The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-25

COMMITTEE AGAINST CHANGING
NAVAL STATION AMENDMENT.


the TiIIman Amendment - Capt
Purses Report Upon His Fight In
Behalf of snvannah-Senator Clay
and Congressman Tate Rendered
Material Aid as Did Also Congress
man BeIlamy of North Carolina
Cnu ONLY Hone TO XIII Amendments
at This Session.
The fate of Savannah's effort to get a
chance at the government naval station at
Port ROYAL in case of its removal from
that port will be determined upon the
floor of the House. The Morning News
Washington correspondent reports that the
Conference Committee of the two houses
declined by a majority vote to change
the amendment added in the Senate TO the
naval appropriations bill, authorizing the
removal of the naval station at Port
ROYAL to Charleston should the Secretary
of the Navy so decide. Congressman
Amos Cummings, of New York, the rank
ing Democratic member of the Confer
enoe Committee, will champion the cause
of Savannah and the other ports upon the
floor of the House.
The amendment to the naval appropria-
ton bill was made by Senator Tillman
without objection, the Georgia Senator's
apparently not being aware that the mat
ter was of any interest TO their constitu-
ents on the coast. The first notice of the
movement here was given by the Morning
News, which called attention to it edito-
rally and brought 1t to the attention of
the Mayor as the result of which com
mittee, consisting of Capt. D. @. Purse,
Hon. w. w. Osborne and Col NJ. w. DIX
on was Immediately sent to Washington.
Savannah was evidently too late in getting
into the field, however
Senator Tilman proved TO be too hard
a nut for the committee TO crack. The
colleagues of the doughty Senator from
South Carolina were evidently not anx-
ious to arouse his ire, and consequently
they were not disposed to make any
change in the amendment. Senator's Hale
and Perkins. the two Republican mem
bers of the Conference Committee, proved
obdurate and consequently the Savannah
committee had TO devote its attention to
the three House members of the commit
tee. These were Congressman Cummings,
Democrat, and Congressman Foss and
Dayton, Republicans. Mr.. Cummings
readily saw the fairness of the commit
tees position and gave his support and
assurances were received from both
Messrs. Foss and Dayton of their favor
able consideration. The savannahians
were in hopes that they had the commit
tee evenly divided by securing all three
of the House members, but in this they
were doomed TO disappointment.
Capt, d. G. Purse, who headed the Sa-
vannah Committee returned home yester-
day morning and made a verbal report to
Mayor Myers Later in the day Capt.
a giving
in detail his movements from the time of
his arrival in Washington Saturday until
his departure on Wednesday. This report
shows, as might have been expected, that
Capt Purse was indefatigable in his eff
forts and that If he did not convince the
members of the Conference Committee that
Savannah was the only place for the naval
station that 1t was through no lack OF eff
fort on his part.
Unfortunately for Savannah the COM
mi tee was unable to work In unison. Mr.
Osborne was in wretched health, and con-
seluer tly unable to render the active SER
vice which he would like TO have done,
and Col. Dixon did not arrive in Wash
ington until Sunday. The committee was
hand carped from the start. Congressman
Lester had gone down to Old Point Com
tort with the River and Harbor Commit
tee, and cid not return until Monday
morning. and consequently they were
without his advice in beginning the fight.
Senator ay was go ten hold of and read
~ gave his aid. Congressman Tate, of
the Ninth district, who is a member of
the Naval Committee of the House, when
approached by Capt. Purse, at once took
OF his coat and worked like Trojan
Congressman Bellamy of North Carolina
also enlisted promptly against Charleston
ard rendered very effective service.
II soon saw that we had no hone OF
ba
said Capt. Purse. land that our tn'y
hope was with the House conferees. SEN
ator Tillman was obdurate, and his COL
leagues on the committee, Senator's Hale
and Perkins, were Indifferent Congress-
Han Cummings. the only Democrat amony
the House conferees, at once took our
view of the matter and labored to bring.
his two Republican colleagues to see the
matter in the same light. Consressmen
Tate ana Bellamy also labored 70 the
same end. Both rendered me valuable as
sistance. We received what / considered
fairly satisfactory assurances from
Messrs. Foss and Dayton, though the lat
ter was somewhat doubtful"
The amendment" said Capt. Purse, rs
purely a Senate affair and originated
there. The peculiar feature about the
matter Is that, although a Senate affair,
IL will have to be decided In the House
AS the result of my labors, / conclude 4
that the best we can hope for is that the
amendment will be stricken out entirely
IN the House. 1t is too late in the session
TO accomplish anything else. An amend
ment to the amendment would be fought
In the Senate. even If 1t should be gotten
through the Senate. If the amendment
be defeated the matter cannot come up
again for twelve months. and we will ba
on our guard to see that Savannah gets
fair show"
With the strong fight which Will evident
ly be made upon the amendment by Con-
gressmen Cummings, Tate and Bellamv
ts defeat may reasonably be looked for
The naval station is plum worth pull
ing for. The naval uppropria ton bill.
which originated in the House provided
for the rebuilding of the dry dock at a
cost not to exceed $500, 600. In the Senate
this appropriation was itemized and
changed TO a total of $4,000 To this
Senator TiEman had added the followina
amendment:
o. The expenditure of the appropriation
herelnbefcre provided under the head OF
public works in the bureau Of yards ane
docks at the naval station, Port Royal
> c, are left in the discretion Of the sec.
rotary of the Navy. who is hereby au.
thorized end directed to forthwith exam