The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-25

Consideration Of the Naval Appropria.
tion bill was practically completed by tht
House of Representatives yesterday after
noon, but a vote was not taken. The bill
will probably be passed early this after
noon. Amendments the purpose of whicl
were to reduce the number of new ships
authorized in the bill we're voted down
The provisions local to Washington wer,
passed in the reading without opposition
except in the case of that paragraph ap
propriating money to build and furnish
homes at the Naval Observatory for as
tronomers, against which point OF order
was made. but overruled.
When the reading of the bill had been
resumed soon after the assembling of the
House. William Alden Smith addressed the
Chair in advocacy of the abrogation of
the convention OF 1877, relating to the
presence of armed vessels on the Great
Lakes. The provision, he said, was wise
when entered into, but in the passage of
the years conditions had become such
that it should be abrogated, 50 that war
ships If they may not be fioated on the
lakes. may at least be built there. This
position was antagoniZed by MIR Mann,
who asserted that the convention OF 1914
was still wise provision for the protsc-
tion and growth of the commerce on the
lakes, and the safety of the great cities
on them.
Mr.. Boutell gave the history Of the
Rush-Bagebot Convention. and detailed
the several violations b. bo:h countries.
In the Canadian troubles OF S5e'i0, Eng
land maintained a fleet of war vessels on
the lakes. and during the civil war the
United States felt constrained to keep l
similar feet there. Both gave rise to
complaints and extended correspondence
Since 1913. the United States had not OBJ
served either the letter or spirit Of the
convention. having maintained since then
the old Michigan. four times the size of
any vessel permitted under the conyen-
tion. He urged modification OF the in
strument. so that Canada and the United
States might maintain one gunboat of
modern type on the lower lakes and ore
on the upper lakes. and that each country
be permitted to build any kind and mum
Der of vessels On The lakes TO be towed
unarmed TO tidewater. He pleaded for
this, he said. particularly in behalf OF he
naval militia Of the States bordering on
the lakes.
After this discussion the Clerk resumed
the reading OF the bill. passing without
interruption the section relating to ord
nance and ordnance stores. In the last
section the following paragraphs OF iocal
interest occurs:
Purchase and manufacture Of smoke
less powder, five hundred thousand dol
lars.
New and improved machinery for exist
ing shops OF the naval gun factory at the
Washington Navy Yard. fifty thousand
dollars.
For new and improved machinery for
the proposed new workshop at he Wash
ington Navy Yard. estimated for by the
Bureau CT Yards and Decks. one hundred
thousand dollars.
For automatic coal-conveying machin-
cry and apparatus complete for the boiler
house stokers at the naval gun factory.
IS. s4g
For equipment of the forge shop at the
naval gun factory after extension and re-
modelling. as estimated for by the Bureau
of Yards and Docks. including twenty-five
ton crane and runways. steam hammer,
small hammers, piping, wiring. and mo-
tors. SO, GEO."
Mr.. Foss moved an amendment to the
Indian Head proving ground section, in
creasing the amount carried for the pur-
chase Of land from s1S,e0O to s25, 600. This
was agreed 10.
The paragraphs respecting the Wash
ington Navy Yard and the smokeless
powder factory were passed without OPP
position. These paragraphs follow:
Navy Yard, Washington. District of
Columbia: For one chemist, at S2, 500; one
Chief Clerk, at 81 500; one clerk, at
81, 400; one clerk, at 81. 10O one writer,
at s1017.25; two writer's, al 81, ,017.25 each;
c1e craftsman, at 81 500; three craftsmen,
at $1,0Sl each; one assistant craftsman
at S772; two copyists. at s720 each: one
telegraph operator aud copyist, at $1,000;
in all. sl7.506.75.
"Smokeless powder factory: For one
chemist. at S2,500; one assistant chemist,
at 1,e0o; in all s4.100."
Mr.. King asked IL the new clerks pro-
vided for under the bill would be ap-
pointed in conformity with the Civil Ser
vice law. Mr.. Foss replied afhrmatiyely
Mr.. King then said that the violations and
eyasions of the Civil Service law had be-
come SO fragrant as to amount to a ma
tional scandal. This. he said, was par
ticularly true with reference TO the War
and Navy Departments.
Mr.. Mudd challenged Mr.. King to cite a
single instance and said: Il have never
been accused Of being an ultra civil SER
vice reformer. but l am not willing to
near thls 6lander upon the Navy Depart
nent. or for that matter upon the War
Department. I do not like TO hear the
facts so misrepresented. l am not much
Of the law AS nearly every
body in this House knows, I have
more applications for Office than
any other member. and have
heard, and sometimes from my con-
stituents. rumors OF violations of the law.
but l know that it is enforced I have
had many occasions to Investigate in
stances OF alleged violation and am con-
TInced that they do not occur"
Mr. King insisted that 1900 temporary
Jerks In the War and Navy Departments
iad been transferred to the permanent
oil and within the classified service in
Of law. Mr.. Mudd declared that |
his was not true. and said 1T is not |
air that the gentleman from Utah should |
make charge which he cannot substan- |
late by citing a single case"
Mr. Wheeler assalled the bureau sys- |
en- Of the Navy Department, and Mr. |
Dayton replied. He said that we travel |
re CURE THE GRIP IN TWO DAYS |
T.x,4fVa Promo -Or.;r;no r,,vos5. fta