Congressional Record-Rouse. 1399

1883. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-ROUSE. 1399

All sugars above No. 16·and not above No. 20 Dutch standard, 3.15 ce~ts per 1\ir. TUCKER. Not of the present House, but in the last House pound. there was a favorable report. All sugars above No. 20 Dutch standard, 3.65 cents per pound. Molasses testing not above 56° by the polariscope, shall pay a dutyof 4 cents per The SPEAKER. The bill will be read, subject to objection. gallon; molasses testing above 56° shall pay a duty of 8 cents per gallon. The Clerk read as follows: · 1\ir. MORRILL. IftheSenatorfromMichigan will give way, I move A bill (H. R. 7330) to remove the disabilities of Francis H. Smith, sr., of Virginia. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives (tWMassachusetts. I offer, 1\ir. Speaker, for im- lli. ALDRICH. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speak mediate adoption, the resolution which I send to the desk. er's table Senate bill 422, for the relief of George W. Maher, for present The SPEAKER. The resolution will be read. consideration. The Clerk read as follows: The SPEAKER. The bill will be read, subject to objection. Resolved, That the Clerk of the House be directed to purchase immediately ten The bill is as follows: cords of wood for use in the committee, cloak, and retiring rooms of the House, Be it enacted, &c., That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, au the same to be paid for out of the contingent fund of the House. thorized and required, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appro priated, to pay to George W. Maher the sum of $700, in full for the demand of Mr. ROBINSON, of Massachusetts. The necessity for the immediate said Maher for extra. services on the committee placed in charge of the reserve passage of the resolution is that the committee of which I am a member vault in the Treasury Department of the United States from March 1, 1873, to had to sit last evening without a fire, and again this morning we were July 1, 1874. informed that no fuel was on hand. I think we ought to have some fire :Mr. HOLMAN. I think there should be some explanation of that in the rooms such weather as this. bill. • The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the present consideration of Mr. McMILLIN. Regular order. the resolution? 1\Ir. ALDRICH. Is there objection to the bill? There was no objection. The SPEAKER. The Chair does not understand the gentleman from The resolution was agreed to. Indiana as objecting. Mr. HOLMAN. No, sir; I only suggest that we should have an ex BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSOURI RIVER. planation of the bill. Mr. BUCKNER, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 7329) 1\ir. ALDRICH. 1\ir. Speaker, the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. to amend an act entitled ''An act to authorize the construction of a SPAULDING] was on the committee that examined this, and can explain bridge across the Missouri River at the most accessible point within exactly the character of the bill. five miles above the city of Saint Charles, Missouri," approved April Mr. SPAULDING. I was not upon the committee, but I am advised 14,1 2; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Com that this gentlemun, 1\ir. M:aher, was upon a committee in charge of mittee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed. what was known as the reserve vault in the Treasury Department in COIDIITTEE EXPEN ES, l\IT ISSIPPI RIVER IMPROVEM.E~T. 1873 and 1874. He lmd charge of it for a year or more in connection · Mr. BURROWS, of :Michigan. I ask leave at this time to present with two other gentlemen, he being immediately responsible, during for immediate consideration the resolution which I send to the desk. which time large amounts of money, from one to two millions of dol The SPEAKER. The resolution will be read. lars, were in their custody. The Clerk read as follows: 1\Ir. PAGE. Did he get paid for the service? Mr. SPAULDING. He did not. The other two were paid from the Resolved, That a sum not ex ceeding l ,OOOoutof thecontingentfund of the House may be applied and used by the Clerk of the House for the payment of such Treasury, but before this gentleman applied that fund was otherwise vouchers as may be presented by t.he select committee relative to appropriations disposed of, and there was no authority under the law to make payment for the improvement of the Missis. ippi River, said vouchers to be approved by to him out of any other fund. The other gentlemen, as I have said, the chairman of the Committee on Accounts. received their pay. M:r. RANDALL. That ought to go to the Committee on Accounts. 1\ir. ALDRICH. The report of the Senate fully explains all the facts. Mr. BURROWS, of Michigan. I will state to the gentleman from The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the present consideration of Pennsylvania that the funds of the committee have been exhausted and the ·bill? there are several witnesses here who have not been paid. It will not There being no objection, the bill was taken from the Speaker's table, take, I think, exceeding a thousand dollars, perhaps not so much. read by its title a :first and second time, ordered to a third reading, read 1\fr. RA:NDALL. I am not objecting to the resolution, but merely the thlrd time, and passed. ) calling attention to the fact that the funds can not be taken out of the 1\Ir. ALDRICH moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was contingent fund of the House unless on approval of the Committee on passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the Accounts. table. Mr. BURROWS, of Michigan. The intent of the resolution is that The latter motion was agreed to. the Committee on Accounts shall examine these vouchers. MORGAN RAWLS. :Mr. RANDALL. So that they are approved by the committee I do not object; but the Committee on Accounts should take cognizance o 1\Ir. ROBESON. · I demand the regular order. the matter. ·The SPEAKER. The regular order is called for, being the .call of The SPEAKER. The Chair is informed that all of these vouchers the yeas and nays upon the passage of the bill pending before the House have to be examined by the Committee on Accounts. at the adjournment last evening. The Clerk will read the title of the M:r. BURROWS, of Michigan. Ifthe resolutionisnot broad enough bill. to cover that construction it can be so modified, or, if preferable, it can The Clerk read. as follows: be referred now to the Committee on Accounts. A bill (H. R. 2136) for the relief of Morgan Rawls. The SPEAKER. The Chair thinks it had better be referred to the The question was taken; and it was decided in the affirmative-yeas Committee on Accounts. 96, nays 64, not voting 131; as 'follows: The resolution was referred to the Committee on Accounts. YEAS-96. REMOVAL OF POLITICAL DISABILITIES. Aiken, Buchanan, Covington, Evins, Armfield, Buckner, Cox, Samuel S. Farwell, Sewell S. Mr. TUCKER. I ask unanimous consent to introduce now and put Atkins Burrows, Jos. H. Cravens, Flower, Beach,' Cabell, Culberson, Ford, upon its passage a bill for the removal of the political disabilities of Berry Carlisle, Curtin, Forney, . Mr. Francis H. Smith, of Virginia. I will say that a bill of similar im Bln.ckburn, Chace, Da.rra.ll, Fulkerson, port wa.s reported favorably in the last House. Blanchard, Oha.pman, Davidson, Gunter, Bland, Clardy, Dibrell, Hammond, N. :J. Mr. ROBINSON, of Massachusetts. Has it been reported by a. com Bliss Clements, Dowd, Haseltine, mittee of this House? Blouitt. Cook, Ellis, Hatch, i4oo CONGRESSlONAt R~CORD-IIOUSE. JANUARY 20,

H~rbert, · Moore, Robinson, Geo. D. Turner, H. G. rected to purchase at once, for .then e of the folding-room, three tons of coal, Hill Mosgrove, Rosecrans, Turner, Oscar and pay for the same out of the contingent fund of the House. Honk, Neal, Scoville, Tyler, .Jones, Geo. W. Nolan, Shelley, Upson, Mr. PETTIBONE. I hope the resolution will pass. It is necessary King, Paul, Shultz, Urner, in order that the folding may be done. Knott, Peelle, Singleton, J. W. Vance The resolution was adopted. La.dd. Pettibone, Singleton, Otho R. Van Horn, Martin Phelps, Spaulding, Warner, . Mr. PETTIBONE moved to'reconsider the vote by which the resolu McKen'zie, Phister, St-one, Wheeler, tion was adopted; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid McKinley, Pound, Talbott, White, OI\ the table. McLane, Robt. M. Randall, Taylor, Ezra. B. Whitthorne McLean, James H. Rice, Theron M. Thompson, Wm. G. Williams, Thomas The latter motion was agree to. McMillin, Richardson, J. S. Townsend, .Amos Willis, ORDER OF BuSINESS. Mills, Robeson, Tucker, Wise, George D. NAYs--64. Mr. ROBESON. I call for the regular order. Aldrich, Farwell, Chas. B. Lacey, Sparks, . The ~PEAKER. A number of gentlemen have bills which they de Anderson, Fisher, Lindsey, Steele, sue to mtroduce for reference. If the regular order is not insisted on Bayne, Geddes, :l\lcCook, Taylor, .Joseph D. the Chair will recognize the gentleman from illinois [Mr. TOWNSHEND] Bragg, Grout, Miller, Thomas, Briggs, Guenther, Morey, Updegraff, for that purpose. · Browne, Ha.rdenbergh, Peirce, VanAernam, Mr. O'NEILL. Is not Monday bill day? Why can not gentlemen Buck, Harris, Benj. W. Prescott, Wadsworth, wait till Monday monring? Burrows,.JuliusC. H~tt lton, Ranney, Wait, 1\fr. ROBESON. I have no objection to the introduction of the bills Carpenter, Hi , Rice, Wm. W. Walker, Caswell, Holman, Rich, Ward which have been sent to the desk. Converse, Horr, Richardson, D. P. Washburn, Cullen, .Jacobs, Ryan, Watson, DAVID SNEED. Dawes, .Jadwin, Shallenberger, Webber, Doxey, Kasson, Sherwin, Williams, Chas. G. Mr. TOWNSHEND, of Dlinois, by unanimous consent, introduced Dwight, Kelley, Skinner, Willits, a bill (H. R. 7331) granting a pension to David Sneed· which was read Errett, Ketcham, Smith, A. Herr Wood, Walter A. a first and second time, referred to the Committee on fuvalid PeJlSions NOT VOTING-131. and ordered to be printed. ' Atherton, Dezendorf, Jones,· Phineas Ray, JOSHUA TEAGUE. Barbour, Dingley, Jorgensen, Reagan, Barr, Dugro, Joyce, Reed, Mr. TOWNSHEND, of Dlinois, ~' by unanimous consent intro Belford, Dunn, Kenna, Reese, duced a bill (H. R. 7332) ~ting a pension to Joshua T~ouei which Belmont, . Dunnell, Klotz, Rice, John B. Beltzhoover, Ermentrout, Latham, Ritchie, was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Invalid Bingham, Frost, Leedom, Robertson, Pensions, and ordered to be printed. Bisbee, Garrison, LeFevre, Robinson, Jas. S. Black, George, Lewis, Robinson, Wm. E. ALBERT C. PONTIUS. Bowmi\Jl, Gibson, Lord, Ross, Brewer, Godshalk, Lynch, Russell, Mr. :McKINLEY, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. Brumm, Hall, .l\1ackey, licales, 7333) fo~ the relief of Albert C. Pontius; which was read a first and Butterworth, Hammond, John Manning, Scranton, 1\Iarsh, Simonton, second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered 8!}~~:u, ::z-~·r Mason, Smalls, to be printed. ' Camp, ' Harris • Henry S. Matson, Smith, Dietrich C. ORDER OF BUSINESS. Campbell, Haskell,1 McClure, Smith, J. Hyatt Candler, Heilman, McCoid, Speer, 1\Ir. ROBESON. I move to dispense with the morning hour for the Cannon, Henderson, Miles, Spooner, call of committees for reports. Cassidy, Hepburn, Money, Springer, Clark, Herndon, Morrison, Stockslager, The motion was agreed to (two-thirds voting in fa-vor thereof). Cobb, Hewitt, Abram S. Morse, Strait, Mr. ROBESON. I move that the House resolve itself into Cbmmit Colerick, Hewitt, G. W. Moulton, Thompson, P. B. tee of i;he ~ole House .on th~ state of the Union for the purpose of Cornell, Hiscock, Muldrow, Townshend, R. W. Cox, William R. Hoblitzell, Murch, Valentine proceeding With the consideration of the naval appropriation bill. Crapo, Hoge, Mutchler, Van Voorhis, The motion was agreed to. Crowley, Hooker, Norcross, Wellborn, The House accordingly resolved itself into Committee of the Whole Cutts, House, Oates, West, Davis, George R . Hubbell, O'Neill, Wilson, House on the state of the Union, Mr. PAGE in the chair and resumed Davis, Lownde H. Hubbs, Pacheco, Wise Morgan R. the consideration of the bill (H. R. 7314) Illl1kingapproprlations for the Deering, Humphrey, Page, Wood, Benjamin naval service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1 84, and for other pur De Motte, Hutchins, Parker, Young. Deuster, Jones, James K. Payson, poses. NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL. So the bill was passed. The following pairs were announced: The CHAIRMAN. The Hou e is now in Committee of the Whole Mr. CORXELL with Mr. BLACK. for the purpo~ eof further considering the ns.val appropriation bill. The Iflr. HUBBELL with :M:r. BLACKBURN. gentleman from Indiana [Mr. CALKINS] i entitled to the floor. Ur. DUNNELL with Ur. HARRIS of New Jersey. :l!Ir. ROBESO~. By the courtesy of the gentleman fi·om Indiana I Ur. S::.\UTH, of New York, with Mr. HUTCHINS. am permitted to ask a question. I desire to inquire what is the wish IUr. HAltn!o:ND, of New York, with 1\fr. HEWITI, of New York. of the Committee of the Whole with regard to general debate upon this Mr. STRAIT with Mr. ROBINSON of New York. bill, and to ascertain, if possible, within what time the committee will Ur. Hn;L with l\1r. ERMENTROUT. be willinu to limit the gener-al debate. Mr. SPAULDING with Mr. JONES of Arkansas. The CruiRMAN. The Committee of the Whole has no power to Mr. DAVIS, of Illinois, with Mr. CALDWELL. limit debate. Mr. MA OY with Mr. DUGRO. Mr. ROBESON. Except by unanimous con ent. Mr. GODSHALK with Mr. RosS. :l!Ir. THOMAS. · we do not want it limited yet. Mr. BLOUNT. The gentleman is ratherp1-emature in askina to close :Mr. JoYCE with Ur. REAGAN. general debate at this time. e Mr. CALKINS with .l\Ir. HEWITI of Alabama, on this vote. Mr. O' NEILL with Mr. WELLBORN. Mr. ROBESON. I am not asking to close it now. Mr. BARR with Mr. GARRISOY. l\Ir. BLOUNT. This is a very important bill, and. hould receive the Mr. JOYES, of New Jersey, with Mr. HOBLITZELL. careful consideration of the Committee of the Whole. Mr. ROBESON. Very well; I yield the floor back to the o-entleman Mr. H~"'DERSON with Mr. TOWNSHEYD of illinois. Mr. YOUNG with Mr. Dm."'N. from Indiana. "' Mr. SPRINGER with Mr. HIDIPHREY. Mr. CALKINS. When the naval appropriation bill was reported to Jtfr. BLACKBURN. I desire to say that on all political questions I the lnst session of Congress by the Committee on Appropriations with am paired with the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. HuBBELL]· but pro vi ions in part r~rganizing the Nary, I objected to many of its p-ro not regarding this as such, I have voted "ay." ' visions. I find in this bill there are retained many of the provi ion The result of the vote was then announced as above stated. which were in the bill of the last session. I find in tbi bill many of . Mr. TURNER, of Georgia, moved to reconsider the vote by which the the same provisions, or provisions like them, which wer in the last ap bill was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid propriation bill, and in my judgment thi is a worse bill than that one on the table. was. The latter motion was agreed to. It may not be out of place for me to say that ever since I ha-.;-e been a member of this House I have objected to the Committee on Appro FUEL FOR FOLDING-ROOM. priations assuming to control all the legislation of this body. I can but Mr. PETTIBONE. I ask unanimous consent to submit for present repeat to-day that the pr-actice i"i a pernicious one and I hope to see the consideration the resolution which I send to the desk. powers of the House distributed among its committees and the respon The Clerk read as follows: sibilities of legislation allowed to rest where they properly belong, and .Resolved, That the Clerk of the House be, and he is hereby, authorized and di- where it was originally intended they should rest. 1883. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 1401

