Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-26
NORFOLK AND BOSTON
A WARM DEFENCE OF FORMER BY
REPRESENTATIVE TYLER.
THE LOCOMOTlYE-WORKS' CLAIM.
The Claim OF Chnmblin, Delaney
scott-MemorinI bridge Across the
po,on,,-persouaI and Postal
Points of Interest.


,snecial )-The.e was quite a lively de-
bate on the naval appropriation Dill
few DAYS ago in the course of which,
MIR. Barrett. Of Massachusetts,, ana l'ep-
resentative Tyler, of Virginia, came TO-
gtther on some aspersions cast by the
former on the port of Norfolk anu her
dry-dock. Mr. Barrett was making
vain effort to have a large dry-dock
built at Boston. and in doing So with
New England row-mindedness' went
out of his way to disparage every place
out of New England, including Norfolk.
Mr. Tyler rose TO a point of ORDER ana
said:
"Mr. Chairman. / have been rather
surprised at the position taken by the
gentlemen from MASSACHUSETTS (Mr. Bar
retD. l had supposed that this bill was
prepared on great national lines Tor the
defence and safety of the American peo-
pie. / did not expect that any member
of this House would take such extreme
provincial ground as that taken by
gentleman coming from such a state
where the hub of the universe Is sup
posed to be. l am rather inclined 10 sup
pose, MT. tndlfHdl llidN ht ehiiiN'
safety of this great American nation de-
ponds upon the protection of property
in the city Of Boston alone. lie seems
to be utterly unaware. except In the most
general way, OF the geographical au-
vantages of the various ports or the
South Atlantic coast wish TO can MS
attention TO the fact that there Is, as ne
admits. at least one place on the North
Atlantic coast at which we have good
-. No
and that Is the New York navy-yard.
Now. he comes and says, Give us a navy
yard such as we desire at the port
of Boston; give us a dry-dock that we
seek there and the rest Of the country
will be thoroughly defended" lie at
tempts to minimize the natural ad-
Vantages Of the port Of Norfolk. lie
says that hundreds Of thousands or DOL
lars have been spent on that navy-yard,
and that it is no longer necessary Tor
us to make the expenditure of this $4,000
as provided in this bill. He criticises the
Secretary Of the Navy because that officer
has called the attention of Congress
to the necessity Of a large dry-dock at
Norfolk.
when he talks about the strategic
Importance of Boston, has he forgotten
that Norfolk is to be hereafter the de-
fence of the national capitaly Has ne Tor
gotten that in Chesapeake bay is the
great rendezvous for our ships OF war
for the North Atlantic and the South
Atlantic coast? Has he forgotten that,
but a few years ago computed in the
life of a nation because Of the non
defensive condition of Chesapeake bay,
the national capital was burned by an
invading force? And does he think, In
his wonderful and patriotic provincial
ism. that Boston is of more Importance
in the event of great war with a for
eign Power than the preservation Of the
capital Of the United States?
II am amazed, Mr. Chairmas; that the
gentleman should have taken the ground
which he has taken. / expected to see
him exhibit a larger and more liberal
spirit Because he considers il neces-
sary-and / may say that l agree with
him in that regard-that there should be
q dry-dock at Boston, why does he con-
slider il necessary to take the unusual
ground-I may say, with due Difference
TO him, the absurd ground-that there is
no pressing necessity for a dry-dock any
where else?"
POLITICAL INFLUENCES.
Mr.. Hall: Allow me a question right
here. The gentleman from Massachu-
sets (Mr. BarretO has stated that these
ships to which he has referred were
Dulll DN lHt navy Otlii lll'Ib Abl Hp-
ltical reasons. / should like to ask
the gentleman now on the floor whether
it is not fact that the construction of
battleships is always let out by contract:
that political reasons have nothing to
do with the giving out OF those contracts?
Mr.. Tyler: | have always so understood.
/ have never heard that accusation made
before, and l am sure the gentleman
from Massachusetts has made ii unad-
visedly in the heat Of discussion. in the
heat Of his love for "the hub Of the uni
verse"
Mr.. Barrett: Allow me a moment.
propose to discuss the point of order
when we get to II. But ! am surprised
that two members Of the Naval Commit
tee
Mr.. Tyler l supposed the gentleman
wanted to ask a question.
Mr. Barrett: / wish TO correct q mis-
statement, if you will allow me-
Mr. Tyler: Let the gentleman do II in
his own time.
Mr.. Barrett: want TO make the cor
rection in connection with your state
ment | am surprised that two members
Of the Naval Committee, supposed to
know all about this matter, did not I'M
derstand that / said these vessels were
not built by contract; they were built
by the government in the navy-yards at
Norfolk and Brooklyn. And yet, they
tried to befog this House by making me
appear to have said that they were built
for political favoritism when they were
let out by contract. These two ships
were not let out by contract at all by the
government, and I want that statement
to go into the Record at the same time
as the other
Mr.. Tyler: You are only talking about
two ships of the navy-the Texas and the
Raleigh-built at the Norfolk navy-yard
Mr.. Barrett: l am talking about the
ones built by the government
Mr.. Tyler: Therefore, the gentleman
dees not withdraw the charge as to the
building Of those ships that have been
built under contract. Does he think those
ships built by the Cramps were award
ed TO them because Of political influence?
Mr.. Barrett: Shall l answer that ques-
ton?
Mr.. Tyler: No; do not ask you to an
swer IT, You have your own time in
which 10 do so.
Mr.. Barrett: All right.
Mr.. Tyler: I am amazed that there
should have been such a charge. I cam
not understand where the gentleman gets
his facts upon which he bases such an
unjust charge against the Navy Depart
ment, and against those who have had
control of the naval affairs OF this coun-
try for many years. 1 am very sure that
the only reason why the Navy Depart
ment decided to have the Texas Built at
the Norfolk navy-yard was because it
was a government navy-yard, and there
a ship could be constructed equal TO any
that floated on the seas The fact of 1t
is that at the Norfolk navy-yard there is
every appliance for the construction of
vessels. You can get there as good labor
as any In the United States. You can get
as skilled mechanics as you can at Boston
or any other point, and, so far as ships
have been constructed there, two OF
them-the Texas and the Raleigh-are, of
their class, as good as any that sail be-
meath the flag OF the United States.
senator Daniel introduced an amend