Norwich bulletin., 1912-05-28
CONGRESSMAN HIGGINS
 SAVES NAVAL STATION. Plan To Abandon It Dropped After His Speech in The House.
Especial to The Bulletin)

being abandoned this afternoon. Fol lowing his speech Chairman Padget moved to strike the words New Lon den, Cenneet4eut." from the bill and it was. agreed te
 The house being in committee of the i whele and having under consideration . the bill making appropriations for the naval service fer the fiscal year end | ing June 30, 1918, Representative Hig- gins offered an amendment striking ! out the words New London, Connec- ticuts" from line 21 on page 37 of the bill which authorizes the secretary of the navy to abandon and dispose of the naval reservation on the Thames river above New London
 In support of his amendment MT. [ Higgins saidi
 Mr. Speaker-One of the questions raised by my amendment to strike out New London, Connecticut" from this paragraph Is distinctly a moral one. Does this congress propose to break faith with the state of Connecticut and fepudiate a solemn pledge made after careful consideration by scientific men and recorded in the laws of this coun- try, in the statutes of Connecticut, and in the land records of that state?
 Given to Government.
 The acquisition of this beautiful tract of land, with it's extensive water front, for naval purposes did not cost the federal government one cent. The is- sue raised by my amendment is not one of economy, but of plain every day honesty. This country, in consideration of the gift of this magnificent proper ty to 1t, agreed by legislative act to establish nd maintain 1t for naval pur- poses. It was presented to the federal government for that purpose, and up- on that condition it has been held.
 The state of Connecticut has never been a raider of the federal treasury. It has never clamored for federal ap- propriations, and from the earliest days it has contributed vastly more to the upbuilding of this Union than it has taken from it. Now in this bill, without any regard to the facts, with out any regard for the conditions, without any regard for the neds of the navy, it is proposed to break faith with the state of Connecticut and attempt to sell and dispose of something that this country cannot give any title to.
 This recommendation comes from the naval committee, and I venture the prediction that few if any members of that committee have ever seen this station. It is included in this bill at the suggestion of the secretary of the navy, who in recommending it does not assign a single good reason for such action, and goes contrary to what the most experienced naval authorities in this country have held and do hold.
 It is quite as important, if not more so, to the people of Brooklyn and New York city as it is to my people. Before it was established the chamber of commerce of the city of New York pe- titioned congress, asking for it, and adopted strong resolutions urging it as military necessity and as part of the defense of New York; and that is urged now by every naval man who is worthy to command a ship or has any practical knowledge of naval tactics.
 History Dates Back to 1862.
 The history of the location of this station goes back to before 1882. At the direction of congress in the early sos tEe secretary of the navy appoint ed naval board composed of the most intelligent naval officers then in the service to examine Narrangansett Bay, the harbor of New London, and League Island, and to report back to congress which would best serve the public in terest. Commanders Stringham, Gard ner and Van Brundt and Chief Engi- neer Sanger composed this board, and to the report which they made was ap- pended the following resolution:
 Resolved, That the harbor New London possesses greater advantages for navy yard and naval depot than any other location examined by this board"
 In 1864 congress directed the naval committee of the house to visit the -sA. [ ,r,1y.a a thorough investigation and report back to the house. They made a per sonal examination and their report concluded in the following language:
 The site near New London, present ing such great natural and economical 1 advantages, has been rendered as a 1 free gift to the government. The com mittee recommend it's acceptance and | for the purpose of locating thereat a 1 navy yard and depot such as is con | templated by the naval authorities, | they recommend the passage of the accompanying bill for public act.'' | Congress in 1867, convinced of the wisdom of locating a station at this 1 point, passed the following resolution: | Resolved, That the secretary of the navy be and he is hereby authorized to 1 receive and accept a deed of gift when i offered by the state of Connecticut, of | a tract of land with not less than one mile of shore front on the Thames riv- | CT near New London, Connecticut l to be held by the United States for i naval purposes"
 The state of Connecticut appr0priat- ed $15,G00 for the purchase Of this | tract of land. and in addition the city of New London was authorized to ap- propriate any sum of money not to ex- i ceed s75, 900 for the purchase of land tc
 be deeded to the federal government for naval purposes, and the city of l New London joined with the state in the gift. l will print as an appendix to my remarks a certified copy of the deed which conveyed this land to the national government upon distinct condition and for 8 definite purpose l and it was accepted by the government upon that condition.
 This conveyance was made on the
 11th day of April 1868, and this gov
 ernment entered into possession aDc has been in possession ever since, hold ing it, as agreed. for naval purposes.
 Will Revert to Owners.
 The legal proposition involved re- l quires no discussion. Not only the land thus conveyed, but the improvements
 now a part of the realty which the government made will also revert tC the original owners While only $255,- 852.47 has been spent on this station
 both in the equipment and it's repair during the past forty-four years, this money has been well spent. The build ings are reported by the secretary oi | the navy as being in god condition. 4 dock over 800 feet long faces chan mel over 500 feet wide The water ii of sufficient depth to float the largest
 ships of the American navy, and up
 on the authority of one of our most distinguished admirals now deceased I can state to this house that he sait
 that there would not be the slightes l difficulty in taking d ship of the ton
 mage of the Connecticut up to tha station, docking her, and turning hel