The Committee on Naval Affairs of this House have for years been Ordnance Bureau gave orders to have her immediately loaded 'vith shot investigating and trying to matme a plan for the reorganization of and shell. So the crew, under orders from that bur~u, worked all night the Navy. It has on more occ.:'lSions than one presented bills to the to load theY el with shot and shell. But when the Bmeau of Con House for that purpose, and has given the subject its best thought and struction and Repair heard of the matter, the authorities there said the consideration. :M:any bills which are now on the Calendar and in the ve el could not stand the load which she had been ordered to carry; hands of that committee ought to be taken up, considered, and acted so they sent an order to have all the ordnance stores which had been upon by this House. And the Committee on Appropriations in my put on the vessel the night before taken oft' immediately. Of course, judgment ought never to be permitted to enter upon thedomain ofleg the crew worked all night again to unload the vessel. Th e orders islation in any ofthe Departments, unless there is an a.bsolute necessity were sent without consultation between the bmeans. for it. Another instance: The Swatara, another one of our vessel , was or At the close of the war we had one of the best navies in the world. dered not long ago to be temporarily repaired by the Bureau of Con In fa.ct, the necessities ofthe war had produced an entire revolution in struction and Repair"tor a cruise for the winter. Right on top of that naval wa.rfare. The naval engagement between the Merrimac and the order the Bmeau of Steam Engineering sent an order that the Swatara Monitor attracted at once the attention of the world; and the flotillas should be repaired for a three years' cruiRe. Thus the parties in charge belonging to other countries were immediately changed and altered so of llhe vessel were in posse sion of two orders from two bureaus, operat that it was supposed they would be at least able to cope with the iron ing without any concert of action, and whose orders were directly in clads which had been successfully put afloat by the American nation. conflict. I remember to have een, shortly after the war, a paragraph from one Another instance: For the Pinta, one of our tugboats, the Bureau of the London papers on the occasion of the visit of Admiral Farragut of Steam Engineering was ordered to get boilers ready. Without any to London, in which it was said that with humiliation the English na knowledge of how she was built, that bmeau went to work and re tion would have to admit, and did admit, that even the city of London paired boilers for her. But when the boilers were .finished it wa found was practically in the power and in the hands of the American Adpliml. they did not fit, o the Pinta had to be torn to pieces and the boilers But when the war clo ed we stopped om improvements, while other turned around in order to get them in the shlp at all. The Bureau of nations went along at express speed in perfecting theirs. Our Ameri Construction and Repair had ~one on building the vessel without refer can vessels have now become useless or practically so except for harbor ence to or consultation with the Bureau of Steam Engineering, and the defense, while the navies of the other powers of the world have been Bmeau of Steam Engineering had gone on and built the boilers with continually improving. out reference to the Burian of Construction and Repair. I am well aware that even if I had the time I am not able now to Each bureau makes its own part of the ship without reference to or give an epitome ofthe diffe.ent vessels and armament of the navies of co-operation with any other bureau. The consequence is that when the the world. But I may say that, added to the quality which we found different part of the shlp are brought together none of them fit. This necessary to adopt during the last war, a high rate of speed has been has been the history of our Navy for the last twenty years. found to be useful and necessary, and has been accomplished by many Take another case. The Mohican, one of our ve sels, was fitted out govemments, so that many of the best vessels a.re able to steam at a and guns prep!ll"ed for her. "''ben they were sent down to be put in it rate of from fiftee:n to si..~teen knots an hour, while cauying some of the was found that there was not sufficient space left for the guns to work largest and most destructive ordmmce whlch has ever been invented. in, so the guns were taken out and sawed off twelve or fourteen inches, I can say that in common with all the people of this country I would and the ve el put to sea with clipped guns. like to see the American Navy again put upon the footing and the plane Another instance: Just afterthewar, and beforemyfi·iend ft·om New where it properly belongs, and there is no rea on why that should not Jersey [l\Ir. Rmmso~] became Secretary of the Na.vy, some immense be done. We are the greatest civilized ancl Christian nation on the engines were ordered t.o be built at the navy-yard here. They were earth. It is true that the census of Russia shows more population than built; they cost an immense sum of money; without saying exactly how ours does, but in that population is embraced many of the uncivilized much, I will sa,y 5600,000; that is in the neighborhood of what they tribes anu people of that country, while ours include nothing but the cost. They were built for a Yessel who ~ e keel was never laid-a vessel civilized and Christian people, showing that we have become the great that was never named. After the engines were built it was found nec e t civilized and Christian nation on earth. essary to tear out one end of the building in which they were constructed There is no reason why the Navy of this Republic should not be equal in order to get them out. Tho e engines were sold at last for old iron, to that of the navy of any government in the world. Our own sailors and realized about $20,000. are as brave men, our genius is as great, and our resources are beyond This is the way our Navy ha been going on for many years. I say those of any other nation. . it ought to be reorganized. It ought to be reorganized upon a basis Returning now, howeYer, to the bill before us, I may be allowed to which would bring all these bureaus together underacommon and gen ay that in my judgment the reformation of the Navy, which the hon eral head, so as to make a harmonious whole. My friend from 1\fassa orablegentlemanincharge ofthisbill [Mr. RoBE ox] tellsusheseeks, chu etts [Mr. lliRRIS], thechairmanoftheCommitteeonNaval Affairs, is begun at the wrong end. I desire briefly to call attention to some of has introduced a bill to aholish the e bureaus as now constituted, and the evils of our pre ent naval establishment, without attempting upon substitute something like the British board of admirality, which would this bill t{) correct those which I shall specifically point out. bring the bureaus together so that they could act in concert, thus bring In the fu'St place, I will call the attention of thi committee to the ing about something of an improvement at least upon the present dis fact that we have in our Navy Department eight bureaus, each separate jointed and disconnected system. But this great reform has not been and distinct, and all of them in no sen e drawn together anu united by attempted in this bill, nor can it be, because if we should open up that common· concert of action so as to accomplish the best results. subject, as my friend in charge of the bill well knows, these reforms I wish to call attention to the fact that the different bureaus in our could scarcely pass even in a long session upon an appropriation bill. Navy Department act in a disconcerted and disjointed manner, with no But, l\h·. Chairman, another thing I wish to call the attention of co-operation between them, and the consequence is that there i not only members of this committee to is that we have eleven navy-yards, in a waste of the money which is appropriated for each of the bmeaus, but cluding three naval stations. They are located at Portsmouth, Boston, there is no perfect result and nothing that comes near to it as the joint New London (naval station), Brooklyn, League Island, Washington, production of the work of the seYeral bmeaus. _.,.orfolk, Port Royal (naYal . tation), Key West (naval station), Pensa For example, we have the Bmeau of Navigation, the Bureau of Ord cola, and Mare Island. In each one of the e navy-yards and naval sta nance, the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting, the Bureau of Yards tions there are branches of the eight bmeaus which I haYe named, ttnd Docks, the Bureau of Provision and Clothing, the Bureau of Con- that is, in each na.vy-yard are a bmeau of construction and repair, a traction and Repair, the Bureau of team Efiooineering, and the Bu bureau ofnavigation, a bureau of ordnance, a bureau of yards and docks, reau of Surgery and Medicine. The e bureaus expend and there is an a bm&'tu of provision anu clothing, a bureau of steam-engineering, and nually appropriated for each of them hundreds of thousands of dollars. a bureau of medicine and urgery. These, with their superintendents, For the Bureau of .r .,.3>vigation this bill appropriates 120,000; for the Bu then· clerk , then· machinery, make up an American navy-yard. reau of Ordnance, 323,000; for the Bureau of Eqmpment and Recruit Now, Mr. Chairm::m, my judgment is that if you bringtogetherthese ing, $869,000; for the Bureau of Yards and Docks, '244,000; for the naYal establishments into one compact system you can reduce naval Bureau of Provision and Clothing, 1,140,000; for the Bureat1 of Con- expenditures, not only in these several particulal'S I have mentioned, truction and Repair, 1,020,000, and for the Bureau of Steam En but you can bring the Na.vy out of that chaotic state into which i~ has gineering, $1,011,000; making in all, $4,727,000. fallen and build upan..'tvywhich will comparefavoralJlywith any navy I have said that these bureaus opemte uisjointedly and disconnectedly. in the world and at much smaller expense. I mean by this that bm·eaus charged with certain duties act without The Navy ought to be reformed in another particular, and just here Jmowledge on the part of other bureaus· as to the particular subjects I wish to direct a-ttention of this committee to the staff of the Navy. with which they are charged. For example, during the excitement in One of my great objections to this naval appropriation bill, because I cident to the capture by the Spanish authorities of a crew of Ameri am now coming to the consideration of the bill itself-one of my grave cans not many years ago, on the Island of Cuba, orders wel"e issued for objections to this bill as it stands is that it applies the knife to the 1·eal the immediate dispatch of certain vessels into the Cuban wate1'S. One navy, and the only real navy we have, which consists of the line offi of our vessels, cal1ed the Despatch, was ordered by the Navy Department cers. They are the life-blood of the Navy, Mr. Chairman; they are the to be made ready immediately to sail to the scene of trouble. The men who go to sea and maintam the honor of our flag as well as they CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-ROUSE. JANUARY 20, 1402 :/

can aboard the old crafts we furnish them for-cruising in foreign seas. est abuses connected with our naval establiShment is this constant fever Instead of striking, a.<~ I believe should first be done, at the real abuse, ishness and uncertainty which is allowed to remain in the minds of the which in my belief is to be found in the staff of the Navy, this appro line officers by reason of these constant changes with reference to legis priation bill strikes alike at the staff and the_line. lation connected with the Navy. This ought to be stopped, and a per Let us look at the sta.ff of the Navy for a moment. It consists of an manent, stable rule established for its government. engineer corps, a medical corps, a paymasters' corps, a construction corps, The next feature to which I wish to call attention is that we haveof a civil engineer corps, professors of mathematics, and chaplains. chief engineers sixty-nine. Ten of these do not go to sea at all. We I am not going to deal with the engineer corps, because I think ·of have ninety-nine passed assistant engineers, sixty-two assistants, and all the corps in the Navy that is one of the most important and one sixty-two cadet engineers. I desire to leave this part of the discussion which would require long experience and close study in order to point ofthe bill, however, to myfriendfromlllinois[Mr. TH01\1AS], who has out any objection which might be taken to it or ~uggest any reforma the matter better in hand than I, and will pass over that poTtion. tion. The ten civil engineers which belong to the staff, in my judgment, I direct attention to the medical corps of the Navy, and I want to ought to be mustered out and bear no rank at all in the Navy, and the -point out some incongruities, anomalies, as my friend from New Jersey eleven mathematicians which we employ, and who are engaged in spec [Mr. RoBE oN] said the other day, in the medical corps of the Navy. ulative astronomy, in computing the distance between stars a,nd sweep You will remember we have some thirty-seven ships in the Navy. ing the heavens to discover comets, might just as well let thetinseland Mr. ROBESON. About forty. . epaulets fall from their uniforms and go back again into civil life. I Mr. CALKINS. Aboutfortywhichareseaworthy, as lam corrected do not caretomaintainthem asapartofthenavalestablishment. They by my friend from New Jersey. What does the naval medical corps are of no practical service to it, and there is nosense incontinuingthem consist of? Fourteen medical directors, with the rank of colonel in the in the service as naval officers. Army. They can not go to sea. They never do go to sea. They can While upon that subject! might as well say that I agree entirely with not go to sea under the provisions of law. They have too much rank. the idea that we ought to have a national observatory, and that these They would rank the commanding officer of a ship, and consequently mathematicians should be assigned to and would find good employment they are put on shore duty. That particular shore duty seems to be to in running it; but it ought to be disconnected from the naval observa live at their ease, without performing duty of any kind, at least very tory altogether. Thatoughtalwaystoremaininchargeofthenavaloffi light duty if any. cers of our Government. They make the nautical almanac, obserwe the I ought to add in this connection, l\1r. Chairman, before passing from constant stars, and make the charts for the sailor when he has nothing the subject, that I notice in the French navy, where there are 40,000 to guide him except the stars and sky upon un1.!1Qwn seas. Thm·efore men, all told, and about 4, 000 officers, they have only one medical the naval observatory should always remain in charge of the line offi director for the entire French navy. cers of the Navy, and these other gentlemen should be in another de We have fifteen medical inspectors, with the rank of lieutenant-col partment. onel; they have too much rank to go to sea except with a fleet, but We have ten naval constructors and six assistants. These are ship we have only six fleets; and consequently but six of the fifteen can go carpenters. They ought not to haveanynavalrank, butsimplybeem to sea at all. The other nine belong to the staff of the Navy and are ployed by the Navy. on duty somewhere else-probably light duty about Washington. Now, I have gone through some of the reforms which I think ought But I come to the next. We have fifty surgeons for-our forty vessels to take place in the Navy; but, as I said in the outset, when these re and naval stations in addition, with a Tank corresponding to that of forms take place it should be done by the committee charged with these major in the Army; we have eighty passed assi:stant surgeons, with the duties, and not by the Appropriations Committee, which, under the rank of captain in the ATmy, and twelv-e assi tant surgeons, With the Tules of this Hou e, has for years become the great sponge which ab rnnk of lieutenant in the A.Tmy, making in all one hundred and eighty sorbs everything else; the octopus that spreads out its arms, grasping one-medical officers. the entire legislation of the country and excluding all the other com · Now if I were asked what I would do with thit> top-heavy corp I mittees from a hn.re. Now I have not talked harshly about the Ap ·would ~nsweT, ' 'luster them a1J. out down to the actual needs of the propriations Committee of this Congress, not nearly so harshly as I have enrice." They have a good profession. They are not like officers in done heretofore, because I think that they have been reasona,bly free the line who have studied for years to make them. elves navaJ officers and from tr passing upon the domain of the other committees of the Hou e. who w~uld be left entirely without any other pro1c ~ ~ ion. These medi The Admiral of our Navy, I may say in pa ing, has on his staff but cal gentlemen have a good profession, and I woulu muster all out down one aid and he is a lieutenant. Probably that ought to be changed a lit to the needs of the service and let them go into the general practice of tle but I will not stop to discu it as I do not know the Admiral's feel medicine. That is where I would put the pruning-knife first. ing~ on the ubject. You can not reduce it very much under its present I now come to the payma ters' corp , rrnd, as Dickens makes Squeers organizatiOn. . say; " here is richness." We h~.ve thirteen pay d~ectors, wit~ a Tank Now, 1\Ir. Chairman, I desire to call attention to some of the provis corresponding to that of colonel ill the Army. They can not go to ea. ions of the bill to which I shall also invite the attention of the com They have too much rank. They never do go to ea. They are pro mittee later, and again t which I shall make certain points of order, of hibited by law from going to sea; but whether they are prohibited or which I now give gentlemen due notice. not they do not go to sea. Against the provision of the bill commencing on page 3, and at line We have thirteen pay inspectors with rank corresponding to that of 50, in the following words: lieutenant-colonel in the Army. We have six fleets. · These thirteen Pm'IJ'ided also, ·That when any commodore shall reach the age of 60 years, any pay inspectOl's may go to ea, but only with a fleet. We haye onlysix captain the age of 55 years, any commander the age of 51 years, any lientcn::mt fleets to go in. NeCessarily the seven who have no fleets must stay at commander the age of 47 years, or any lieutenant the age of 45 years, he sllall be retired by the President from active service, and shall ~o upon the retired-list home. We have fifty paymasters, "'ith rank corresponding with that of the N11. as of the grade held by him at the date of hiS retirement. of major in the Army; we have thirty passed assistant paymasters, with the rank of captain and lieutenant; we have nineteen a istant Whe we reach thatprovisoin this bill I shallmake the proper point paymasters, with rank corresponding to that of lieutenant, making in of orde upon it that it is a change of existing law and does not retrench all one hundred and twenty-five gentlemen with varying ranks in the e 'tures, but on the contraryincreases them. But if that shall be Navy to payourthirty- ixor forty vessels, and therestofthem ~spen~ ov ed I shall maintain and do maintv.in now that if gentlemen de their time in pleasure. Now, you ask me wha.t I would do With this sire to strike a blow at the retired-list. and sooner or later have it en branch of the ervice. I would wipe it outfrom top to bottom, that is tirely wiped out, they can do it in no better way than by adopting that what I would do with it; and I would detail officers of the line to pay provision. Retired-lists in the Army and Navy have never been very the navy-yards and ship . popular in this country. The more you increase it and call public at - But you say these paymasters give bond. Yes, that is true; paymas tention to it the less sure it is of permanent continuance. ters give bonds to the Government; but there are as many of them that The only way to maintain a retired-list for the Army or Navy in tliis default with the bonds as there are without; and I know that there are country is to guard it jealously and see that none but the Teally deserv officers of the line, who do not give bond, that are disbursing and pay ing go upon it, and the people will maintain it. But ifyou retire a class ing more money to-day in the Navy than any of these paymasters. of men when they are in theprimeoflife, attheageof45, 47, 49, and 51, Take as examples the officers in charge of the light-houses, and, as has simply because they have served a certain length of time with a certain been suggested, if it is found nec~ry you .may r~9-uire ~onds. to be rank, you will as certainly break down and swamp that whole retired !riven by the line officers. But th1s system, ill addition to 1ts beillg an list as that you pass this bill. incubus and hanging about the neck of theNa\al Department like the There is one other objection I take to the bill, which relates to the albatross about the neck of the sailor, its appointees come from civil life. clause preceding the one I have read. It provides that promotion shall I would sweep the whole thing away. That is my idea about it; be not take place in the line unless the paTties have seen certain years of cause we want an efficient Navy, and we want above and beyond all sea-service in the grade or rank which is named. That is, lieutenants thin!!S such stable laws as will settle the minds of men that the Navy must have seen six years' service with the rank of lieutenant, and so on is not going to be overhauled every time Congress meets. The whole down through the list. naval establishment is set to effervescing and thrown into a. state of Now, there is a strange thing about the bill, towhich I call the atten feverish excitement at every assembling of Congress. One of the great- tion of my friend from New Jersey. Going on till it gets to the mnk Qf 1883. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 1403 comm'1llder it there suddenly stops. It does not say anything about We have retained that grade in the service for the se\enteen years captains. I wonder why that is-why a captain before he is promoted since the war closed; und now just as these men are ready to step into ought not to see certain sea-s~rvice before promotion? Why is it? Is the grade which we promised them long ago, it is proposed by a Con-· it that there is some captain lurking somewhere in the Navy in some gress said to be friendly to them to sweep it away entirely. I say you soft spot that does not want to be interfered with? Or is there some can not do that without performing an act of great injustice. other rea on not apparent why a C.'lptain should not serve a few years But itis said it is only a grade-{)nly a rank in the Navy. Exactly. in active service before he is promoted? Is there some reason for it And when you and I erved in the Army, ifwe were second lieutenant which does not apply to the commanders and lieutenants? we never were satisfied until we got to be first lieutenants and o on all But the point I desired particularly to call attention to was that this the way up. We strnggledjust as hard for the next grade above as we bill will work a positive injustice to these officers unless we increase had done to get the grade we started with. the number of ships that we have. It places in the hands of the De It is said of Lord Nelson, that grand old hero of the British nary, partment the power to prevent a. person whom they want to retire from that when he lost his arm he declared that he did not know but what going to sea. We have only forty ships. The Department may keep he would be willing to lose the other if he could be advanced to the an officer on shore when the time approaches for promotion, and al grade which he longed for. That is exactly what officers of the Army though he may want to go to sea never so bad, the Department may put and of the Navy look forward to; this advance in grade is all theyha\e its hands upon him while he sees the time approaching when he has to to look forward to. go to the retired-list. I simply offer that by way of criticism on the It is true we feed them and give them asortofimpecunioussupport. bill. But the only thing they have to look forward to in the future as a re I come now to the next question I propo e to discuss, which :iso the ward for their service is the promotion in grade. Yet we now propose, question of selection. I am oppo ed to the method of selet,-ti.on, which after we have got these men to give their services to the country, to places in the hands of a board the right to say arbitrarily who of the sweep away the grade we promised them just as they are ready to step captains and the commodores who are presented shall be promoted to into it. the mnk of admiral. I believe that the bill provides that the names I come now to that part of the bill making provision with reference of five officers shall be selected from whom the admiral must be chosen. to furnishing the ships which have for a longtime been in process of con The provision which I take exception to is this: struction. These are the .Miantonomoh, the Puritan, the Amphitrite, That hereafter all promotions to the grade of rear-admiral on the active-list the Terror, and the Monadnoc. shall be made by selection from the grades of commodore and captain; and no The bill of last year provided for the launching of some of these ves more promotions to the grade of commodore shall be made, that grade being sels, the Puritan and :Miantonomoh among the number, and for cruises hereby abolished: Prwided, however, That no commodore, &c. to be made by them. A cruise was made by the .Miantonomoh, and I shall not read that proviso, for I have no objection to it. she has been somewhat tested since the appropriation was made last year. And provided further, That when a vacancy in the grade of rear-admiral shall It is due to the country and to theruembers oftheHousewho h~venot occur it shall be the duty of tlie Secretary of the Navy to convene a board of three · particularly examined the report made in reference to it that orne of officers, not below the grade of rear-admiral, who shall select the names of five the salient points should be stated. officers not below the grade of captain, one of whom shall be nominated by the President to fill the said vacancy: And provided furthe~·, That the senior com The .Miantonomoh in her present condition, accordingtothe report of modore over whom a junior in rank is thus promoted may, upon his own ap herofficers,canprobablybeforced to aspeedoflli knotsan hour. She plication, be placed upon the retired-list with the rank of rear-admiral. hn. made 10 ~ knots an hour, and probaoly can be forced up to the greater I shall make the point of order against that also. But I maintain speed named. that the mode of selection here pointed out is wrong. If there is to be When driven at the rate of ten and a half knots an hour, howe,er, a promotion, as there must be, let the promotion be made as now made the water in her front was banked up five feet and six inches above the with reference to thejunion officers of the Navy; by seniority, coupled le\el of the ea and passed oyer her bow at a depth of one foot and a with the examination which is now required. Before the board as half, running off in a stream on either side. I ask gentlemen to note now constituted for the examination of junior officers the record of this fact particularly. When being forced along through the water at the. these men is spread out; their conduct, their ability, all is spread out rate of about ten or ten and a half knots an hour the water wa forced before this board; and after they have examined that, and h::t\C or over her bow to a depth of one foot and a half. And if she was forced dered the man before them for an examination, they ha\e the entire to a. speed of eleven and a half knots an hour the accumulation of record a well as the examination which the officer then tands from water on her decks would be very much greater. which to make selection; and that is the best mode of election in the Be that as it may, it seems, and I think it will be conceded by all, world. But to say that three men shall select but from five n..'tmes that as far a speed is concerned the ship will ne\er be able to compete and shall consider but the five, and then if they promote a junior the with the better class of ships in the other navies of the world. She· senior commodore may retire, upon hi~ own application, with the rank must be used entirely for harbor defense. I think probauly the same of rear-admiral is all wrong. is true with regard to the Puritan, although the Puritan is a very much I next call attention to the fact that on page 3, at line 58, is a pro larger ship and a ve'ty much better one. . vi o with reference to the vacancies which are provided for in the bill of But I have no objection to the :finishing of these ship , and shall ne...-er last year. I shall offer an amendment to that. The section, as I pro pnt any ob trnction in the way of finishing them. We have them thu pose to amend it; will read: fur along and they can be used for harbor defense, and will be u eful in ~ \ thatway. · That hereafter all the vaca.ncies which shn.ll occur in the various grades of the line or staff of the Navy shall be filled by promotion as follows: For each two 1\Iy judgment is that they will probably never be able to be nsedon. vacancies there slmll be one promotion in each of the lower grades until such the high seas, for I notice that when the Miantonomoh went down the grn-de shall be reduced below the numbers fixed by the provisions of the act of Delaware and came around to Washington she went under the convoy August 5, 1882. · of one of our other vessels. · While I am upon this subject of selection I want to call attention to Another singular thing about the construction of these ships which another thing. I wish to call .attention to is, that if one of them should start to cro - Just after the war closed there was a board convened who selected the Atlantic she would have to be recoaled in mid-ocean, for she could from among the officers of the Navy certain persons and advanced them not carry coal enough at one time for the entire trip. certain numbers for distinguished service and gallant conduct. It is a Mr. ATKINS. Will the gentleman allow me to ask him a ques~ strange commentary upon the action of some of the officers of theN avy tion? that ever since that time bills have been pending in this and the other 1\Ir. CALKINS. CertainJ.y. end of the Capitol to undo what was done by thn,t board of selection. ~Ir. ATKINS. I believe the gentleman is·amilitaryman. I desire As my friend from Massachusetts [ fr. MORSE] suggests, there were to ask him this question: Does he not think that the sum of money only 50 selected out of 1, 000, and ever since that election was made, which would be neces..."'D'J to complete these monitors if expended upon almost entirely because of the way this has been done, there have been forts and fortifications and for harbor defense would be better expended· constant assaults upon that selection and to undo what was then done; than to complete these vessel ? and even now bills are lying in the committee-room to do it. ~Ir. CALKINS. Well, with due deference to the gentleman, that is I now come to the question of commodores. I only want to repeat a question upon which I do not care to enter, for it would be entirely what I said a year ago in reference to them. My friend from New J er specnlative. sey [ Ir. RoBESO~] has said (and he aid it twice and said it well) that .Mr. ATKI~S. The gentleman, as I understood him, was arguing these ·gentlemen are a little too big for a ship and not quite big enough that the: e monitors were not suitable for operations on the ocean, bnt for a fleet; that they are sort of supernumeraries in theNavy, and should were suitable only for coast defense. be got rid of as soon a.s possible. Now, if these monitors are suitable only for coast defense could not I say to this House, and especially to those members of the House the money necessary to complete them be better expended for fort.ifica who served in the volunteer forces during the war, when the war tions? For only a little over $2,000,000 has been expended already · closed we found this grade of commodore in the Navy. We told these on these monitors, whereas it will iake $4,000,000 or more additional . officers who had won their rank in the conflict and had been promoted to complete them. for gallantry that if they would devote their lives to the naval service · Mr. CALKINS. .The gentleman misunderstood, I think, the full · here was a grade to which they should be promoted. purport of what I intended to sa-y. What I intended to say and what 1404 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-ROUSE: JANUARY 20,

