The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-20
NOT FIT FOR CIVIL DUTIES.
CANNON'S CACsTIC COMMENT ON
NAVAL OFFICERS.

the work OF surveying the Coast
of the New IsIands-His Amend
ment Adopted, and the Coast ana
GeOdetic Survey VIII Do It-Matter
Caused Warm Debate.
Washington, April 19-The House spent
practically the entire day debating a prop
osition in the naval appropriation bill de-
signed to turn over to the navy the sur
vey and charting of the waters of Cuba,
Porto Rico ana the Philippines. The bill
carries an appropriation of $100 900 for
this purpose
MIR. Cannon, chairman of the Appropria-
ton Committee, led the fight against it,
arguing that such surveying of these wa
ters as should be made should be perform
ed by the coast and geodetic survey,
which he said could do the work cheaper
and better In the end the House sustain
ed his view, adopting an amendment Of
fered by him to appropriate only the reg
uiar $4,000 for ocean surveys.
The chairman of the Committee Of the
Whole, Mr. Payne, overruled the point
of order against the appropriation for the
new naval academy, but an amendment
- - -hA CSiii4pt was duOptSu, pIO-
vlding that before the money appropriat-
ed by the bill for the academy be expend-
ed plans for the whole Improvement not
to cost to exceed $500, 900 be submitted
and approved by the Secretary of the
Navy.
Mr.. Cannon offered as an amendment to
the section (Which appropriated 500 00)
Tor surveys of the island of Guam, Ha-
wall, Philippines, Porto Rico and Cuba
and chdrting the distractions of the great
lakes, a simple provision appropriating
$1,000 for continuing ocean surveys.
Danger of Militarism.
Mr.. Moody of Massachusetts, advocated
the amendment. He pointed out that the
proposition in the bill was designed 10
create a rival of the coast and geodetic
survey in the navy department. The
navy had sought many times to control
it, To yield would be to incur the first
danger of mihtarism so much dreaded.
Coast survey work properly belongs TO
the sphere of civil life. He cited the case
OF the naval observatory to prove that
there was not proper administration of
scientific work under naval officers. That
obserVatoryS work, he said was the
laughing stock of the scientific world,
Every man to his own trade.
Mr.. Foss in charge of the bill, contend
ed that the right of the navy to.make
ocean surveys and surveys of the islands
of the sea had never been disputed hith-
erto. Mr.. Foss asked if 1t was fair to
hold officers responsible for ships sailing
over seas chartered by civilians? Every
foreign navy in the world made its own
surveys.
A lively debate followed Mr. McRae
of Arkansas supported the amendment
Mr.. Cummings of New York argued that
the proposed surveys should be made by
the navy and not by a semi-pohucal bu-
reau like the coast and geodetic survey
He read a letter from, man now In the
survey who had served twenty years at
sea. The letter described the work as
pie" Nobody knows anything about
me- 1t said. II am commanding officer. I
was only boatswain in the navy
Were Educated to Fight.
Mr.. Cannon concluded the debate in ia
vor of the amendment. The officers Of
the navy were educated to fight, he said
not to perform civil duties.
In the performance Of civil duties"
said he, with great emphasis, they are
the most incompetent and the most ex-
pensive."
In the burst of applause that followed
this utterance some one cried out some
thing about Dewey"
ooh! l am not talking politics." re-
sponded Mr.. Cannon. II am talking dol
lars and cents and an efficient survey
am great admiref of Admiral Dewey and
all the other officers and men who served
in the Spanish war. l love them so well
that when l see men trying to set them to
work at some thing at which they cannot
sustain themselves L call a halt"
daughter and appause).
The Cannon amendment after pro-
tracted debate under the ive-minute rule
was finally adopted, Ill to 40.
For the Naval Academy.
The Chair then overruled the point of
order pending against the appropriation
Of $350,O0O for the new naval academy at
Annapolis.
Mr.. Cannon moved an amendment to
limit the total cost of the proposed i'm
provements al Anna polls to $600O0O0.
Mr.. Mudd of Maryland reserved a point
Of order against the amendment. Mr..
Cannon said according TO the plans a to-
tai expenditure of $120C0,C00 was involved
The cadet barracks which were to house
245 boys were to cost 50. 500, 0C0.
After considerable debate Mr.. Cannon
offered a substitute for his original
amendment 10 appropriate $3.50, 900 for the
cadet barracks, providing that before any
of the money was expended plans should
be submitted and approved by the Secre-
tary of the Navy, which would keep the
cost of the whole Improvement within So
(00,C00 including the $1,200,0O) already ap-
propriated and the sum carried by the
bill. The substitute was agreed to, 76 to
"a
Mr.. Mudd gave notice-that he would
demand a separate vote on the amend
mont in the House.
Without completing the bill the com
mittee rose. At 5:25 D. m, the House ad-
journed.
Liverpool Cotton Statistics.