Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-05-02
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, May 9.

naval appropriation bill was taken up III
the Senate, the pending question belpg
on Mr.. Chambers amendment appro-
priating 100000 for twenty torpedo
boats and torpedo boat destroyers.
Mr.. German argued against the
amendment. He said the provision re-
ported by the committee on appropria-
lions allowed S1,500,00O for topedo
boats ard torpedo boat destroyers and ne
thought that, in the present condition
OF affairs, was ample. He added that
if the submarine boat, now being built
of the Holland type, was successful,
it would revolutioniZe the whole sys-
tenn of torpedo boats all over the world.
Mr.. Chandler advocated the amend
ment and said that the net saving ef-
fected by it, in view of striking out two
battleships, and some torpedo boats,
would be IS, 900.
In the course of the discussion some
complimentary things were said of the
Secretary of the Navy and this led Mr..
Wolcott to make the commentary that,
with the endorsement of the Secretary
of the Navy and of the Secretary of the
Treasury by republican Senator'S, every
gentleman of the existing cabinet would
be endorsed by the republican side ana
not by Senators On the democratic side.
He went on to say, with great spirit
and impetuosity 81 was very much
impressed with the argument of the
Senator from Maryland (Mr. Cor
mani, who showed US that this
country was gradually drifting
into q condition of insolvency.
| I was impressed by the warn
ings that we on this side Of
the chamber should keep down
expenditures to absolute necessities
until we had revenue enough to pay
the running expense of the govern
ment. If it was true that this govern
ment has run behind in its expend-
lures, if it is true land no Senator has
| ventured to dispute iD that this coun-
try is marching on to the issue OF. adj
ditional bonds, and that no power un-
der heaven canIstop it, then ask, In
the name of what patriotism are we
putting on the necks of the people in
terest- bearing securities in order that
| we NAV build 20 additional torpedo
boats to cruise around our harbors ?
| It these bonds are to be issued year at
ter year, what need will we have for
torpedo boats? Our country will pre-
sent no glittering attractiveness for
other countries. If any Senator will
tell me that additional bonds are not
sure to come, that every dollar put
into new ships does not mean an abso-
lutte necessity for new bonds to be
saddled on the people of the Uuited
States, 1 will be glad to sink
nv individual judgment and vote
for additional boats. The IN
fortunate affair of Venezuela seems,
for the moment, to promise
peaceful solution. The wise policy
which this administration seems to
have pursued up to this time, has, for
the moment, avoided the danger of any
immediate collision with Spain.
And, under these circumstances, it
appears to me that with the
two battleships appropriated for,
the seven torpedo boats that never
have been launched, and the 10 addi-
tional torpedo boats provided for in the
bill, we can get along without five more
torpedo boats, which are to require the
issuance OF government bonds, to the
extent of four million dollars, to pay
for them.'
Mr.. Hawley supported Mr.. Chambers
amendment.
Senator Chandler's amendment in
creasing the number of torpedo boat
destroyers at a cost of 100000, was
defeated by vote of % ayes to 80
nays.
HOUSE.
The House, after the reading of the
journal, proceeded to final considera-
ton of the bankruptcy bill. An amend
ment proposed by Mr.. Spalding was
agreed to, striking out of the bill the
clause describing as an act of bank
ruptcy the failure of a debtor to take
up, while insolvent, commercial paper
to the amount of $500 for period of 80
days after date of payment and until
petition is filed.
Mr.. Hepburn made vigorous attack
upon the bill. His first point was that,
politically, it would be a bad thing for
the republican party for the House to
pass the bill. He reviewed the history
of the three bills which have become
laws in the history of the country and
asserted that their passage had resulted
in the overthrow from power of the
dominant party responsible for the leg
islation. His second point, was directed
against the bill ITSELF which he said
was fraud upon its face and its pro-
visions. 1t had been described as
bill intended for the benefit of the in
solvent debtor, by providing him a
method of release from his obligations.
As matter of fact, Mr.. Hepburn said,
the bill was intended to give the cred
itor another grip upon his debtor, which
he did not have when the debt was con-
tracted-it was debt-collecting meas
ure, and nothing else. The third point
was that there was no general demand
for the passage of the bill. "If it should |
become law" said Mr.. Hepburn, 81
have no doubt that the voices of some |
of the orators on the democratic side,
whose recent conversion to support OF
the bill has been announced in the
course of this debate, will be heard on
the stump this fall arraigning US for
that action"
Mr.. Grosvenor advocated the passage
of the bill as tending to restore credit,
which restoration was essential to pros
perity.
The consideration Of the bill was in
tarr,,pta1 ~ parnoit tho hill opprnpriot. |