I do say now is, that ships of the class of the Miantonomoh must dis world. I shall in amomentortwoprobablyreverse thatorder. Why? appear from the fleets of the world in the open ocean, because the ships Because, owing to recent experiments, it is demonstrated that the con already built and owned by the other countries of the world are so dition of progress, so to speak, in naval armanent has been arrested much superior in speed, in armament, and in sea-going qualities. They . and changed. From the hour of the naval conflict between the l\Ioni can be used, however, and must be used for harbor defense and general tor and the Merrimac at Norfolk there has been more development defense along the coast, and possibly in the Cuban waters. and progress in naval science than almost in any other department of Mr. KASSON. You can not move a fortification; you can move a thought or science throughout the world. The fight has been going monitor. on steadily ever since between aggression and resistance, so to speak; Mr. CALKINS. Yes, as the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. KAS ON] that is, between guns and armor. Up to and within a very recent time suggests, a fortification can not be moved, while a monitor can. in the progress of thi conflict the advantage has been with aggression, 1\ir. ROBESON. Thegentlemanwillpermitmeto saytha,tthemoni or with guns. But I beg gentlemen whowillgiveamomentofthought tors are not constructed to cross the ocean. They are constructed for to this question to turn t.heir minds to recent experiments made at coast and harbor defense and for service in theW~"'t Indies, the Isthmus, Spezzia, where it has been shown for the first time that armor has the and the Spanish 1\Iain. By reason of their draught, their construction, advantage. and their armament, they are suitable for this purpose only. That experiment, 1\ir. Chairman, was this: A test with the improved lli. CALKINS. Be that as it may, I do not care to enter into that guns and the improved shot was made against steel plates, the manu branch of the question at all. \Vhati d~ire to say and to impress upon facture of three of the first firms in the world, Brown & Co. and Cam the committee is that the United States ought to haYe at least three of mell & Co., of England, ~d the Creuzot Company, of France. These as good sloops of war as there are in the world. Those sloops ought to were. vertical plates of stee1, with heavy backing and well bolted. be able to compete on the high seas or in any harbor of the world with Against these plates the improved ordnance was brought into play, and the navy of any other nation. As an American, I have grown tired of I submit that it was demon trated by that experiment that the power seeing one country snubbed and derided by the other n:1tions of the of resistance obtained the victory. world. No longer ago than the war between Peru and Chili, when Ad 1\Ir. 1\i!LLS. What was the thickness of these plates? miral Balch undertook to make some kindly suggestions between the 1\Ir. WHITTHORNE. About eighteen inches. That which I desire two nations, the Chilians simply told the American admiral, and the to call the attention of the committee to is this: These being vertical American Government through him, that if he did not mind his 0""-11 plates, this being demonstrated, we have an able and accomplished business they would send him and his fleet to the bottom of the ocean. American inventor who has recently brought to the attention of the That was the purport of the communication. country wha.t is known as deflective steel armor. I refer to the inven The CHAIRUAN. The time of the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. tion of Assistant Engineer N. B. Clarke, now on the retired-list. I sub CALKINS] has expired. The gentleman .from Tennessee [ ir. WHIT mit for the consideration of gentlemen if these experiments at Spezzia, THORNE] is recognized. under the authority and conducted by officers of the Italian Govern Mr. CALKINS. I would like about five minutes more. ment, have shown the results I have stated, then with deflective steel Mr. WillTTHORNE. I will yield the ge~tleman five minutes of my armor the day of aggression, so far as the gun is concerned, is well-nigh time. numbered. I submit, then, to the careful study and thought of gentle Mr. CALKINS. I am very much obliged to the gentleman. men charged with the military defense of our coasts, if these results are The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman .from Indiana is recognized for true, what may not be ::tecomplished bysteel-casedforts, so to term them? five minutes longer. In view of these recent experiments, in view of the accomp_lished It!r. CALKINS. As I was saying, in the recent war between Chili facts I have stated, I am free to say that not only in regard to the Amer and Peru, the American Navy and the American Government were in ican Navy, but in regard to all the navies of the world, their ineffi sulted openly; and the only thing that could be done was to pocket the ciency and weakness are demonstrated. I tell my .friend from Indiana insult, which we did as meekly as possible. [Mr. CALKINS] that the days of the style of vessels known as Puritan Now, I am tired of this sort of business; and I want the American and Miantonomoh are numbered. They belong to the past in compar people to have· as good a navy as any other government in the world. ison with present improved naval vessels. And I ay now, with these We can construct a navy with as little expense as any other nation; and improvements and developments in the science of naval warfare, the the genius of the American people is equal to bringing forward the best power of the English navy, of the French navy, and of the German built vessels in the world. The American sailor is as brav-e a man navy pale before that of the few vessels of the Italian navy. If I were as ever walked the deck of any ship. As a government is known abroad called on to-day to name the naval power of the most strength I would very much by hernavalforce, IaminfavorofbuildinguptheAmerican hesitate whether I would follow the order which I named in the out navy and making it such as we can all be proud of. set of my remarks, inclined as I am to rank that of Italy at least as Mr. Chairman, for these reasons and for many others which I had second. intended to speak about, I oppose certain features of this bill. I urge The gpecial weakness of the American Navy is this: First I name the upon gentlemen in charge of this branch of the service to make these ordnance of the American Navy. We ha-ve no guns; and why I say reforms which are so much needed. I urge upon the committee to no guns I will explain in a moment. strike out portions of this bill and to enter at once upon the building In the second place, we have no vessels of any speed. In the third of a navy which shall be the glory and honor of our country, that we place, we have no armored vessels fit to cope with the weakest naval may a,aain, as we did in the days when Perry won so much distinction power known to the history of the world. Now, I mention right in in his fight against the British navy, bring American seamanship and that connection ihat we may take the Miantonomoh and the Puritan the American Navy up to the high standard which in view of our charac and before the guns of the Chinese gunboats they could not protect ter as a nation they should occupy. themselv-es or gi've protection to our cities::md coast, but would be merely [Here the hammer fell]. as driftwood. None of our vessels built or proposed to be built could Mr. WHITTHORNE. 1\ir. Chairman, having been for a number of withstand an attack from any one of the naval powers. Our cities would years a member of theNa val Committee of this House, and dming those be at their mercy except for one thing. NatuTe has done much for years having given much thought and labor and study to the naval ad America. Nature protects our coasts against the heavy Yessels of the ministration of the Government, although not now connected with any world. Our resources afford the other protection; and the capacity and committee of this House having cha1·ge of that matter, yet .from mere the great power- that belongs to America always to prove herself equal force of habit, if from no other consideration, I take very great interest to an. emergency, as well as the knowledge of this fact by the world, in every proposition which affects that adm,inistration. Besides, sir, as afford us security-the Navy of itself plays no pro-t. Peace now pre an American citizen I claim to take pride in that which contributes to vails. I for one trust that it shall always be the inheritance of our peo the upholding of the honor, the majesty, and the power of the Govern ple. But yetthecarefulstudentofthestrugglesofmankind mustknO\ ment of the United States. Therefore, when this bill was submitted that peace is not the constant inheritance of any people; hence we should to the House it at once enlisted my attention, and I must s..

1883. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 1405

of steel-clad armor. Make these. The opportunities, as I shall pres- But, 1\Ir. Chairman, I submit to the Appropriations Committee, who ently refer to, are offered by the invention of the distinguished gentle- have taken charge of this legislation, as I would submit to the Naval man to whom I have but a moment ago alluded. Committee, that they ought to exercise caution, so that whaJl an officer But, Mr. Chairman, what is proposecl by this bill? I agree very desires sea-service and is entitled to it he shall have it. I haYe known heartily in the remarks of my friend from Indiana as to the fact that of instances where parties claimed at least that they were entitled to upon a mere appropriation bill these alleged reforms or new legislation sea-service, and say they ha>e year after 3·ear demanded it of the Sec should not appear; and we might well inquire what is the office and the retary of the Navy; but from partiality o1· prejudice that demand was functions of the Naval Committee of this House? Why is it that this not complied with:-- Let the regulation of this be legal· let it be reg measure, which should appropriately come from the great labor and ular; let it be impartial. When that is done the theory here is cor study of the Naval C.ommittee of the House, did not come from that rect·. quarter? I do not know whether the Appropriations Committee did But I beg to ask my friend from Tennessee [1\Ir. ATKINS] one other the members of the House Naval Committee the honor to consult and question. I observe that this requirement of sea-service applie to the confer with them upon the subject. But, sir, much is attempted by lieutenant, to thelieutenant--coinmander, and to the commander. Why this bill. It is alleged, and in that fact I agree, that the Navy so far does it not apply to the captain just as well? Why are captains left as its personnel is concerned is top-heavy. There are too many officers out? for the number of vessels. That is true. From that admitted fact an 1\Ir. TK~S. :M:y colleague has asked me several questions. It attempt at reform is made. That attempt is by the controlling of the would take a great portion of his time, indeed I would ha e to make a

rank and the retirement of officers. Now, I submit that in the present speech, to answer his questions. If he desires me to answer them now ; condition of the naval service of this country a large number of officers I will do it, but will occupy a good deal of his time. If he prefers I who have come there and are borne upon the register were placed in that will do it hereafter. position as a result of the recent civil war. Mr. WHITTHORNE. I ask my colleague to take note oftheseques- A number of them were placed there from the volunteer ranks, and. tions. I am quite certain in the suggestion I have 1.'\{)t made I have the they illustrated their patriotism and heroism and their devotion _to the hearty concurrence of my colleague from Tennessee that this is au omis interests of the country by their magnificent service, rendered to the sion, though it may not be an intentional one, that captains are not country in the naval branch of the service. For their service in that required to have sea-service as other officers. I notice this as one of connection they have got upon the list.s of the Navy. Now I believe, the things which if left unamended will of itself breed discord in the although I can not say positively, that they are the first persons tore- naval sernce and which ought to be remedied. ceive the full effect of the reform blow. Now, while there is a large The other proposition is that you shall retire officers at certain ages; number of officers and a very limited number of vessels, and which you shall retire a capta.in at the age of 55; a commander at the age of are decreasing year by year, how or by what method I am not here -51; a lieutenant-commander at the age of 47; a lieutenant at the age now to say or discuss, but certainly it is not through the fault of the of 45. Now mark you, it is not said he "may be" retired, but "shall brave and gallant officers of the Navy that there are no vessels for them be ' retired. Why, sir, take the faithful officer of the Navy who has to go to sea upon. Hence the Navy is top-heavy. The facts are well followed the flag of his country through every hour of peril that de established. Now the effect, I submit, of the proposed changes in this manded service from him; take him as he has waited patiently for his bill is to disturb the harmony of the service, to breed jealousies and promotion, and the fact that he is not promoted is not at the expense to promote fuvoritism, to increase the retired list, and to enhance the of the devotion of his brain or his body, not at the expense of his honor pay of the Navy. or his patriotism, but God Almighty has not permitted thesun tostand How are these reforms proposed to be made? I notice first, .Mr. still and its revolution has added years to his years of honor; but those ' Chairman, that it is proposed to abolish the rank of commodore. For years are years of penalty to him. one I am free to say, sir, that I regard the mnk as somewhat anoma- Is it right that in the present condition of your naval registry, men lous and out of place in our service. I think it should be got rid of who have been waiting as I have said patiently for their hour of promo gradually; and I believe that the rank of commodore should be known tion should be retired in this way? You ha>e said the officers of the only in the special instance of cases where a senior captain or a captain Army shall be retired at given ages; the General, the Lieutenant-Gen is called upon "to command a squadron. When in that condition and eral, and the major-general shall be :r:etired at a given age. You have for that period the rank should be known in that case only. And a-s said that the rear-admiral of the Navy shall be retired at the age of 62. has been suggested by my distinguished friend from California [Mr. Why do you take the subordinate lieutenant who has reached the age RosECRANS] that provision should be made with reference to the navy- of 45 years and cause the guillotine to fall upon him and his fortune? yard, because it expedites and harmonizes the business of the yards. Does the brain cea.se to act and the body to perform its functions at 45? Now, we have this proposition to select rear-admirals: It will apply with peculiar hardship to the line officer of the Navy, After having abolished the rank of commodore to select by a board who at that age ca.n not go out in the world and make for himself an to be appointed by the President, who designates from the rank of cap- other occupa,tion or profession. It is unjust to make it compulsory. tain or commodore a given number from whom the President appoints At this point I desire to arrest the attention of my colleague [Mr. the rear admiml to be promoted. I do not fancy boards or commissions ATKIXS] and other members of the Committee on Appropriations. Will Illuch, and in t~ naval service they have been singularly unfortunat-e. they tell me whether these provisions of the bill referring to promotion But, Mr. Chairman, I will read for the purpose of calling the attention and retirement apply to the sta:ff of the Navy o~ not'? of my colleague from the State of Tennessee to it, who is a member of M]:. ATKINS and 1r. BUTTERWORTH. No; they do not. the Committee on Appropriations, a proVision of the bill. It is pro- vM:r. WHITTHORNE. Two members of the committee say they do vided- ' \. / not. Why, then, gentlemen, do you make this discrimination at the ex- That the senior commodore over whom a junior in rank is thus promoted m~ pense of the line officer of the Navy? What good reason is there for it? upo~ his own application be placed upon the retired-list with the rank ofrear- Can my friend from Ohio, who has informed me what the provision a.dmrra.L mea,ns, tell me any good reason whytheaxshouldfallon thelieutenants It is, in my judgment, Mr. Chairman, a little singular, I submit, that in the line at the age of 45, and not fall upon the doctor or the payma.ster when a. board has found a gentleman not .fit for the rank of rear-ad- or the engineer at 45? miml, you shall, upon a showing of his incompetency, promote him to :Mr. ATKINS. Because staiff officers are never in command of a ship the retired-list as the rank of rear-admiral. Again I ask my friend and at all. colleague if this provision is not liable to this construction: Assuming Mr. BUTTERWORTH. I can only give the gentleman the reason that there are twenty commodores now, as it will be under the act of which is given me. the last Congress-twenty commodores upon the register-now, suppose The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from Tennessee yield? a. captain is selected and promoted to admiral; may not under this Mr. WHITTHORNE. Yes, sir. provision every commodore have the right to be retired as a rear-admi- Mr. BUTTERWORTH. That is, as I understand, officers enter the ral? Why should the .tim commodore on the list have the right and service in the staff much later in life than in the line; at 21, 23, or 25, not the seco~d and third and so on? Is not the reason the same in while in the line they enter much earlier. But so far as that is con each instance? cerned, I am in favor of putting them on the same footing or at least of I submit these methods of selection and promotion and retiring are opening a flow of promotion in the sta:fl". Under the provisions of this far-reaching in their effects. They will tend, in my judgment, to de- bill and the last bill the lieutenant in the Pay Department will get no moralize the service. When I say this the committee will not under- promotion inside of twenty years in some cases, and in other cases in stand me as not being opposed to the .gradual abolition of the rank of not less than forty years. commodore. Mr. WHITTHORNE. I will ask my friend from Ohio if he is not- Upon the reform proposed here by arbitrary retirement, so far as I aware of the fact that the staff, when it comes to a question of rank, am coneerned, I shall be perfectly frank with the cominittee in giving gets the benefit of six years to offset what the line officer has in his six my own opinion and judgment. The :first provision in regard to re- years at the Academy? And does not my fi·iend know when the line ti..rement is a requirement of sea-service. Now, every other thing being officer gets the benefit of these six years that it gives him that much right, that is a step in the right direction. Every other thing being leverage in passing from the rank of lieutenant to that of lieutenant right, the requirement of sea-service for promotion is correct m prin- commander; and if the staff officer enters at a higher age than the lieu- ciple. tenant he gets it back there again, so to speak ?

