The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-03-28
HOUSE WILL FAVOR AN APPRO-
PRIATION OF OVER 10000, 900.
Question of Privilege COnsuma I'd
Time Which Resulted in Lit
tie Gain to Either Side.

ceedings Of the house today. Mr.. Bart
lett of New York rose to a question Of
personal privilege to deny the state
ment that he furnished a campaign
circular, used by Mr.. Sulzer of New
York, few days ago, in an attack
upon Mr.. Gibson OF Tennessee. He
denounced the charge as libel and
lie.
Mr. Boutelle said he also had a ques-
ton of privilege to present in cOnnec-
ton with the colloQuy between General
Wheeler Of Alabama and himself, dur
ing the debate on the confederate dis
ability bill yesterday. During one OF
those gusts of fervid enthusiasm,
which occasionally. sweep over the
house, he said, "and almost drive us
into war with England and Spain, the
house yesterday undertook negotiations
with the southern confederacy for
peace. made few remarks, and sew
eral gentlemen were anxious to give
me instructions"
He then read from the Congression-
al Record to show that Mr.. Wheeler
altered the record so as to say MANY
democrats voted for a bill to retire
General Grant," instead of "all the
ported him. AS a matter of fact, Mr..
Boutelle said, the vote on the Grant
bill was 1913 ayes to 70 nays
Mr.. Owens Of Kentucky attempted
to prevent Mr.. Boutelle repeating the
history Of the bill, and the speaker
thought that branch of the matter
was complete, but Mr. Boutelle made
his point by stating that So to SO votes
against the bill were cast by the ex
confederates. He moved that the rec
ord be corrected and it was SO ordered.
Mr.. Wheeler wanted to review the
history Of the Grant bill, but as this
had not been permitted, he contented
himself by Offering an explanation for
the change made in the Record that he
thought a gentleman revising his re-
marks had a right to make his state
ments conform to the truth.
The house, on motion of Mr.. Boutelle,
went into committee of the whole and
took up consideration Of the naval APP
preparation bill Mr.. Boutelle, chair
man Of the committee, made general
statement in explanation of the pro-
visions of the bill, which were fully
set forth in these dispatches yesterday,
in the course Of which he spoke in
eloquent terms Of the new navy. 1--WE
should be proud" he said, "of the CO.
lumbia, the gem Of the ocean, and Of
the New York, the finest protected
steel cruiser under the canopy of heav-
en-" These references to the growth
and magnifcence of the navy elected
applause. He went exhaustively into
the utility of heavy line Of battleships
as protection to the coast where there
were no Notifications. An enemy
l.,
with heavy coast defenses.
He said that about SO, 100000 was car
ried by the bill for the increased navy
already authorized, and $3,256,000 for
work on the four new battleships and
Is torpedo boats authorized in the bill.
The two battleships being constructed
at Newport News would cost each 49,
100000 for hull and machinery 100000
for armor and $2,OO0,OOO for armament.
Assuming that that would be the cost
of the four battleships authorized by the
bill, they would cost about SD 900, 900,
and the increase in the navy authorized
by the bill would cost for completion
about $35, 900, 000 of which but So 256, 900
was carried by the bill. The grand to-
tai carried by the bill was $31, GIL ,O43-
$2,468,438 more than the current BILL
Mr.. Cummings of New York gave the
bill his hearty endorsement, stating
that in his opinion it was the most econ
omical bill ever reported from the naval
committee. Our naval establishment,
he thought, should keep pace with the
progress Of the world
After few remarks by Mr.. Low of
New York in favor of the bill, general
debate was closed and the debate was
ready for the amendment under the
five-minute rule.