle
ship and one of said torpedo boats shall
be built on or near the coast of the Pa
cihc 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; provid-
ed. that IL It shall appear to the salts
faction of the President Of the United
States from the biddings for such con-
tracts when the same are opened and
examined by him, that said vessels can
not be constructed al fair cost on or
near the coast OF the Pacific ocean or
on the Mississippi river, or the Gulf
of Mexico. he shall authorize the con-
struction OF said vessels, or either OF
them, elsewhere In the United states
subject to the limitations to cost here
inbefore 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
Construction and Machinery-On account
of the hulls and outfits of vessels and
steam machinery OF vessels heretofore au-
thorized and vessels authorized under this
act. T.S70679.
Armor and Armaments-Toward the ar
mament and armor of domestic manufac-
ture for the vessels authorized by the act
of Aug. 3. 1886; of those authorized by the
act of June 80 1880; of those authorized by
the act OF July 10, 1892; and OF the vessels
authorized by the act of March 3, 1898; OF
three tOrneNO DONtS act OF July ~ 1881,
of the vessels authorized under the act
of March ?, 1895, and Of the vessels author
iZed under this act $4.S7i ,i54
Equipment-Toward the completion OF
the equipment outfit OF the new vessels
heretofore authorized by congress, $780,
OO0.
When Mr. Hull called up the Senate
bill repeating the law forhidding the
appointment of any person as an Officer
in the army or navy who held a com
mission in the army or navy a. the break
ing out OF the civil war and who after
wards entered the confederate service,
Mr.. Hull said the bill was Intended "a
wipe out the last restriction upon the
confederates. They were In congress, IN
the cabinet. and could be elected, he
thought. to the presidency, and 70 main,
tain this restriction now that wars and
rumors OF wars were heard, was about
the worst policy that could be pursued;
He wanted everybody that was In the
confederate service, IL the country was
TO engage in another war, to have the
right to fight again tand get shot In his
place, II he wanted to.
Replying to questions Mr.. Hull said
he knew of no Opposition to the bill
from union soldiers; on the contrary, ne
had received many letters urging It's
Mr. Mr.. Pickler. rep, Of South Dakota-l
believe that to be the sentiment OF the
union soldier.
Mr.. Boutelle. rep, OF Maine. said ht
had no commission to speak for others
but, for himself, he wanted 10 near some
good reason for the passage OF the Dill.
Mr.. Hull rejoined that the reason wai
| found in the fact that no necessity ex'
| listed for the legislation.
Mr.. Boutelle asked II Mr.. Hull knew. OF
any one who would be benehtted by ,tns
| passage of the bill, and the latter repheu
MIR. Bouteiie criticised the bill as a piece
| of unnecessary and wholly sentlmental
| legislation. 1t could be intended for nc
other practical purpose than to cast 0
reflection upon the sentiment or the cour,
try, which was represented IN the law al
the time II was enacted. That sentiment
was right then, he believed, and the law
| ought not to be disturbed now. NO good
| could be accomplished by these measures
| and they served only to awaken and
arouse recollections that should be bur
led. While he had been accused OF some
aggressiveness Of thought on this SUP,
in any of these bills; these discussions
were not introduced by him.
Addressing the repnb1lea.ns, Mr. MT. BSu, Su,
| there was a sentiment Of reluctance among
them of expressing any views which
might seem to reflect upon those who
| In public life and especially those who
were in the House with them. He said
| he would remind them that the gentle
man on the other side had never hesi-
tated to express their views upon these
| questions, and were not backward In sup.
| porting them by their votes. He recalled
| the effort to place Gen. Grant on the re-
tired list of the army, a proposition which
he said he was sorry to say met the
unanimous opposition of the gentlemen
for whose benefit the present proposed
legislation was intended. These men, he
said, had not hesitated to act as Jurors
in the case of the United States against
| Fitz John Porter and voted soidly &c
place him on the retired list
Mr.. Wheeler, dem, of Alabama.-Namt
a man who voted against putting Grant
on the retired list. 1t was unanimously
passed.
Mr. Boutelle retorted that the democrats
prevented even an opportunity to vote
upon the bill until the republicans, driver
to their wits end. and fearing that this
gavel would fall at the end of the ses.
sion and Gen. Grant would die before he
| could receive honor at the hands OF con
gress, surrendered the rights of a repre-
sentative from Iowa, who sacrificed his
seat to the demands of the democrats and
after his successor had be sworn in, and
not until then, the democrats consented
to vote on the bill which placed Gen
Grants name on the retired list
Mr.. Boutelle asserted that in the soutt
IHtIB WAS Sun DiOSNIlPAiOn dEdlfiHL tIt
union soldier, and mentioned that the con.
stitution of South Carolina, adopted only
last year, virtually taxed its residents who
served in the federal army, by discrim
mating in the matter of the poll tax IN
favor of the confederate sol~er. He call.
ed upon any representative from that state
to state the facts in regard to the mat
ter.
Mr.. Wilson. DEM, of South Carolina
said that according to his recollection the
constitution exempted confederate veter
frarv oil 20 y NUht rryQa frors az
on all other males between the ages oil
IS and 50 years The war had been ovel
thirty years; adding that to IS, made 48
so that the exemption applied only Il
those soldiers between the ages of IS and
50 years.
The bill. Mr.. Boutelle contended, woult
not be effectual. 1t served no good pur,
pose to be spending the time of the House
In the discussion of a bill that confessedly
had no practical effect IL would not give
to any soldier on the union side who was
now in private life the right to bear a
commission in the army.
Mr.. Hull, rep, of Iowa-Neither does II
give the right to the confederates.