' 1406 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE.- JANUARY 20,

Again, Mr. Chairman, I have to a k the members of the Committee Mr. WHITTHOR:NE. In my judgment-and I would be willing to on Appropriations if they are enabled to tell this House the effect of this leave it to any lawyer-thi · pro,ision of the bill was intended to con provision; how many men in the different mnks named v;ill be placed fer upon the Secretary of theNavy authority to complete these monitors. on the retil·ed-list within the next five or ten years ? Can they answer And I a.sk the gentlemen of the Committee on Appropriations, from the that question? And yet this House ought to know before they pass chairman all through the committee, to contradict me if I ani not cor this wholesale provision. You propo e to go on increa ing the retired rect when I say it will taJm from four to six millions of dollars to com list until you will bring the Navy, in its per onnel as well as in its ma plete these monitors, and if you do that then that amount is to be added teria.J, into reproach before the country. The country now stands, as to the sum of 15,000,000 which it is stated is appropriated by this I may say, appalled at the fact that in this bill you appropriate over bill. ~'700,000 for the !Support of men on the retired-list who do nothing. Now, if it is not intended to confer upon the Secretary of the Navy And yet you propo e to increase that retired-lis t, and after increasing it the authority to complete th e monitor , then what office and what you do not diminish the number of officers on the active-list. mi ion does that sentence in this bill propo e to accomplish? When any criticism is made upon the provisions in this bill the sug Mr. HISCOCK. To what entence does the gentleman refer? gestion is thrown out tlk-.t orne means of reformation ought to be pro Ir. WHITTHORNE. To the sentence commencing in line 361 and posed. I reply that among other things it is suggested that we pause ending in line 372. with the Naval Academy for five or ten years, or in some other manner :Mr~ HISCOCK. Read it, if you please. diminish the number of naval cadets and stop the :flow of officers into Mr. WHITTHOR~""E. I have just read it. the ervi~ long enough to do justice to those who are already in the Ir. HISCOCK. The bill intends simply to appropriate a certain sum enice. of money for the completion of the engines and machinery of one of the I have thus hurriedly gone over the per onnel of the Navy and will monitors; and it does not intend to allow the expenditure of any further l 'ave other criticisms upon the subject to another occasion·and another sum than that upon the monitor . If there is any language in the bill time. I now pass to notice the material of the Navy. which will bear any other con tructiqn than that we will co-operate with In the bill I hold in my hand-and I ask the attention of the com the gentleman in changing the language so as to make the intention mittee to what I now state-it is set forth that the total estimates of clear and distinct. the :Na.vy Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1 4, were Mr. WHITTHORI\~. I am aware that the gentleman from New '" 23,3 , 7.54,andthatthetotalamountrecommended by the bill from York is a lawyer and a gentleman of candor. I desire his attention the Committee on Appropriation for that fiscal year is 15,209,100.23. while I read this clause of the bill to him: Now, I respectfully suggest that when members come to look at the INCREASE OF THE NAVY. appropria,tions in this bill, instead of there being only 15,000,000, they To be applied by the Secretary of the Navy under the appropriate bureaus: mil find that the Committee on Appropriations have recommended For completing in accordance with the recommendations of the naval advisory mea ures herein which, with the direct appropriations, will involve an board ,the engine and machinery of tlle double-turreted iron-clad, which said expenditure of over 23,000,000. In the report which accompanies the board may advi e to be fir t completed by new contract or otherwise, as the bilJ, which I have before me, is embraced some of the estimates of the Secretary may think best for the interests of the Government,$450,000. ~avy Department, and among them. is one for .inerease of the Navy, Now: before I read the next sentence I understand the gentleman - '7,045,000. The 1·eport also states that the sum recommended to be from New York to .,ay this i all that is proposed to be done. · appropriated for tha.t purpo e is 1, 700 000. Mr. HISCOCK. It is. _Tow is' that true in fact? Do 'this bill stop at the total amolmt of Mr. \VHITTHOR~ E. _T mv I a k him ::: a la" re r and as a fail· antl appropriation of 15 000,000? Does it mean to stick in the wood or in candid man what und ·r the fuee of the sun means the next sentence, the bark, and authorize contract to be made which the next Democratic which I will read, and if it means nothing why is it here? House will be c.:'t-lled on to appropriate money for as a deficiency or other But the execution of no contract shall be entered upon for tlle completion of 'vise? either of these ve el until the terms tbereofshoJI ue approved by a board con Mr. ATKIN . I am sure my colleague wants to be exact in his sisting of one line officer, one n a val constructor, and one engineer. statement. fr. HISCOCK. If the O'entleman de ire to have the bill amended Mr. WHI'l"'THORNE. Cert.ainly. so that no other contract for the completion of engines and machinery Mr. ~ TK11:rs. The estimate-he alludes to in the letter of the Secre shall be entered upon I believe I am authorized in &'tying the commit tary of the Trea ury was not adopted by the committee. I will say, in tee will accept that amendment. justice to my elf, that I do not concur in some of the provisions of this Mr. WRITTHORJ.: E. Then upon that point, having a<:complished bill at all. I do not concur in the provision in relation to the increase what I desired, I have not a word further to say. of the Navy and all that. Mr. HISCOCK. The committee have no concealed purpo e; it was But I !!!Uppo e my collea!me wants to be a<:curate, and in that regard theirintention toautholi.zetheex.penditureofagivensumofmoney, and I call his attention to the fact that only about 4,000,000 is appropri no more. ated for the specific purpo e of the steel cruisers to which he refers. Mr. WHITTHORNE. Then I am satisfied on that point. About 4,000,000 in all that can be contracted for, not 7,000,000. 'I he 1\1r. ATKINS. I think that the language which my colleague is Cl'iti timate was for $7,000,000, bnt only about $4,000,000 are called for in cizing, when fairly construed, relates merely to the vessel which maybe the bill. · selected bythis naval advisory board to be completed, and has noother Mr. WHYl'THORl\TE. I am glad that my collffiotYUe interrupted me. application. · It was for that purpose I desire to call his attention and that of the Mr. WHITTHORN E. I am content to rely on the statement which committee especially to a sentence which I will read. Now, what do the gentleman from New York has made. the e words mean, commencing in line 361 and going down to line 372 ' Mr. HISCOCK. There need be no trouble on the part of gentlemen of the bill? on the other side. We are entirely willing to have this provision of the But the execution of no contract shall be entered upon for the completion of bill made specific so as to confine it to the engines and machinery of the either of these vessels- ve el, though I have no doubt it is so confined now. That is, the completion of the monitors- Mr. WHITTHORNE. With that assurance I pass on. I have not But the execution of no contract shall be entered upon for the completion of another word to s.ay on that point. . either of the e vessels until the terms thereof shall be approved by a hoard con Now take the entence next following. I like to deal with my friend sisting of one line officer, one naval constructor, and one engineer, who shall from New York [Mr. HISCOCK], for I find him always explicit and to approve only such contracts as may be to the be t advantages of the Govern ment1 and fair and reasonable, according to the lowest market price for similar the point. I read the next sentence: work, from responsible ana competent bidders, and at a t-otal cost not to exceed .And the Secretary of the Navy hall take po ession of the double-turreted the amounts e timated by the advisory board, in its full report, required by the ironclads, and if he thinks be t., remove the same t-o the Government navy-yards; act of August 5, 1882. and he shall determine the amounts which ought to be paid to the contractors Mr. ATKINS. Allow me just a word more; that has reference to the severally for the use and occupation of their yards. monitors. Now, I submit to my friend from New York that the power ought Mr. WHITTHORNE. Yes. not to be lodged in the hands of the present Secretary of the Navy to Mr. ATKINS. And the remark I made had reference to the increase "determine the amounts which ought to be paid to the contractors of the navy, to the steel cruisers. severally for the use and occupation of their yard . '' Mr. WIDTTHORNE. Iwillcometothatinafewmoments. Now, 1\Ir. HISC()_CK. In reference to the language which the gentle I submit to my colleague, or to any lawyer on this floor, if the provision man hasju tread, I will say that further on in the bill he will find which I have read is not full authority for the Secretary of the Navy a provision that the amounts· shall be reported to Congress. The to make these contracts? I submit that that was the intention of that Secretary of the Navy pays nothing; he has to report to Congres~ clause. what in his judgment is a fair and just amount. I drew that provision. 1\ir. ATKI:NS. \Vill my colleague allow me just one word more? myself, and it wa.s my intention to reserve to Congress the final audit The CIIAIRMAN. Does the gentleman yield? ing of the amount. I intended to do that, and I have no doubt that I ir. WHITTIIORNE. Certainly. did it. Mr. .ATKINS. I now state to the House that I am not in·sympathy Mr. WHITTHORNE. I am arguing with my friend as a lawyer, and with that part of the bill. · he will see that the moment he delegates to any officer the power to 1883. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. '1. 407 determinetheamount, hegives away everything; and the officer simply Mr. HISCOCK. He is to utilize the navy-yards where it can be done reports the amount to Congress-not for auditing or adjustment, but for with advantage. That is the language of the bill. payment. Under this provision the Secretary of the Navy is to "de Mr. HARRIS, of Massachusetts. Will the gentleman from Tennes termine the amounts which ought to be paid '' and to report the same see yield to me? to Congress. ~Ir. WHITTHOB,NE. Ye , sir. . Mr. BLOUNT. I would like to ask my friend from Kew York [Mr. Mr. HARRIS, of Massachusetts. Will the gentleman from Tenl:les HISCOCK] whether the l:mguage of the bill does not carry mth it an see vote to appropriate all of the money at this session of Congress neces acknowledgment on the part of the Govemment that it is bound to pay sary to finish the cruisers named in this bill, because I propose to do something for the use of those yards? that? l\Ir. HISCOCK. I will answer that question. I belieTed when that J\lr. WHITTHOR..~. I will answer my friend candidly and frankly, provision was prepared that we were bound to pay something not for that he knows now that the work can not be done at the navy~ yards in the £.'tilure on the part of the Government to perform the contract here their present condition. It will take a large um of money to do that. tofore made, but for the use and occupation of the pl'emises of these I will say that I will vote to build one steel cruiser of the size deter people. That wa my idea. mined at the la t session, one of 4, 000 tons displacement, one 2, 500 tons Ir. BLOUNT. I supposed it wa . displacement, and a steel ram or two. I will vote for a dispatch boat Mr. HISCOCK. But if the gentleman will look further on in the and for a torpedo boat. bill he will find thatthi allowance is limited in terms to an allowance Mr. HARRIS, of Massachusetts. I am glad to hear that. for the use and occupation of their premises. Mr. WHITTHORNE. I will have to say for myself, 1\Ir. Chairman, )fr. WHI'l'THORNE. I am now in this general debate developing that I believe I was the first man in the legislative halls of this COUll try the facts in regard to matters upon which, whm we consider the bill to advocate the building of steel cruisers. .A.t that time I was ridiculed, under the five-minute rule I shall mo t likely have something to say, or rather the idea was ridiculed, on this floor. and then I shall take issue with my friend as to the liability of the J\Ir. O'~TEILL. Will the gentleman yield to me? Government. I now read another provision of the bill: Ir. WHITTHOR~TE. For a moment. For the consh·uction of the steel cruiser of not le!'S thnn 4,000 tons displacement Mr. O'NEILL. Merely to ask the gentleman a question. I ask him 11ow specially authorized by law, two teel cruisers of not more than 3,000 nor in view of what he ha stated, where he would have those vessel" built, less than 2,500 tons displacement each, and one dispatch boat, as recommended whether in the navy-yards of the country or in private ship-yards? by the naval advisory bo:ud in its report of December 20, 1882, $1,300,000. 1Ir. WHITTHORNE. I have stated to my friend I am in favor of a Then a little further down we find that the amount appropriated by good and proper bill providing for the building of these vessels by con the last Congre ~and unexpended-about 1,200 000, as I tmderstand tract, but not at our navy-yards. is reappropriated for this purpos . Mr. O'NEILL. l\Ir. Chairman, it appears to me the provisions of Mr. HISCOCK. I wish to say this to the gentleman, as he asks me this bill in re pect to these monitors are going rapidly to the end of the question: My understanding i that it does not amount to "'1,200,- closing the navy-yards of the country and putting them in the posses 000 applicable to that purpose. It is only so much of those appropria sion of contractors as the place where they may build their ships. That tions which are now unexpended. There are ix months' appropria is my objection to this section. The bill is in the line of closing. the tions yet unexpemled. navy-yards of the United States where many ofthese vessels could be l\Ir. WHITTHORNE. So much the better then, for the point I am properly built and giYingup tho e navy-yards to the useofprivat~con- making. I submit that under the language of this bill the Secretary tractors. · ofthe Navy is authorized anu directed to contract for or to have built a ~Ir . WHITTHORRE. I thank my friend from Massachusetts [.M.r. cruiser of 4,000 tons, two of not less than 2,500 tons, ::md the dispatch HARRI ] for hi interruption, for I had about come to the· conclusion boat. He is authorized to do that, and now I submit--- of the remark I had propo ed to ubmit to the committee on this oc ~lr. HISCOCK. Just there I wish to say-- . casion. The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from Tenne see yield? No, Ir. Chairman, let the Gm~ernment be protected in making con Mr. HI COCK. He is asking me a que tion. tracts for these experimental ve~ els, and I think it can, for we have the Mr. WHITTHORNE. Certainly, I yield to the gentlen:wnfrom New statement of one of the distingui hed ship-builders of this country, who York. says, in sub tance, if the Government will give him the contract he will Mr. HISCOCK. Under the lawoflastsummerhew authorized to undertake to build a teel or iron cruiser guaranteeing 17-knot speed. build the vessel mentioned here of not less than 4,000 tons displace I refer to 1llr. Ganze, of Wilmington. But no uch vessels as that are ment. The new auth.ority in this bill is to build two v.essels, between proposed to be built here. You are making an experiment. All of your 2,500 and 3,000 tons displacement, and the dispatch boat. steel cruisers that you propo e here are simply experiments: and for one Mr. WHITTHORNE. The point I amdesiringtobringtotheatten I would not trust this work to your navy-yards and pay all the cost of tion of the committee, and I submit it to the candor of the gentleman fuilure. I would protect the GoTernment, and seek while making the from New York, is, that when you have authorized the building of four experiments the highest n.bility, eD.ooineering skill, and constructive vessels you have not on the face of the bill appropriated the amount talent of the country. And in doing so I would avail myself, as I have required for that purpo e. Hence, Mr. Chairman, the next Congress of referred to heretofore, of the skill of an American citizen, for I believe the United States will find itself bound by your authorized contractto that the solution of this armor question is to be solved by the genius, meet the deficiency required for the completion of these vessels. I sub the perseverance, and the skill of that distinguished officer now on the mit to my friend, I submit to the committee, that it would be frank to retired-list, Passed Assistant Engineer Clark. I believe his invention name the entire amount required for the construction of these vessels and genius will determine the question, and in that way I would be as which are authorized by this bill. liberal in appropriations for this service as the gentleman from Massa Mr. HISCOCK. Ifthe gentleman will look at the estimates of the chusetts desires to be. advisory board he will find precisely the amount which it will cost to I thank the committee for its attention. build these vessels. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDE.-,T. ?tfr. WHITTHORNE. .A.y, and it is because I have looked at that The committee informally ro e; and l\lr. ROBIN OY, of Massachusetts, report that I have discovered you have not in this bill appropriated a having taken the chair as Spea.ker pro tempore, n, message in writing from sufficient amount for that purpo e. the President of the United States was communicated to the House by Mr. HISCOCK. Oh, no; there is nothing concealed here. We say very distinctly and explicitly we have not intended to appropriate aJl 1\Ir. PRUDEN, one of' his secretaries. of the money necessary to build these vessels. We intended only to NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL. appropriate such money as can be expended during the next fiscal The Committee of the Whole resumed its ession. year. . 1r. THOMAS. Mr. Chairman, the bill before the committee is en 11fr. WHITTHORNl~. That is the point I am coming to. Then dur titled ".A. bill ma.king appropriations for the n..wal service for the fiscal ing the next Congress of the United State~ we are to be held responsible year ending June 30, 1884, and for other purposes." An examination for these contracts. And these vessels are to be built-where? The of the terms and provisions of the bill and an investigation of the dif proviso says that he shall utilize the national navy-yards for that pur ferent objects and purposes of the various proposed appropriations have pose. Sir, I appeal to the distinguishedchairman of the Committee on served to produce many and changing emotions in my mind. Naval Affairs, to the gentleman from Massachusetts [1\Ir. HARRIS], and Quite a number of objects are mentioned and appropriated for in this ask him to answer before this committeewl}.ether the navy-yards of the bill. Hs far-reaching arms extend from the pay of the Admiral to that United States are in a condition to :tilf any of the requirements to build of the common sailor, and from the building of a 4, 000-ton steel cruiser any of these steel vessels? to the repairing of a captain's gig. Mr. HARRIS, of l\1assachusetts. I wish the gentleman from Tennes Upon the assembling and organization of the Forty-.·e venth Congress, see to answer me one question. the Committee on Naval .Affairs set to work in earnest to devi e some Mr. HISCOCK. First let me answer that question. means by which the Government could ecure some decent, effective, Thto, CH.A.IRl\fAN. Does the gentleman from Tennessee yield to the modern war vessels upon which to float the American flag, vessels that gentleman from New York? the whole country would be proud of and which would secure to us the Mr. WHITTHORNE. Certainly. respect of the world as well on the land as on the sea. · 1408 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. J.Ai~ARY 20,

