The times., 1897-06-22
NEW DRY DOCK THAT LEAKS
The House Votes 100000 to
Put 1t in Condition.
CANNON WAKES INDIGNANT
He Wants TO Know Who Is RESPONSE
BILE for the Blunder and Intirnates
that the Incompetent. Whoever
He Is. Will he Severely Dealt
With for His Error.

Business OF much public Importance, de-
void OF politics. was brought before the
House yesterday that it was permitted to
go through after some little twitting of the
Republicans by . few of the Democrats
A joint resolution was passed, appro-
priating 100000 for the repair OF the
dry dock at New York, and another rela-
tive to the Omaha Exposition. At no time
was there quorum present, and the abb
sence of committees was only touched
upon Incidentally during the debate.
Speaker Reed corrected the journal IN
his own behalf He stated that the Journal
u motion to approve the journal took pre-
cedence OF a motion to correct the
Journal. The record did not show it, but
Mr. Reed said the fact should he stated.
for the purpose of accuracy. that that ruiz
ing was made with reference to the case
In hand only. A motion to correct the
journal would take precedence. had 1t been
made first, hut it was not
Tne Speaker said the record did not
show this fact, Tut he did not say that
so long as he was IN the chair and any
motion to correct the journal with view
to bringing up the Cuban question, as Mr.
Sulzer had intended doing, could not be
made first, because he would refuse to
recognize anyone for that purpose.
Gen. Henderson. from the Committee on
Rules, reported a rule giving the right of
way TO a resolution appropriatng $780,
600, or SO uch as may be necessary, to
repair the dry dock a. the New York navy
yard. The rule was adopted and the pre-
vious question ordered.
A letter was read from the Secretary OF
the Navy calling attention To the serious
leak ia the new dry dock, which had re-
suited in the overflowing of the others
Immediate repairs were absolutely neces-
sary, and delay would, the Secretary said,
result in great damage to Government prop
erty. 1t was the largest DOCK on the At
lantic coast, and the only one that would
accommodate our largest vessels aud ships
OF war.
Mr. Simpson said - appeared that the
money heretofore appropriated had leaked
and he wanted to be sure that this appre-
priation Cid not leak.
Mr.. Boatelie was proceeding TO explain
the nature of the work necessary, when Mr.
Simpson again broke in with:
May ask II the Committee on Naval
Affairs has given this matter careful con-
sderation?''
There are no committees replied Mr..
Boutelie, but several of the old members
have investigated it, ard the Committee
That is," retortee Mr. Simpson. "the
Committee on Rules. which comprises the
Speaker, has said that this resolution may
pass
Mr. Boutellc urged action. and VT siup-
son was evidently striving for delay II
see,' said he. that the report is short
one. and irasnuch as we are not to have
much legislation at this session. or be per-
lmtfed TO do anything else we might as
well have the reroFt read
Mr. BouteIle arAsa urged that the vote be
taken without consuming the time OF the
House in reading long and technical re-
port. but Mr. Simpson persisted.
Mr.. Games wanted to know why Mr.
BouteIle was in such a hurry to rush this
resolution through. when he introduced it
on the 81 st of May last
Let us have the regular order, Mr.
Speaker shouted Mr. Cummings.
There seems TO be no regular ORDER
drawled Mr. Reed. ~
After "A little more sparring between
Mr. Simpson and MI. Routene, Mr.. Cun,-
mings OF New York got the floor for u
few moments.
The gentleman from Kansas said he.
.'foTgets that this is the only dock on
the Atlantic coast where our big hattie
ships can be docked and repaired. Our
foreign relations are none to rosy and we
may have occasion TO use that dock. tt
should be repaired at once. One trouble
with this cock is that it is constructed
of timber instead of stone. In the Navy
Department we have two sets of officials,
one favoring timber and the other stone.
Between them we appear to have suffered.
/ have seen it stated in the papers that If
this had been stone dock this leak would
not have occurred. 1t is high time for
this country to give some attention to the
dock question. With the number of bat
tIesbips that are now IN commission and IN
the stocks it would be good policy TO stop
building battleships and go to work con-
struetiag docks, If it is impcssib to con-
slider them together"
Mr.. Cummings called attention to Tie
fact that Great Britain, in the harbor OF
Portsmouth alone, had twenty-one stone
docks, while the United States had
single large dock Oh each coast
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the Committee
IN Appropriations, agreed that the resoll-
tiUn should pass, but, before it dill, ne
wanted to make few observations. This
dock had been completed only a few
months, and was constructed at cost
of about $500 900. There was fault some
where either on the part of the contractor,
or the engineers who superintendent the
work That fault ought to be located, and
lie added with emphasis that it would he.
This Government, after educating its Of
cials, was entitled to efficiency He did
not propose to cnticse or censure any
one, but, later on, Congress might be able
to place the blame, and, If necessary,
discipline the official
II suspect said Mr.. Cannon, THAT
this damage is the result OF want Of
proper knowledge here proper knowledge
snould have abouuded. or that it is ,iie
to carelesness, and in either case tine
Government should ascertain all the facts
Mr. Cannon referred to the dock at Port
Royal and the inpossibility OF reaching It,
In the future, he said, he hoped these
docks would be built where there is water
ard in such way as to keep the water out.
The resolution was then agreed to by
vote OF 141 to 12.a
Mr.. Latimer, of South Carolina, sought
to bring up bill to meet the recent
decision of the supreme court of his State
in the dispensary evils, but MIR. Stone, Of
Pennsylvania, objected stating that the
legislation proposed was too important to