That committee worked from three to four days in each week for four contracted for or commenced, the Secretary of the Navy shalJ, by proper notic . invite all engineers and mechanics of established reputation, and a ll reputable, months, taking evidence, making examinations, listening to argument , man nfacturers ofve e ls, steam-engines, boilers, and ordnance having or control and observing experiments. ling r eo-ular establishments and being engaged in the bnsiness, all officers of the As the fruit of that arduous and exhaustive examination the com Navy, and especiallyall naval constructors, steam-engineers, and ordnance offi-. cersoftheNa vy, having plans, models, ordesignsofanyvesselsoftheclasseshere mittee, byitschairman [Mr. HARRis], whom thewholecountryhonors byautborized, orofanypartthereof, within any given period, not exceeding sixty for his ability, integrity, energy, and indu try, reported to the House days, to submit the same to said board; and it shall be the duty of said board the following bill which wa placed npon the Calendar: · to carefully and fully examine the same and to hear any proper explunatiConnecticut ...... 1867 21 2,869 4450 Boston. the written order of the Secretary of the Navy; and if changes are thus made, P ennsylvania ...... 1867 22 2,490 ~000 Do. the a-ctual cost thereof and the damage caused thereby shall be ascertained, esti Java...... 1867 21 2,490 4,000 New York. mated, and determined by said board; and in any contract made pursuant to Colossu ...... 1867 4 2,127 Do. this act it shall be provided in the terms thereof that the contractor shall be 1\1 chusetts...... 1867 4 2,127 Portsmouth, N. H. bound by the determination of said board, or a majority thereof, as t-o the amount 1867 4 2,127 Boston. of the increased or diminished compensation said contractor shall be-entitled to ~~~0~~:: :: ::::::::::::: 1818 2,600 Boston,partlycutdown. receive, if any, in consequence of such change or. changes. Kew Orleans ...... 1818 Sackett's Harbot·. SEc. 7. That the Secretary of the Navy is hereby n.uthorized to cause eitller or any of the six CJ uising vessels of war aforesaid to be provided with interior de flective steel armor, if the same, upon full investigation, shall l'!eem to be prac .Another list is given of fourteen vessels, which includes only worn-out, obso ticable and desirable, and if the same shall be approved by said board, or a ma lete, and worthless vessels, which it would be shameless folly and unpardona jority thereof, in writing. Before any of the vessels hereby authorized shBJl be ble extravagance to n.ttempt to repn.ir, having no possible present or prospective 1883. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD- HOUSE. 1409

use. and which cost annually a considerable sum to guard and save from depre By deducting these our list falls from eighty-three to sixty-nine. These sixty dation by harbor thieves. That list is appended: nine include steam-vessels only and were intended for war purposes. 'l'his STEAM VESSELS. number must be again reduced by withdrawing the name of the Arctic ship Rodgers, which was purchased for and sent out on the humane mission of rescu Displace- ing lost Arctic explorers and burned, and the names of four double-turreted iron Names. Age. Guns. Tonnage. ment. Location. clad monitors, now on the stocks in the private yards of contractQrsat Wilming '!' ton, Chester, Philadelphia, and l\Iare Island, with the question of their fate still undecided, namely, Amphitrite, Puritan~Terror~andlllonadnock; and also the FIRST RATE. name of the l\Iiantonomoh, nowafloatat.League1Sland, Pennsylvania, new and Niagara ...... 1855 12 2,958 5,440 Boston. in perfect condition and ready for sea.; except that having neither turrets nor Florida...... 1864 12 2,135 4,220 New London. guns she has no excuse for going to sea. With this reduction our list falls to sixty-three. But if we liieek our pre ent real naval power for active service at sea SEcO~"'D RATE. we must continue this dissolving view. The following table gives the names, Susquehanna ...... 1850 23 2,213 3,980 New York. ages, displacement, tonnage, guns, and present use of several steam-vessels Congress ...... 1867 16 2,000 3,050 Portsmouth, N. II. of the Nayy, some of which are not in present condition for service, some of 'Vorcester ...... 1867 13 2,000 3,150 Norfolk. which can never be made so, and all of which are of very doubtful value to the Benicia ...... 1867 12 1,122 2,400 Mare Lsland. service: Canandaigua ...... 1862 9 955 2,130 Norfolk. Monongahela ...... ,1862 9 960 2,100 l\Iare Island. THIRD RATE. I Narragansett...... 1858 5 566 1,235 Mare Island. Kansas ...... 1863 3 410 900 Portsmouth. N. H. Name. Present location, condition, Saco ...... 1863 3 410 900 Mare Island. and use. Nyack...... 1863 3 410 900 Do. Shawmut ...... 1863 3 410 900 Norfolk. FOURTH RATE. ----- Frolic (purchased}. 1864 8 614 1,300 Washington, D. C. Franklin ...... 1854 39 3,173 5,170 Receiving-ship at Norfolk. Colorado ...... 1855 46 3,032 4,700 Receiving-ship at New York. Still another list is given, which includes eight old sailing ships and two iron- l\linnesota ...... 1855 46 3,000 4,700 Tra.ining-ship at NewpQrt, R.I. clads, all of which, with perhaps the exception of the ironclad Dictator, are ut- Wabash ...... 1854 45 3,000 4650 Receiving-ship at Boston. terly worthless for naval purposes and wholly unworthy of repair. That list New York ...... 1865 21 2,490 4:070 A frame on the stocks at New is as follows: SAILING VESSELS. York; liveoak; worthyofbe ing finished. Names. Age. Guns. Tonnage. Displace- Location. Iowa ...... 1865 25 2,019 4,000 Probably worthless; atBoston; ment-. machinery taken out; white ---- oak; built at close of the war; Ohio...... 1820 5 2,700 4,250 BostQn, very fast; did no servi~. { 1797 Constitution...... and 6 1,335 2,200 League Island. Antietam ...... 1865 21 2,490 4,000 A mere hulk; at League Island; 1876 } white oak; launched in 1874; SabiQe ...... 1855 22 1,475 2,450 Portsmouth, N. II. used as store-ship and marine Savannah...... 1842 1,475 2,330 Norfolk. barracks; no machinery on Cyane...... 1837 ············2 695 950 l\Iare Island. board. Guard (purchased} 2 925 ...... Portsmouth, N. II. Michigan...... 1844 8 450 685 Iron paddle-wheel lake boat at Relief...... 1836 ' 2 468 ...... Washington, D. C. Erie,Pa.; shouldgiveplaceto Supply ...... 184.6 2 547 League Island. a vessel of war to fill treaty Dictator ...... 2 1,750 """4,'500' Do. rights of United States. Roanoke ...... 6 2,260 ...... Chester, Pa. ········· ··· Tallapoosa ...... { ~ } 2 650 1,270 A transport used by Nayy De Of the twenty-five "tugs, &c.," borne on the Naval Register, the committee partment; lately repaired; a estimate that at least ten are worn out and useless, and which should be sold or good vessel and useful to the demolished. If the committee are correct in their estimate, here are forty-two, Government in this service. out of one hundred and forty vessels of all classes, whose names appear as part Dispatch ...... Pur- 4 730 ...... A mere dispatch vessel ; a pur of the '·Nayy of the United States," representing not only no naval power ch'sd. chased pleasure yacht; fast, whatever, but which can hereafter serve no useful purpose, and which are, and useful to the Govern moreover, a constant drain on the appropriations for the support of the Nayy, ment in this service. and a consequent loss to the Government to the extent of the cost of their pro tection, which agg1·egates annually no small sum. Intrepid ...... 1870 ...... 3ll 800 Built for torpedo service; strong As an illustration, we may take the case of the Niagara, at Boston, which has and able, but too slow; could been tied up to her dock, a worthless hulk, since the attempt to repair her, be made useful if completed; nearly or quite eighteen years ago, wa!;l abandoned. She has cost for her care no torpedo machinery on alone since that time more than $98,000, and it is doubtful ifshe is worth to-day or board. will bring $25,000 at auction. Other instances of the same kind A.re numerous, and the statistics on that subject are in preparation and will be laid before Congress. We regret that we are unable to present them in this report for want of time It is manifest that these vessels can be of little if any practical service in ac for their completion. From the list of one hundred and forty vessels whose tual war, and we deduct them from our list, which reduces the nayytofi.fty-two. names are borne on the Register, forty-two thus fall out at once, without ques But of this reduced number fourteen are of the single-turreted monitor class, tion or doubt, and we are left with a total nayy of only ninety-eight vessels of not suited for cruising service, and only to be relied upon for coast and harbor all classes. But this does not, by any means, tell the story of our naval weak defense. They are good vessels of their class, have been rebuilt of iron, or rather ~ess, for of the e ninety-eight fifteen are but navy-yard tugs, which are not serv have had their old wooden beams replaced with iron since the war. Whether Iceable for war purposes. Vlethereforetreatthem astQols, useful in nayy-yards good or bad, they are all we have in the nature of iron-clad harbor defenders and naval stations, as are other tools and machines, a.s 11. part of the planti rather afloat and armed, and yet there is not one breech-loading rifle gun of any size in than as vessels of the Nayy, and we strike them out of the ninety-eight, eaving the entire fleet. They are all armed with smooth-bore guns of large caliber, but Qnlyeighty-threeasthetotalnumberofourvesselsoftheNayycapableofservice. of small power and short range. They did good service during the war in a But our humiliation is not yet complete. Of these eighty-three fourteen are contest with an enemy which had no nayy. Some of them bear the scars of old sailing vessels of a. by-gone age, and of an outgrown and abandoned system. war, and are objects of respect and veneration, but it is unsafe longer to We give their names, ages, tonnage, guns, and their present location and use: rely on them as our sole defense against the powerful navit-s of modern times. They are all classed as fourth-rates, and are a.s follows, with their guns, ton- ~ ~ nage,&c.: . rs § Q 0 .a b.O t.o ci!+i a! -~=~ Name. ~ .... ~Q) Location and use. .: Q) 0 ~ ~ A ~ Q) I 0 0 -~a ~ z 8 A ~ e) sQ) Name. ,.c b.O 0 Location. d d New Hampshire ... 1818 15 2,600 4,150 ~ Canonicus...... 1864 2 550 2,100 Nayy-yard, Pensacola. California. Camanche...... 1865 2 496 1,875 In ordinary, IUare Island, Cal. - Santee...... 1855 48 1,475 2,430 Gunnery-ship at Naval Acad- Catskill ...... 1863 2 496 1,875 City Point. emy, Annapolis, 1\Iaryland. Jason...... 1863 2 496 1,875 League Island, Pennsylvania. Portsmouth ...... 1843 12 846 1,125 Apprentice training-ship. Lehigh ...... 1866 2 496 1,875 City. Point. Jamestown ...... 1844 12 888 1,150 Fitting for apprentice training- Mahopac...... 1864 2 550 1,875 Do. ship. Manhattan ...... 1864 2 550 1,875 Do. Saratoga ...... 1843 12 757 1,025 Training-ship at Washington; l\Iontauk...... 1863 2 496 1,875 In commission, Washington. a hulk. Nahant ...... 1863 2 496 1,875 League Island. Saint Louis ...... 1828 ...... 431 830 Receiving-ship at League Isl- Nantucket...... 1863 2 496 1,875 Annapolis, Maryland. and, Pennsylvania. Passaic...... 1862 2 94.6 1,875 Receiving-ship~ashington. aint l\Iary's ...... 1844 8 766 1,025 Public Marine School, New Saugus ...... 1864 2 550 2,100 Laid up at Was · gton. York. Lent to that State. Wyandotte ...... 1866 2 550 2,100 In commission, Washington. Dale...... 1839 8 320 675 Practice-ship at Naval Acad- emy, Annapolis, Maryland. Pawnee ...... 1858 872 1,650 Store-ship at Port Royal. We have now left to account for only 38 vessels and in this number is to be ·Onward ...... 3 704 ········· ··· Store-ship at Callao, Peru. found all the naval power for ocean service of the United States. We annex: a Freda ...... Mare Island, California. table of these 38 vessels, their ages, tonnage, displacement, and guns, the presen~ ~=~ service, or location, if out of active service. We give them by classes as they * Purchased. tand in the register: XIV-89

- 1410 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD- HOUSE. JANUARY 20,

Ocean-sen-ice of the United States.

~ .,; :::: Q) a ~::s ·s Q Q) Name. .0 bO C) bO Kind of guns. Service. ;::: cZ ..... Q) ;::: .9 0 ..t:l ~ 0 .~ 0 fi;: E-4 A z

FIRST RATE. Tennessee...... 1863 2, 840 4, 840 21 18 s. b.,*3 rifle ... Flag-ship, North Atlantic squadron.

SECOl\"'D RATE. Powhatan ...... 1850 2,182 3,980 16 14 s. b., 2 rifle...... Paddle-wheel, on special duty. Trenton...... 1876 2,300 3,800 11 118-inch rifle...... Out of commission at New York. Lancaster...... 1858 2,120 3 250 20 20s. b ...... Lately repaired, European station. Brooklyn...... 1858 2,000 3:000 18 16 s. b., 2 rifle.... . Flag-ship, South .Atlantic station, en route. Pensacola...... 1858 2,000 3,000 22 20 s. b., 2 rifle.... . Flag-ship, Pacific station. Hartford...... 1858 2,000 2,900 16 Rebuilding at Boston, to have rifled 8-inch con.. verted. Richmond...... 1858 2,000 2, 700 14 12 s. b., 2 rifle .... . Flag-ship, .Asiatic squadron. Alaska ...... ;...... 1867 1,122 2,400 12 10 s. b., 2 rifle... .. Pacific station. Omaha...... 1869 1,122 2,400 12 12 s. b ...... Repairing at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Plymouth ...... 1867 1,122 2,400 12 12 s. b ...... Do. Lackawanna...... 1862 1,026 2,220 9 6 s. b., 3 rifle... .. Pacific station. Ticonderoga...... 1862 1,019 2,220 9 6 s. b., 3 rifle... .. Lately returned to New York. Vandalia ...... 1874 981 2,080 8 7 s. b., 1 rifle... .. North Atlantic squadron. Shenandoah...... 1862 929 2,100 9 6 s. b., 3 rifle.... . Flag-ship, South Atlantic squadron.

THIRD RATE. ;Juniata...... 1862 8?..8 1,900 8 7 s. b., 1 rifle.... . Repairing at New York, nearly complete.. Ossipee...... 1861 828 1,900 8 8s.b ...... Repairing at League Island. Quinncba.ug ...... 1866 910 1,900 8 6 s. b., 2 rifle.... . European station. Swatara...... 1865 910 1,900 8 7 s. b., 1 rifle...... Asiatic squadron. Marion ...... 1874 910 1,900 8 7 s. b., 1 rifle.... . South .Atlantic squadron. ?tt:ohican ...... 1858 910 1,900 8 7 s. b., 1 rifle.... . Repairing at l\lare Island, California. Iroquois...... 1858 695 1,575 7 7 s. b., 1 rifle.... . Do. Wachusett ...... 1861 695 1,575 7 6 s. b., 1 1·ifle .... . Pacific station. Wyoming ...... 1858 726 1,560 7 6 s. b., 1 rifle .... . Naval station, Port Royal. Galena ...... 1862 910 1,900 8 7 s. b., 1 rifle ... .. European station. Tuscarora...... 1861 726 1,560 7 6 s. b., 1 rifle .... . Repairing at Mare IsHmd, California. Kearsarge...... 1861 695 1,550 7 6 s. b., 1 rifle .... . North .Atlantic station. Adams ...... 1874 615 1,375 6 5 s. b., 1 rifle ... .. Pacific station. Alliance ...... 1874 615 1,375 6 5 s. b., 1 rifle ... .. Lately returned from Arctic voyage .. E ex ...... , ...... 1874 615 1,375 6 5 s. b., 1 rifle ... .. Pacific station. 1874 615 1,375 6 5 s. b., 1 rifle ... .. North .Atlantic tation. :::i:~~~~.. ·.·.·.·.·.·.·.-.-:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·.·. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::{ 1863and } 615 1,375 8 6 s. b., 2 rifle..... European station. 1879 Ashuelot ...... 1865 'i86 1,370 6 4 s. b., 2 rifle...... Asiatic station. :1\lonocacy ...... 1866 747 1,370 6 4 s. b., 2 rifle..... Do. Alert ...... 1874 5il 1,000 4 3 s. b., 1 rifle..... Do. :Ranger ...... 1874 5il 1,020 4 3 s. b., 1 rifle..... On surveying duty in the Pacific. Yantic ...... -...... 1864 410 900 5 4 s. b., 1 rifle..... North Atlantic station.

FOURTH RATE. Alarm ...... : ...... 1873 811 1, 550 1 1 s. b., 15-inch... In commission at Washington.

* s. b., SJ11ooth-bore.

It may seem useless to further point out the weakness of our Navy, buf it is of her class afloat. She was built of wood, and o were most of the war ships of best that the whole truth be known now, so that we who have the responsibility her time. for the future peace and safety of the country upon us may have the perils and Other vessels have, within a few years, been brought back from" rotten row" dangers of neglect of present duty clearly before us. A careful examination of into the service in the same way and at great cost. 'l'he process may go on in~ the last table, in which is displayed the whole of our offensive naval power, will definitely unless a different and wiser policy is now established. satisfy any person that many of the vessels there named are old and nearly worn Had the money which has thus been expended (and properly expended in the out, slow in speed, feeble in offensive power, and utterly deficient in defensive absence of authority of Congress to make wiser use of it" perhaps) been applied power, even in the power of running away from danger, and which, when war to the completion and armament of our double-turretea iron-clad monitors we comes, will only be safe behind fortifications or unapproachable harbors. . should not now be, as we confessedly are, helpless to defend our own shores and The Powhatan will serve as an illustration. She 1s our second ship in size in great commercial centers against the attack of the smallest nation of the earth, active ervice and is at the head of our list of second rates. She was built in 185(} which may have had the courage and the wisdom to buy and to fit out a modern more than thirty years ago-and is propelled when under steam by the paddle iron-clad vessel of war effectively armed. wheel, which is now seldom seen at sea. She is little more than a sailing-vessel The double-turreted iron-clad monitor 1\:lonadnock is now on the stocks in the with auxiliary steam power. She could not fight with the smallest vessel of our private ship-yard of 1\Ir. Burgess, at Vallejo, California, half finished. She was Navy. The little torpedo boat Alarm, with her one smooth-bore fifteen-inch gun intended to be a defense for the city of San Francisco and the west coast. The and more rapid speed and her wonderful capacity of so maneuvering as always money which has been expended in rebuilding obsoletes of wood since work on to keep her sharp deflective armored prow and great gun to the front, would be the Monadnock was suspended would have finished und armerl that vessel with an antagonist with which the Powhatan wouldneversuccessfullyenga.ge. .And the most powerful guns of modern times, and San Francisco, the great center of if, in addition to her gun, the Alarm would bring her bow torpedo into play, in our Pacific commerce, would be in no danger from an enemy. We n.re not proba a contest with the Powhatan, the trial would end in a few minutes by the sink bly in danger of falling into new difficulty with Chili; but thatpeoplehavejust ing of that first of our second-rate vessels of war. passed through a great war with Peru. They are flushed with victory. They The Omaha, the Plymouth, the Ossipee, and other of our vessels are now out may, like other nations under similar circumstances, feel able to resent supposed of adive service, awaiting destruction or repair as future necessity or policy insults, and may treat gentle expostulation as intended threat. War generally shall determine, and it is extremely doubtful whether a wise economy does not comes without sufficient cause and with short notice. Should Chili find caUS6 dictate their abandonment as vessels of war. The Lancaster has lately been to make war on us she would have it all her own way from the start, and in one rebuilt at enormous co t, and we can not but entertain a doubt whether every day would inflict greater injury upon our people than the cost of fifty Monad- dollar spent upon her has not been wasted. She is really a new ship, and in nocks could repay. many respects better than she was at first, but she is a new ship on an old and Chili has three European-built ironcla-ds in her navy, namely: outgrown model, and possessed of but few of the qualities required in modern cruising vessels of war. It is often said of her that she is a fine ship in times ;::: of peace. .... But we have little respect for a ship of war which is only good in times of Number and descrip peace. Profound respect is paid to that ship in times of peace or war which is Name of >essel. ready for war, and such vessels and such only, few in numbers though they may tion of guns. be perhaps, are those which thiS1 country can afford to maintain. One such ves sel is worth a whole navy of obsoletes. The Hartford is undergoing the same process at large co t and will soon be completed, but when finished and afloat she will be only a new ship on an old plan, as good as before and no better. The progress of an age has been made-an age of startling development in war and Alrnirante Cochrane*...... 4i to 9 1 3,560 12. 8 6 9-inch 12-t-ton guns. the arts of naval architecture-since she was conceived and brought into being. Blanco Encalada. * ...... q to 9 3, 560 12. 8 Do. When she first tcQok the sea and proudly bore her flag she was the equal in speed Huascart...... 4tto5l 1,100 11 2300-pdrs., 440-pdrs. und in offensive and defensive power of any vessel of her class in the world. When she achieved her victories and won glory for herself and immortal fame for her great commander she was but five years old and a good as any ve el * Full sail-power. tCaptured from Peru. -

.1883 . . CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE . 1411

The United States naval force on this-the South Pacific station-consists of Our manufactures have been developed during that period to a degree quite un four unarmored w-ooden v-essels, namely, Pensacola (flag-ship), Alaska, Lacka precedented in our own history. At the close of our war there was not a pound wanna, and Adams. The Pensacola can make 8 knots per hour; the Alaska, 11 of steel made in this country fit for the fabrication of cannon. To-day our man knots; the Lackawanna., 8 kno.ts; and the Adams ll knots. Not one of these ufacturers can produce steel of the be t quality for that purpose in very large vessels could either ov:ertake .o.r ;run away from ·the Almira.nte Cochrane or the quantities, and with their present plant can supply over 150,000 tons a year for Blanco Encalada. The entire squadron is not of sufficient force to compete suc that purpose, besides supplying the present demand for steel for all other pur cessfully with even -one of these two ironclads, and not of sufficient speed to poses. The steel made in this country is better than tlllit made in Europe. In avoid a hopeless-conflict. six months' time, if we were called upon for it, we could furnish all the steel It is manifest that in a conflict with this small nation the United States would which the gun-makers of the world could use. be helpless to resist the .first attack., the most imporb.>.nt thing to do in war al Such is the Navy of the United States. ways, and Chili could levy tribute on the city of San Francisco or seal up the . The defen e of our harbors and the great centers of our commerce is fbund in Golden Gate as with an iron w.all. fourteen light-draught monitors armed with twenty-eight smooth-bore muzzle GUNS. loading guns, and one experimental torpedo-boat with one gun. It is not in ships alone that we are weak. The guns on the single-turreted Our naval power on the ocean is represented by thirty-eight cruising vessels of monitors are all smooth-bore muzzle-loaners. There are in the armament of all classes, carrying three hundred and fifty-seven guns of all calibers. none of the thirty-eight cruising vessels shown in the table three hundred and eighty which are of power or high breech-loaders, and only sixty-two of which are rifled. six guns of all classes. In order to enable tbiq House and the country to compare our Navy with the We may n9t be entirely accurate :in this statement, and we have again tore navies of other countries we here insert tables of the English navy compiled gret the absence of official information in the course of preparation. But it is from official records at the Navy Department and a few leaves from a pamphlet manifest that our Navy is sadly deficient in guns and that we have not one high lately prepared at the Navy Department. The pamphlet doe"! not pretend to power long-range rifled breech-loading cannon afloat in the Navy, and it may absolute accuracy, but is probably sufficiently accurate for all practical purposes as well be said here tl:vlt we have not one to put afloat. and for mere comparison. The contrast may be humiliating, but it will prove It is perhaps not to be regretted that we have not spent large sums of money useful and result to our advantage. in the manufacture of guns since the close of the war, for we have doubtless \Ve here take leave of this branch of the subject with no further comment;_ ar escaped many expensive blunders thereby. The time has not been wholly lost. gument would seem to be quite out of place.

.ARMORED VESSELS. Slwwing their class, displacement, draught, and maximum speed. [Compiled from official report-s of steam trials.] GREAT BRITAIN.

'0 .2 Displacement and -d Vessel. ~ .. s::l ~~ .§'fo -~ Material. Class. -~] p,

Ft. In. Knots. 8,483 9,515 23 0 14.74 8,207 9,120 24 6 14.52 6,272 9,190 26 6 13.40 6,652 9,190 26 6 13.84 a6,000 8,490 24 0 a13.00 a6,000 8,490 24 0 a13.00 7,842 8,070 25 9 14.93 7,993 9,170 25 3 14.21 a6,000 9,150 26 3 a14.00 a6,000 9,150 26 3 a14.ro a4,500 6,200 24 0 a13.00· a7,000 9,150 26 3 8,615 9,432 26 3 ...... 14'.'99- 7, 516 8,571 27 4 14.65- 8,778 8,723 26 10l 14.20' 8,529 8,676 26 5k 14. .69 • 6,312 7,369 26 8 14.05· 4,832 6,537 2-'5 7 13.70 5,156 6,552 25 8 14.16 4,021 6,170 23 0 12.82 4,832 5,563 21 6 14.09· 4,789 5,563 21 6 13.85- 4,703 4,863 17 4t 12.76 7,431 8,950 26 0 13.78- 3,370 5,390 23 4 12.35 6,645 7,473 25 1 14.05- 6,073 7,652 25 3 13.17, 3,200 4,738 19 5 12.20 2,329 5,070 26 10 11.44" 5,917 10,230 26 6 13.73 6, 702 10,230 26 10 14.41 6,558 10,548 'J:7 9 14'.13' 4,975 9,934 27 5 13.78 5,267 1 9,231 27 8 1"4.07 9,300 27 3 13.60 6,455 25 8 12.36. ~·~3:348 I 6,485 25 6 12.5! 2,329 6,300 26 11 11.40 2,343 6, 077 26 1 11.23: 7,839 27 9 13.49 6,7063,347 1 6,010 25 10 12. 28; a 5,500 2,640 20 6 "17.00·

Armored harbor-defense.

2,868 4,900 19 5t 12.1<>' 3,497 3,980 20 2 12.()5; 4,635 5,152 22 10 13.59- 2,l2l 3,809 20 00 11.2~ 1,660 3,100 15 5 11.02 1,669 3, 311 ]6 0 11.13 1,755 3,059 15 6 10.89 1,474 3,142 15 8t 11.20 1,455 2,&50 16 4 10.51 1,446 2,602 16 1 10.05 696 1,180 1110 9.58 658 1,189 1111 9.06 949 2,816 14 8 9.59 1,436 2,991 14 8 10.66 1,369 2,920 14 2l 9.75

n Estimated. ·------·~·- '.'

1412 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. JANUARY 20,

ARl\IORED VESSELS-Continued. FRA...'WE.

VesseL

:::rn .E: 'Ti'-' ~ ~CI.) .._.,l:l ~p. oo ~ p. Name and class of vessel. ltl·s (!) lllO Jf .. d ... alL oo~ ... ::l ~ Mr:~O ~a A ~·-.C

Sea,..soiTtfl cruisers . .Admiral.Duperre...... 21. 6 10,322 14. 5 14 13t-inch and 14 5t-inch ...... : ...... Iron and steel, ram, ship-rigged. Devastation...... 15 9, 454 ...... 412;\-inch, 4 l(ij-inch, and 8 5A-inch...... Do. Foud1·oyant...... 15 9, 454 ...... do ...... Do. • .Redoubtable...... 14 8,661 14 81QA-inch and 6 l>t-inch ...... Do. • Friedland...... 8. 66 8, 684 14 8 l(ij-inch and 8 5!-inch ...... Iron ram, full sail-power. Richelieu...... 8. 66 8, 651 13 6 lOt-inch, 2 5!-inch, and 5 9A-inch ...... Do. Trident...... 8. 66 , 183 14. 5 8 l(ij-inch, 4 :>t-inch, and 2 94-inch...... Do. Colbert...... 8. 66 , 183 14 8 HH-inch, 6 fij-inch, and 1 9!-inch...... Do. Amiral Baudin...... 22 ...... 3100-ton guns...... Building. Formidable ...... : ...... do ...... Do. Duguesclin...... 10 5, 78'J 14 4 9Hnch, 1 74--inch, and 6 5!-inch ...... Iron and steel, ram, full sail-power. Bayard...... 5, 789 ...... do ...... Full sail-power. Turenne...... 5, 789 ...•...... do ...... Do. Vauban...... 5, 7 9 ...... do ...... , ...... Do. Triomphante...... 6 4,133 13 6 9t·inch, 3 7!-inch, and 6 5!-inch ...... Do. Victorieuse...... 6 4, 00'4 13 G 9!-inch, 1 7;1-inch, and 6 5!-inch...... Do. La Gallisoniere...... 6 4, OS8 13 6 9~-inch ...... Wood hull, ram, full sail-power. ~~~~~~~:~:-.~~~-~~~:::::::::::::::::::::: ::: ·······~:···· ······~j~[ ·····H······ "f}8tl~-~k.fffi~\i~c~·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Do. 1\Inrengo...... 7 ~ 7,244 13 ...... do ...... Do. Do. ~~:~~~~:·.::·.:::::::::::::::::::·.:::::::::·.:::::::::::: ~~9 g:~ i! ~ZJ~~~c:~d-47:~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Do. Do. &~~~~~~:::::::::::::::::::::·. ::::::::::::::::::::::::: g: ~ g: ~g i! :::::::J~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Do. 1\In.gnanime ...... 5. 9 5, 613 14 ...... do...... Do. Do. ~~~;~~~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.::::::::::::: g: ~ g:~~g i! : ::::::::~~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: ::::: ::::: ::::::::::::: :: ::: ::::: ::::::: : Do. avoie...... 5. 9 5, 613 14 ...... do ...... Do. Do. - ~~fr~~~~~~~_:_::.:-::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::t t~ g;lli H :~:~:1~~h::::::::::::::::::::: ::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: .Heroine...... 5. 9 5, 613 14 812-ton and 4 7-ton ...... Iron hull, ram, full sail-power. ouronne...... 4t 5, 700 12 2 12-ton and 10 7-ton ...... Do. Alma...... 6 3, 617 11.8 6 7-ton ...... Wooden hull, full sail-power. Armide...... 6 3,617 11.8 ...... do ...... Do. Atalanta...... 6 3,617 11.8 ...... do ...... Do. Belliqueuse ...... 6 3, 617 11. 8 ...... do ...... Do. Jeanne d'Arc...... 6 3,617 11.8 ...... do ...... Do. 1\lontcalm...... 6 3, 917 11.8 ...... do ...... Do. t: Reine Blanche...... 6 3, 617 11. 8 ...... do ...... Do. Thetis...... 6 3, 617 11.8 ...... do ...... Do. Seven coast defenders, Lst class...... 13 5, 402 14 2 12!-inch and 4 4!-inch...... Iron and steel, 3 now built. Three coast defenders, 2d class...... 11t 4, 45 10 1210!-inch and 4!-inch...... :...... Iron and teel. I,!, 3 Fivecoastdefenders,3dclass ...... 6to9 { ::i~ J~ }1or29Hnch...... :················ .. ······· Single revolving turret.

GER~'Y.t

1 Kaiser ...... 10 7,560 14.5 Slot-inch and 1 *inch Krupp ...... ! Ram bow, full sail-power. Deutschland...... 10 7,560 5

Sacbsen ...... 10 7 1 135 7 135 ~1 -~-~Cft!~~~iiif:~:~:·:·:·:::-::::·:·:·:·:~:::::_:_:_:_:_::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 1 Ram~:w, brig-rigged. Baiern ...... 10 1 'Vurtemburg ...... 10 7 135 14 ...... do...... Do. Baden ...... 10 7:135 ...... do...... Do. Preussen ...... 9.2 6, 748 14 41Qt-inch, 2 6.7-inch, and 4 3-inch ...... Turret ship, bark-rigged. Friedrich der Grosse...... 9.2 6 558 14 ...... do...... Do. Konig Wilhelm ...... 8 9:602 14.7 1 9,Hnch and 5 Sf-inch guns ...... Broadside ship, full sail-power. Prmz Friedrich Karl...... 5 5,819 Kronprinz ...... 5 5,393 i::g 1-~~-~~~c·~-~~~.:.".".".".".".".".":::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:::::::::: : ::::::::: ~~: 6.2 3,497 12 8 -}-inch gun ...... Corvette, full sail power. ~=i~~:·::::::.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 4.5 1,558 10. 5 4 Sf-inch guns ...... Coa t defender, local service. Prinz Adalbert...... 4.7 1,456 9. 5 1 f-inch gun and 2 6. 7-inch...... Do. Chamiileon ...... 8 1,000 9 136-ton (12-inch} gun...... Coast defender. Wcspe ...... 8 1,000 9 ...... do...... Do. Viper ...... 8 1,000 9 ...... do...... Do. Mi.i.cke ...... 8 1,000 9 ...... do...... Do. Biene ...... 8 1,000 9 ...... do...... Do. Scorpion ...... 8 1,000 9 ...... do...... Do. Basilisk ...... 8 1,000 9 ...... do...... Do. H. J. K. and L ...... 8 1,000 9 ...... do ...... j Do.

AUSTRIA.t I "Tegethoff ...... I. 14.5 7,390 14 Line-of-battle cruiser, bark-rigged. 9t 7,060 14 Line-of-battle crui er, ship-rigged. fi~~~-~.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 6t 6,080 13 Do. ~r~herhog Albrecht ...... 8.3 5,940 13 Do. Kaiser ...... 1 6t 5,810 12 Do. J)on Juan d'Austria ...... 4t 3,550 8.5 Line-of-battle crui:> r, ram ship rigged. Kaiser Max ...... 41- 3,550 8.5 Do. .Prinz Eugen ...... 4;1- 3,550 8. 5 Do. li .Erzherhog Ferdinand 1\Iax...... 5 5,140 10.3 Line-of-battle cruiser, ship-rigged. Habsburg ...... 5 10. 3 Do. : alamander ...... 4i 3,1105,140 I 7 Ordinary station service, ship-rigged. .1\Iaros ...... 1.5 310 5.6 River monitor. J,eitha ...... 1.5 310 ' 5.6 Do. ! " *All breech-loading rifles. t Krupp. tAU rifled. -- -.. - - - - .. - -- - - . ------

1883. CONGRESSIONAL ·RECORD- HOUSE. 1413

ARMORED VESSEL..Q..-Continued. RUSSIA.

Vessel.

-:.. ~~ .:: 'OQ) ...... c:~ ~j;l, 0<:) ~ Name of vessel. s= ~.l£ Armament: Number and description of guns.* Remarks. gj- sal so G.l.s ol=l ::l,; . e~ ~£ 'QO .§ ~ :a a ]. =--..dMS::O E-4 A :a Peter the Great ...... 14 9,510 13 4 12-inch 40--ton guns ...... Knaz 1tlinin...... 12 8,800 13 Full sail-power. Duke of Edenburgh...... 6 4,438 13 ! ~;!~~ha!J~~fn~ g~~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Do. General Admiral...... 6 4,438 13 ...... do ...... Do. 4i 6,200 II 16 8-inch 9-ton guns ...... Do. ~~:~!v~~~id·::::::.:·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 4} 6,200 11 20 8-inch 9-ton guns ...... Wooden hull, ram bow, full sail- power. · Knaz Pojarski...... 4i 4,500 11 10 8-inch 9-ton guns ...... Iron hull, ram bow, full sail-power. Admiral Lazareff ...... 5H 3,700 10 6 9-inch 14-1--ton guns...... Admiral Gruig...... 5H 3,700 10 311-iuch 27 ~-ton guns ...... Admiral Tchitehagaff...... 6 3,700 10 2 11-inch 27t-ton guns ...... Admiral Spinidaff...... 6 3,700 10 ...... do ...... Pervenetz ...... 4i 3,300 9-l- 26 8-inch guns...... Full sail-power. N e-tron-meiia...... 4~ 3,300 9 16 8-inch guns...... Do. Kl'eml...... 6 3,300 9 26 8-inch guns...... Do. Auragan ...... 4! 1,5551 6.7 2 9-inch 14l--ton guns...... Single-turret vessel, monitor. 'l'iphon ...... 4! 1 555 6.7 Latnik...... 4! 1:555 6.7 :::::::_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:::::_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_:_::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::1 Lava...... 4! 1,555 6.7 ::: ::::::i~ ~~: Vetchoun ...... 4f 1,555 6. 7 ...... do...... Do. Kaldoun ...... « 1 555 6.7 ...... do...... Do. Streletz ...... « 1:5-55 6.7 ...... do ...... :...... 'Do. Edenorag ...... « 1,555 6. 7 ...... do ...... ,...... Do. Bronenosetz ...... 4! 1,555 6.7 ...... do ...... Do. Perm ...... « 1,555 6.7 ...... do...... Do. Smertch ...... 4i 11 4 9-inch 14}-ton guns...... Double turrets, monitor. Tcharageik.a...... 5 u 411-inch 2'it-ton guns...... Do. Rousalka...... 5 1,835 11 ...... do...... Do. 11 t:l2,490 7 211-inch 27t -ton guns...... Circular, monitor. ~f:!X~h-'~i·:P~i;~ii-:::::::::.::::::::::::::::::: j 18 3,550 9 2 1..2-inch 40-ton guns...... Do.

HOLLAND.t

Koning der Nederlanden ...... 8 5,201 ...... ) 411-inch Armstrong and «f-inch Krupp...... Ram bow, for general service, ship- rigged. ~s Hendrik. der Nederlan_den ...... 4l 3,322 12 4 9-inch Armstrong ...... Do. Gumea ...... 6 2,340 12 2 9-inch Armstrong ...... Ram bow, coastdefender,brig-ri~d. Buffel ...... 6 2,163 12. 4 ...... do ...... Do. Schorpioen ...... 6 2,141 12. 8 ...... do ...... Do. Stier ...... 6 2,036 12. 4 ...... do ...... t. Do. Cerberus ...... :...... 5t 1,506 8 ...... do...... Do. Bloedhond ...... 5! 1,506 8 ...... do...... Do. Heiligerlee ...... 5t 1,506 8 ...... do...... Do. 5t 1,506 8 ...... do...... Do. ~ij~~~~-i-1::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: . 51li 1,392 9-l- ...... do...... Do. Adder ...... 5t 1,54.1 7! ...... do...... Do. Haai ...... 5t 7~ ...... do...... Do. Hyena ...... 5t ,1,541.... I 71 ...... do...... Do. Panther ...... 5! 1,541 7! ...... do...... Do. Wesp ...... 5} 1,541 7! ...... do...... Do. Luipaard ...... 5! 71 111-inch Krupp...... Do. Matador...... 5! 71 2 11-inch Krupp ...... Do. Draak ...... : ...... 8 Vahalis ...... 4l 332 ...... ~:..... - N~~:~:::::::.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·.:·.:::::::::::::::·.:::::::::::::::::::: For ~g bridges. No. I ...... 4t 394 Rhenus ...... 5 370 Mosa ...... 5 370 ·······~~·-·· -~-~~~~~~~:-::·:·:::::::·:·:·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~~~J~~ service. lsala ...... 5 370 71 ...... do...... Do. Merva...... 5 370 71 ...... do...... Do.

The unarmored fleet ofp:olland is composed ofl frigat~, 31 corvettes, 31 small gunboats,l3 side-wheel steamers, and 16 torpedo-boats. TURKEY.t

Mesoodiyeh...... 12 8,994 13. 74 I 12 18-ton a.nd 3 6!-ton guns ...... Ram bow, ship-rigged. Noosretiyeh...... 10 7,900 13 10 12-ton and 2 6!--ton guns ...... Do. .Aziziyeh ...... 5t 6,400 12 112-ton and 15 6~ton guns ...... Ram bow, bark-rigged. Osmaniyeh...... 5-l- 6,400 12 ...... do ...... Do. Orkaniyeh ...... 5t 6,400. 12 ...... do ...... Do. Marmondiyeh...... 5t 6,400 12 ...... do ...... Do. Assar-i-tevfik...... 8 5,687 12 8 12-ton guns ...... Full sail-power. Feth-i-Bulend...... 9 2,719 14 41..2-ton guns ...... Do. Mookademi Kha.in...... 9 2,719 14 ...... do ...... Do. Avni Illah...... 6 2,314 12 ...... do ...... Ram bow, full sail-power. Moovini Zaffer...... 6 2,314 13 ...... do ...... Do. Idjlaliyeh ...... 2,300 11 2 12-ton guns and 2 64--ton ...... Full sn.il-power. Nedj-im-shefket...... 2,300 11.5 5 9-ton guns ...... Do. Assar-i-shefket...... 2,300 11 - ...... do ...... Do. Ha.fiz-i-Rahman ...... :...... 41 2,~ 12 2 9-ton guns and 2 4-ton ...... Hizber...... 3 7 2 SO-pounders ...... Monitor. Feth-el-Isla.m...... 3 33-5 8 ...... do ...... River gunboat. Semendriyeh...... 3 335 8 ...... do. , ...... Do. Burdj-idela.n...... 3 335 ...... do ...... Do .

Turkey has an unarmored fleet of 1 ship of the line, 5 frigates, 7 corvette , 14 gunboats, and 44 transports and smaller vessels. JAPAN.t

3,718 13 4 15!-ton and 2 5~ton (Krupp)...... Iron hull, full sail-power 2,200 14 2 5;\--ton and 6 4-ton (Krupp) ..... A ...... Composite hull, full sail-power 2,200 14 ...... do...... Do. 2,300 6} 2 71-cwt. and 8 55t-cwt. (Vavasseur) ...... Wooden hull, full sail-power. 1,303 9t 1213-cwt., 2 50-cwt, and 143-cwt-. (Armstrong) ...... Iron ram (Stonewall).

*Krupp. tAU rifled. t Breech-loading rifles. 14!4 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HO-USE. JANUARY 20,

ARMORED VESSELs-continued. ITALY.

Vessel.

'"'a; .s .0~ ~Q) ~p. .... -5 ~ p. Arnmment: Number and description of guns.* Name of Vessel. 0::: Q) rllr:t) rtl ... Remarks. amC!)>= §b ~·~ oO a]~ ,!.!'-' ~"" ...... , oO M::O :a a .~ ~ .... ~ 8 A

Italia ... _ ...... : ...... : ...... 13, 480 ...... 4 100-ton guns and 18 smaller ones...... Building. 13,480 ...... do ...... Do. ~~~~·:.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ...... 21:65' 10, 401 15 4 100-ton guns ...... Estimated cost, $3,500,000. Dandolo...... 21.55 10,401 15 ...... do ...... Do. .Principe Amadeo...... 6 5, 780 ...... 1 23-ton and 6 18-ton guns...... Wooden hull; line-of-battle cruiser, full sail-power. Pale. tro ...... 6 5, 780 10 ...... do ...... Do. Roma...... 6 5, 697 ...... 6 18-ton and 2 12-ton guns ...... Do. Venezia...... 6 5,697 ...... do ...... Do. Castelfidardo...... 4f 4, 194 13 9 9-ton and 2 12-ton guns ...... Full sail-power. San Mart-ino...... 4t 4, 194 13 ...... do ...... Do. [aria Pia ...... 4f 4, 194 13 ...... do ...... Do. .Ancona...... : ...... 4t 4, 194 13 ...... do ...... Do. .A.ffondatore ...... 5 4, 070 ...... 2 12-ton guns ...... Coast defender, full sail-power. Cont-e Verde...... 4k 3, 932 ...... 6 12-ton guns and 1 9-ton gun ...... Full sail-power. Varese...... 5t 2, 700 10 4 9-ton guns ...... Do. Terri bile ...... 4k 2, 700 10 30 6;1-ton guns ...... Formidabile...... 4;\- 2, 700 10 ...... do ......

The unarmored fleet of Italy is composed of 3 frigates, 7 corvettes, 20 gunboats, 10 dispatch vessels, 7 screw transports, and a number of smaller vessels. PA.I::S.t

Numancia...... 5 7, 053 I 13 1 6 18-ton, ~ 9-ton, and 16 7-ton ...... Broadside battery, ram bow, ship-rig ged. Vittoria ...... 5k 7, 000 ...... 412-ton, <> 9·ton, and 12 7-ton ...... Full sail-power. Saragossa ...... 4;!- ...... 411-inch, 2 8t-inch, and 14 7:i-inch ...... Do. Arapiles...... 4t ...... 218-ton, 59-ton, and 10 7-ton ...... Do. Mendez Nunez...... 4 9-inch and2 8-inch ...... Do. Sagunto ...... 6 6, 300 2 18-ton, 59-ton, and 10 7-ton ...... Do. Being built. ~rill~:::::::::::::::::::·:::::.:·:::::::.:·:::::::::::::.: ~t ~: m::::::::::::::: .~.~~A'~:·:::::.:::::·.·.:·:::.·:::.:: ::·::::.·::::::::::::.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Do. Navarra...... 8;\- 3,650 ...... do ...... Do. Duque de Tetuan ...... 4 600 ...... 16t-inch and 4 4f-inch ...... Puigserda ...... 4 515 ...... 1 6t-inch and 2 4f-inch ...... Monitor.

This country has a small UU.A.rmored fleet of large size vessels, but many small gunboats for the defense of her colonies-in all 9 frigates, 20 corvettes, and 57 :gunboats. DENMARK.*

Helgoland ..... : ...... 12 5,265 112-inch, 4 lot-inch, and 55-inch ...... Broadside, full sail-power. Odin ...... 8 3,036 12.4 410-inch ...... Frigate, full sail-power. Danmark ...... 4l 4,664 8.1 12 8-inch and 12 6-inch...... Do. Peder Sk.ram...... 4;\- 3,321 11 6 8-inch and 12 6-inch ...... Do. ·Gorm...... 8 2,308 12.2 210-inch ...... Corvette, full sail-power. Lendermen ...... ().} 2,044 12 2 9-inch ...... Do. Rolfe Krake...... 4t 1,323 7.8 38-inch ...... Do.

The unarmored fleet consists of 3 frigates, 9 corvettes, and 12 gunboats. UNARMORED VESSELS. GREAT BRITAIN.

't:l Q) Vessel. Displacement and 'ti 5~ draught on trial. ~ ·~ Q ~ 'g~ ~ ·~ 0 Name. 8 ~~ Gl ..; ::s ~..; ~ l't'Ia.terial. Class. .§ ~ ::s .Ms M..cl -as c:l! ~a ~ ~ A ~ ------Ft. In. Knots. Shah ...... Iron sheathed with wood ...... Frigate ...... : ...... 7,477 5,922 25 7t 16.45 Inconstant ...... do ...... do ...... 7,361 5,328 24 7 16.51 5,541 5,285 25 2 15. 15 ~~~g!a·:::::::::::::::::::: :::::: ::::::::::::: ·1~~-;;~·~d·~lli·~;;;;d.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::: :::: ··o;;~~~~::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::: : :::: 5,292 3,883 22 4 14.89 Bacchante ...... do ...... do ...... 2,490 3,631 22 0 12.07 Euryalus ...... do ...... do ...... 5,109 4,223 23 6 14.71 Rover ...... do ...... do ...... 4,964 3,462 22 7 14.53 Volage ...... do ...... do ...... 4,500 3,080 21 6 15.12 Active ...... do ...... do ...... 4,131 3,033 21 3f 15.08 Iris ...... St.eel ...... Di patch ...... 7,556 3,290 20 6 18.58 Mercury...... do ...... do ...... 7,534 3,290 20 6 18. 87 Cleopatra ...... Steelo.nd iron cased with "\Vood...... Corvette...... 2,611 1,922 17 0 13.95 Carysfort ...... do ...... do ...... 2,400 2,398 19 0 12.96 Champion...... do ...... do ...... 2,300 2,380 18 10k 13.00 Comus ...... do ...... do ...... 2,387 2,427 19 3 12.79 Conquest...... do ...... do ...... 2,674 1,930 17 0 13.98 Cura9oa ...... do ...... do ...... 2, 541 1,930 17 0 13.58 Con tance ...... do ...... Twin screw corvett-e...... 2,020 2, 781 20 9 12.30 Cordelia...... do ...... Corvette ...... a2,300 2,380 18 6 al3.00 Canada...... do ...... do ...... a2,300 2,380 48 6 al3.00 Opal...... Composite ...... do ...... 2,187 2,098 19 0 12.53 Tourmaline ...... do ...... do ...... 1,972 2,119 18 10 12.62 Turquoise ...... do ...... do ...... 1,994 2,195 19 2 12.32 Garnet ...... do ...... do ...... 2,005 1,973 18 2 13.20

* Breech-loading rifle . tKrupp. a E timated. - .. . .. - --- ~

1883. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD- HOUSE. 1415

UNARMORED VESSELS-Continued. GREAT BRITAIN.

't! .£ Vessel. Displacement and rO ~ . draught on trial. Q) ;a1i3 Q) ....=~ 0 ~ Name. 8 ~~ ~ .; :::: :;!.; t 8 Material. Class. .~_g 'a~ 14 ciS ~ c! ~a A"' ~ ~ ------Ft. In. Knot•. 2,170 1,636 16 3 13. ff1 1,833 2,126 18 10 12.28 !Th!l~·.::.:.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::~~~!r;~:~::::·:·:·::·:·:·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -~;::::~;.~~~.. :·:·:·:·:·:·:·::·::::::::·:·:·:·::·:·::·:·:·::::: 1,056 860 14 6 12.24 719 973 15 0 J.0.20 ~~~=:~·:.·.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::~~ ::::::::::·::.::·.:·:::::.:::·::::::::::::::.:·:::::::::::::::::.::::::::::: :::::::J~ :::::::::::::.·.:·::::::::::::::::::::::::: 1,128 804 14 4 all.OO Cormorant ...... do ...... do ...... 951 1,131 15 4 ll.31 972 1,131 1510 11.47 900 1,130 15 9 ll.OO ~8!~~~~·::::·.. ::·:·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::~~ ::::::::::.:_:_:_:.:_::·:·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::~~ ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 797 1,094 15 6 10.35 1\

FRANC;E.

Vessel.

Name of vessel. Remurks. Armament: Number and description of guns.*

Sea cruise1·s. Frigate, iron, ram, ship-rigged. ~~;}~;ilfee.:::::::::.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: g;~ ~:~ -~~~~:!~~-~~.~-~~-~-~~~~~.~~.'.'.'.'.'.'.':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Do. Jphigenie ...... Naide ...... Iron corvette, ram, bark-rigged. Wooden hull, ram, ship-rigged. Do. li;-§E:ELELlEUl.ii··:::·;::·:···.·::·:·:: ~ l:m ~:i :~7lf:Ff:~=Sf}~:··:·····.::·::···:.::::H:::·::::····· Do. Do. La Perouse...... 2, 220 15 ...... do ...... Iron hull, ram, hip-rigged. Do. Do. ~~r:~:?~-.::.:.::::::.. :·:·:-::-:::·:·:·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~::::: ~:~ ~!J :::::::Jt::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;::::::::::::::::::::::: Do. One not named...... Building. Second-cia s corvette, full sail-power. Do. ~~e:!~~~-~:~~~:::-:::::::::::::::::-::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: te ~t! :~:~~t:~~~:~:?::i:~:~~:~~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Do. La Clocheterie ...... 1, 900 14.4 ...... do ...... Do. 4 Do. · R~!;:~la~~ .. (k;;~~iu;;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: i::i i~· ·a·St:~~h·g~:;;~::::::::: : ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·.:::::::::::::::::::::::: Wooden hull, ram bow, full sail power. Eclaireur ...... 1,617 15 ...... do ...... Do . Beautemps-Beaupre ...... 1250 12.3 Old type. .Ducha1fant ...... 1:269 12.3 .:.~~d~~-~~~-~--~~-i.~~~~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Do. Hugon ...... 1,270 12.3 ...... do ...... Do. Leguelen ...... 1,260 12.3 ...... do ...... Do. ·Chasseur ...... 781 12 4 5}-inch guns ...... Gun-boat, ram bow, wooden hull. full sail-power. La Bourdonnais...... 781 12 ...... do ...... Do . Bison ...... 781 12 ...... do ...... Do. IIu sard ...... 781 12 ...... do...... Do. J,ancier ...... 781 12 ...... do ...... Do. Par eval ...... 781 12 ...... do ...... Do. Voltigeur ...... 781 12 ...... do...... Do. Boursaint ...... 781 12 ...... do ...... Do. Bouvet ...... 781 12 ...... do .... - ...... Do. Eight transports ...... 1,571 10 ...... do ...... Bark-rigged. :Six gun vessels...... 454 9.7 1 7}-inch and 2 4-f-inch guns ...... Composite ve sels, three-masted.

In adition to the above there are 57 gunboats similar in construction to La Bourdonna.is. The French ge!:leral service fleet consists of 9 ships of the line, 6 frigates, 10 corvettes, 21 sloops of war, 11 gunboats, 42 transports, and a. number of smaller Ye els. JAPAN.*

*All breech-loading rifles. a Estimated. 1416 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. JANUARY 20,

UNAR:MGRED VESSELB-Continued. GERMANY.

Vessel.

Name of >essel. Armament: Number and description of guns. Remarks. (Krupp.)

------l------1------~------Leipzig ...... 3,863 14 12 6.7-inch guns...... Iron corvette, double decked, full sail-power. Sedan...... 3, 863 14 ...... do ...... Do. Bismarck ...... 2, 460 15 16 6.7-inch guns...... Do. Bliicher...... 2, 460 15 ...... do ...... Do. Stosch ...... 2, 460 15 ...... do ...... Do. Moltke ...... 2, 460 Do. Greisenau and Stein...... 2, 856 ...... ~~..... 1:::::::::~~ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::=::: In process of construction. Hohenzollern ...... 1, 697 16 ...... Iron dispatch vessel, brig-rigged. . BandC...... Building, brig-rigged. Kyklop ...... 4l2 8 4 guns ...... Gunboat. Otler ...... 129 8 3 guns.... : ...... Do. Waif...... 470 ...... 4 guns ...... Do. Building. ~~:=. ,','~·;;;;u;;;;;g::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::1 2, tl~ ::::::::::::::: :::::::::~~ :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:·::::.:·:::::::::::: :::::::::::: Single-

Germany has a general-service fleet of 26 corvettes and gunboats. RUSSIA.

3,000 13. 5 3 6-inch and 6 4-inch guns ...... American built; speed given was. continuous. Full sail-power. :::.·.·.·.·:::~.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.· .·.·~.-.·.·.-.·.·.·::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::: ::::: 1 2 650 12. 5 3 6-inch and 7 4-inch guns...... Do. Africa ...... 2:580 Do. Za.biaca-...... 1,200 Do. 1,334 Russian built cruiser, full sail-po,.,.·er. gp~:~~.:::.:·.·::::::::::::::.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 1,384 Do. Rasbojnik ...... 1,334 H.. Do. 1,334 .. . Najezdnik ...... ~. ~.fTff .T:~::r7~:~:~·;:: :;.~~~·~t;~;=~~~;::::.·~:::·:;:::: Do. ) Strelok ...... 1,334 · no. Plastoune ...... 1.334 ::::::::::::::: I· ~ .~~.~:r~. ~~~ .~.~~~~~. ~~...... :·.:·:::::::::::::.:::: ::::::::::::::::::::: Do.

Russia has a general service fleet of 2 frigates, 18 corvettes, and 56 gunboats. With this humiliating condition of our Navy, as compared with that Annual collective pay of office7·s-continued. of other powers of the earth, staring us in the face, with the conscious ness of our utter weakness and inability to defend and protect our flag, our commerce, our extended coast line, our citizens, or our country when assailed by the smallest naval power of Europe, or even by Chili, and when we remember that we have in our country more than 50,000,000 Desigllation. of inhabitants; that we have the grandest country in resources, devel oped and undeveloped; that we have a Treasury overflowing with gold and silver and currency; that we have such an enormous national in come that wiseacres, business men, and statesmen are eagerly seeking ------~----11----~------some means of reducing it, can any gentleman stand in his place and $66,000 say that the appropriation for building and completing new vessels of Rear-admirals ...... 11 $6,000 $5,000 $-!, 000 55,000 44,000 war is sufficient or adequate to the demands or needs of the country, or 40,000 can any one defend the "retrenchment and reform," misnamed econ Chiefs of bureau ...... 8 5,000 4,000 3,000 32,000 omy, attempted by the committee in the proposed appropriation for the 24,000 1120,000 building and repairing of new ships? 24 5,000 4,000 3,000 96,000 I think we ought to have an efficient Navy. The Naval Committee, Commodores ...... { of which I am a member, are of the unanimous opinion that we ought J~:~ Captains ...... 48 4,500 3,500 2,800 168,()()(). to have a better, larger, and more efficient Navy, and the country de 134,400· mandsofus,whilewehaveaplethoricTreasury,thatwerebuildourNavy. 315,000 When we contemplate the official personnel of our Navy, as it is pre Commanders ...... 90 3.500 3,000 2,300 210,000 sented to us by this bill, the first natural inquiry of the mind is, ''What 2r.Y7,000 Lieutenant-commanders: ~ does it cost to keep this large army of officers of high and low rank, 224,000 · what duties have they to perform in time of proformd peace, and where First tour years ...... so 2,800 2,400 2,000 192,000 160,000 and how are they employed?'' 240,000 This bill discloses the fact that it costs the country $3,939,400 for the After four years...... 80 3,000 2,600 2,200 2 ,000 pay and emoluments of the official active-list of the Navy alone, and 176,000 Lieutenants: ~ that the pay and allowances of the retired-list amounts to $703,180- 672,000 4,642,580 for the salaries of officers alone. First five years ...... 280 2,400 2,000 1,600 560,000 · The following table, which I have prepared with some care, and which 448,000 728 000 yet may contain some errors, shows the number of officers of the dif After five years .. , ...... 280 2,600 2,200 1,800 616:000 ferent grades with their individual and collective annual compensation: 50!,000 1\Iasters: 1 Annual collective pay of officers. 180,000 First five years ...... 100 1, 800 I, 500 1, 200 150, ()()()-- 120,000 200,000· After fi>e years...... 100 2, 000 1, 700 1, 400 170, 000· 140,000 !)esignation. 1 Ensigns: 120,000 First five years ...... 100 1,200 1,000 800 100, 000· 80,000 .After five years ...... 100 1,400 1,200 1,000 1 ~~8:~ SI3,~ 1g;>:~ · .Admiral...... 1 $13, 000 $13, 000 $13, 000 13,000 13,000 ~Iidshipmen ...... ; ...... 91 1,000 800 600 72, 800• 9,000 I 54,600 Vice-Admiral ...... 1 9, 000 8, 000 6, ()()() 8,000 ?lledical directors ...... 14 4,400 11-Iedica.l inspectors ...... 15 4, 400 ::::::::::::::::::::::::1 i 6.000 !~:~ ~- ~- ~~ -~~ -· ~- ._. ~--- -,------

1883. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 1417'

Annual collective pay of officers-Continued. Annual collective pay of offi..cers-Continued.

~ .d ~ ,.Q .g .g C) C) ciS ·; ciS d ·; d Q) >. C) i- ~ . Q) Q) ~\1 dG:i "'f;l d • ~ lo 0~ ~'0 ... 0'0 ~'0 Designation. Q Q)lo< Designation. Q) Q) .. "'ciS .,.o dcil 1- 36,800 64,400 and not in the line of promotion, and yet who receive a handsome com .After five years...... 2, 800 2, 300 1, 900 52, 900 pensation,· as will be seen by the bill; making one hundTed and seventy three medical officers in all. Professors of mathematics...... 11 ...... '~~:~~ There are thirteen pay directors, with the relative rank of captain in First five years (minimum) ...... 2,400 2,400 1,500 { ~:~ the Navy or colonel in the .Army, who can not go to sea on account of 16,500 having too much rank. 38,500 After fifteen years (maximum)...... 3,500 3,500 2,600 38,500 There are twelve pay inspectors, who can only go to sea as fleet pay· { 28,600 masters, as they have the relative rank of a commander in the NaYy or 32 000 in Naval constructors...... 10 ...... 3 ' 200 2 ' 200 f 22,000• a lieutenant-colonel the Army; and only four of the number are now performing sea-service. After twenty years...... 4, 200 3, 200 g: ~ There are fifty paymasters, with the relative rank of lieutenant-com-

J .1418 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD- HOUSE. JANUARY 20,

mander in the Navy or major in the Army, twenty-two of whom are deck needs repairing the executive officer says to the carpenter, ''I want :now perform.lng ea-service. this deck repaired;'' and the carpenter, putting his hands in his pockets, There are thirtypassedassistantpaymaste1-s, with the relativerankof says to the ca,rpenter' mate, "I want this deck repaired;" and the lieutenant in the Navy or captain in the Army. Ca.rpenter's mate calls up a workman from below and says, "I want There arenineteen assistant paymasters(anincreaseofone), with the that deck repaired." And so the deck is repaired, and the workman relative rank of ensign in the Navy or second-lieutenant in the Army; reports to the carpenter's mate, and the carpenter's mate reports to the making in all one hundred and twenty-fom pay officers in the Navy. carpenter that the deck is repaired, and the carpenter reports to the There are ten chief engineers, with the rank of captain who can not executi>e officer, and the executive officer reports to the captain, who is _go to ea. delighted beyond measure as he receives the message from the executive There are fifteen chief engineers, with the rank of commanders, who officer that the deck is repaired. And yet this long list of useless offi can only go to sea a fleet-engineers. cers is continued on the Naval Register and they are paid without any There are forty-fivechiefengineers, with the rank of lieutenant-com justification or excuse on earth. mander. Then there are thirty-seven sai,lmakers, and there is not one of them There are eighty passed assistant engineers with the rank of lieutenant that have performed one particle of duty or is ever allowed to do so in and fifteen with the rank of master. the way of making sails. The sails are made by civilian foremen who There are eleven assistant engineers with the rank of master and :fifty are employed to do the work, and the e men-the men who hold the one with the rank of ensign, making one hundred and sixty-one engineer positions of sailmakers-are simply official figure-heads who have as their ·officers, and there are sixty-two cadet-efiooineers in addition. duty the very arduous and life-abrading service of drawing their sal~ry. There are four chaplains with the rank of captain in the Navy, seven I think, sir, whether we build ships or not we ought to cut out this with the rank of commander, and six with the rank of lieutenant, and dead wood, this useless and unwarranted expenditure of money in the .six plain chaplains-six honest, straightforward chaplains without gold payment of officers who perform no duty, who have no duty to per lace, without shoulder-knots, and without rank, to point to a higher form, and who are wholly useless. We must do one o1 two things. We -world and lead the way. ust not only cut off the carpenters and the sailmakers and the boat There are eleven profe_, ors of mathematics, three of whom have the wains and the gunners, but we must cut off the pay directors and the relative rank of captain, four with the rank of lieutenant. pay inspectors and some of tho ~high-rank chief engineers who can not These professors are employed at various places. Some of them are go to sea at all. at the Naval Academy and some at the Naval Observatory, while orne But I should like to ee Congr s rise to the occasion and make the -of them are on "special duty." Just what that special duty is the nece ary appropriation to build a navy commensurate with our power Lord only knows. [Laughter. ] }rfr. Chairman, with all the educa and dignity as a nation. If we had such ships as we need, we would tion, cla ical, careful and costly, that we give all our naval officers at not be compelled to take off the list any necessary officers . .Annapolis, with their six years' course at that institution, it is a most This bill propo es various things, and among others to abolish the grade humiliating concession to have to make to the American people that of commodore. In looking over their assignments to duty as they ap they are not capable of going into that institution and teaching uffi pear in the Register, I find that we have twenty-three commodores and ,cient mathematics for om naval cadets. But professors of mathematics that there is not one of them performing one solitary particle of sea-duty. .are employed from civillife and thereby the personnel of the service is They have unfortunately too much rank to be placed in command of our increased, the Treasury Department is depleted, and the country is naval stations; they have too much rank to fill any position except that -taxed for their support. Notsatisfied withcivilians' compensation, not of commandant of a navy-yard. Not one of that number of officers, with atisfied wi h the pay that is usually given in colleges and unive1-sities the relative rank of brigadier-general of the Army, is doing one solitary <()f learning to such professors, they come forward and suggest that Con day or hour of sea-service. It is not possible for them to do any; they gress give them the rank of captain with the pay and emolum~nts of have too much rank. I say, therefore, this cutting out of the mnk of that rank, and they appear before the mathematical cla es and the commodore is a move in the right direction, and I commend the com world with a lieutenant's, captain's, or commander's uniform, pay, mittee for its courage in going forward and lopping them off-not put allowance, and relative rank. ting them literally out of the ervice at this time, but stopping promo There are sixteen naval constructors and assistants of >arious relati>e tions to a grade which is purely ornamental, and which is not needed ranks, from captain to masters. There are ten civil engineers, and to at all in our service. this distinguished class of officers I desire specially to c.,'tll the atten But this bill propo es to retire other officers at certain ag mentioned tion of this committee. They are called civil engineers, and one of therein. them has the relative mnk and pay of a captain in the Navy. I am The propo ed legislation vrill at once burden the retired-list with .credibly informed by an officer high in rank in the United StatesNavy thirty-fom additional names, for no other reason than to satisfY the am that six years ago this highest, grandest, and :first of the civil engineers hitious longings of some young officers who consider that their advance <()n this list was an ox-driver in Norfolk navy-yard, and was engaged in ment does not proceed with sufficient rapidity. The officers to be re the highly intellectual pursuit of hauling flitch about the navy-yard of tired are mostly from the volunteer service, all of whom did excellent that place. I am informed that his duty to-day, notwithstanding his ervice during and since the war, and most of whom are not only fit for shoulder knots, notwithstanding his relative rank of captain in the but are actually engaged in active service on board ship. If they are Navy or colonel in the Army, is to take care of oxen and see tha.. t the not too old for the duty required, then why retire them at the early navy-yard is cleaned up. Here are ten civil engineers, gas-fitters, ox age of 45 and 47? If they are unfit from age to properly perform their drivers, cleaners up of the navy-yards, entered on the nited States duty, the Secretary of the Navy has a remedy fully sufficient under ex Naval Register, loading it down and making it top-heavy. isting law; he may order the officer before a retiring board of snrgeons Of these ten officers, or so-called officers, there is but one of them and senior officers, who e report that he is unable to perform his duties who is performing any of the legitimate duties of a civil engineer. authorizes his jmmediate retirement. This shows that the evils com Their names are as follows: With the 1·elative mnk of captain in the plained of are imaginary, an9- that the real reason may be looked fo·r in Navy, Peter C. Asserson; with the relative rank of commander in the ambition for promotion. Navy, :M:. T. Endicott and A. J. Menocal; with the relative rank of Can it be said that economy is achieved by retiTing from active lieutenant-commander, W. S. G. White, Henry S. Craven, F. C. Prin ervice thus to an enforced idleness officers who are now actively en dle; with therelativerank oflieutenantin the Navy, T. C. l\IcCollum, gaged on duty which, if not performed by them, must be done by others? Chris. 0. Wolcott, Frank 0. Maxson, and Robert E. Peary. There is Look for a. moment at some of the cases of volunteer officers affected. but one of these so-called officers of the Navy who has any legitimate Lieutenant-Commander F. 1\I. Green, aged 47, would be retired at once. duty to perform, and that is Wolcott, who is stationed at Mare Island This officer has been in the service nearly twenty-two year , with but navy-yard, in California, and is engaged in superintending the build even months leave of absence or waiting orders in all that time. He ing of the dry-dock at that yard. has had command of six scientific surveying expedition , which have There are fifty-three boatswains to swell this official personnel of the receired the high commendation not only of our own but foreign Navy. There are fifty gunners, fifty-four carpenters, and thirty-seven governments, and from one of which he has ju t returned to find that .sailmakers. There are forty mates and three hundred and thirty-five as a reward for his good service he is to be summarily retired from ac naval cadets. tive service. Here we have, then, the official personnel of the Navy. That it is Lieutenant-Commander Thomas Nelson, aged 4 , after twenty-one top-heavy every one must admit. That the pruning-knife ought to be years of unblemished and most valuable service, is now serving act laid in earnest to that list everybody that has the good of the service tively on board ship in the Pacific. His distinguished services are known .or the good of his country at heart ought to admit. And instead of to every naval officer of any standing, and it would be the gro est in thi bill coming in here to make provision for the continuance of these justice and absurdity to throw away as usele the skilled services of useless office1-s, these men who perform no duties, who are cumberers so valuable an officer. <>f the Naval Register of this country, the Committee on Appropria Lieutenan~ .John F. tlerry, aged 43, n.fter nearly twenty-one years of tions ought to have brought in a bill to abolish these useless offic . active seiTice, with repeated acts of gallantry during the war, in which There are not five of the boatswains on the whole list of fifty who per he w desperately wounded at Fort Fi her, with constant service in form any duty at all. Only the gunners that are ou the training- hips all parts of the world since the clo e of the war, and now actively serv have any duty at all. The carpenters on board ship 113-.;-e a carpenter's ing on board ship. . mate and men under him who perform all the dut~. o that if the This list is only u pecimen of what mio·bt be justly urged in behalf - - ' -· ---

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD- HOUSEo 1419

Something has been said here a.bout bureaus and about the different I repeat, sir, the revenues for one single week of this nation in its bureaus of theNavy Department. I undertake to say, sir, that bureaus present condition will build all the ships the committee call for, and are of just as much importance to the proper organization of the Navy we ought to appropriate the money to do it, not by piecemeal. I said Department of this Government, or any other government, as the com on this floor on the first occasion when I had the honor to address this mittees of this House are to the House itself. They have just exactly House, during the last session, that that money so appropriated would the same relation to it. practically be wasted. I did not say too much. I think the facts will And right here, 1r. Cha.irma.n, I wish to say a few words in defense bear out that assertion. You might just as well have tnken it and of a gentleman who has been alluded to here to-day by name, Captain poureditintothedepths of the sea as to have appropriated in the man P . C. Asserson, civil engineer of the Norfolk navy-yard. He has been neryou did and to expect any good results to come from it. Why, the a-lluded to in this debate as an "ox-driver." I undertake to say that amount left o>er would not lay the keel ofany one of these ships. And no more capable and efficient officer holds a commission in the United yet this committee comes in here again with $1,500,000 of an appropri States Navy to-day than P. C. A erson, ~vil engineer of the Norfolk ation, which is not sufficient to build one ship. The result will be that navy-yard. When he wa first appointed in theNavy he was appointed the next Col)gress-this work to be done by contract and the contracts as a line officer, a volunteer officer, and he served his country faithfully awarded-will come in and revoke the contracts, and you will have a and well during all the war of the rebellion. After the wa-r was over repetition simply of the oldironclad business over again. Now, either he entered into business, but unforttmately for him one of the banking appropriate the money in bulk and build properly by contraot, if you establishments of the cicy of Norfolk failed, and he was compelled to choo e, or else, if you intend to vote the money piecemeal in this man take the position of superintendent of laborers in the Norfolk navy ner, then build your ships in the navy-yards of the country. yard. He might in the discharge of his duties have taken a goad and The best ships that this Government owns to-day were built in its. drivenanox-cart. · If he did, I say it was all the more to his creditasa own navy-yards; the ships that won all of our great victories were man. He is an educated gentleman, he is a civil engine~r under the built in our own navy-yards; and I for one desire to raise my voice in Navy Department, and a member of the American Society of Civil En earnest protest against this continuing of the piecemeal bu iness by gineer . What are the duties of a civil engineer? I would like to ask contra-ct. some of the gentlemen who alluded to him; what are the dutiesofthis I believe, Mr. Chairman, that we ought to adopt the ystem of de position of civil engineer? Do they know what it is? flective armor if the experiments prove it to be as valuable as I believe Mr. THOMAS. Will the gentlemanpermitmetoaskhim to inform it will be. I think we ought to appropriate money for torpedoes of us of what special duty be is now performing as civil engineer. American manufacture. What is the use in going to England for all Mr. DEZENDORF. Yes, sir; I will. When the war was over, as such things? We can build anything in this country as well as they every man knows that knows the history of the country, the Norfolk can in England or anywhere else on the face of the globe. Give an navy-yard had been devastated; almo t every building in it was razed American the money to do it with, and he will do it, and do it well. to the ground. Most of those buildings were :~;ebuilt under the super I am in favor, therefore, of doing all the work with American material intendence of Captain P. C. Assen>.<:m. That was the legitimate duty by our American artisans in American navy-yards. of the civil engineer of that navy-yard. He is as much entitled to his The hom is so late, l\lr. Chairman, that I will not detain the com rank of civil engineer as General Wright is to the rank of brigadier mittee longer. I thank gentlemen for their considerate attention. general while performing the duty of civil engineer in the United States Mr. SHALLENBERGER. I desire, Mr. Chairman, simply at this Army. . late hour, on the suggestion of several members, to submit an amend Now, so far from seeing that bureau done away with, I intend to in ment which I propose to offer to the pending bill, with the request that troduce an amendment to this bill putting a civil engineer in charge of it be printed in the RECORD. the Bmeau of Yards and Docks. The duties of that bureau come legit There was no objection. imately under the direction of a civil engineer. Mr. SHALLENBERGER'S proposed amendment is as follow : What has that bureau to do? It hasto testthestrengthofmaterials, Line 516, page 22, add the following: to test the security of foundations, to lay out yards, &c. It is true, as "Hereafter for the purpo e of appointing candidate for admission to the Naval .Academy as naval cadets the Secretary of the Navy shall divide and arrange has been said, that it isapartofthedutyofthecivil engineer to see that the entire country, considered as Congressional districts, Territories, and the Dis the navy-yard is kept in proper order. I say now, and make the dec trict of Columbia, into forty territorial districts, composed of not less than eight laration, that no man employed by the Government of the United States and not more than nine of the above-named subdivi ions, and as nearly as pos sible of contiguous territory, t<> be numbered and designated as naval cadet dis has a better reco d than Captain P. C. Asserson, civil engineer of the tricts, from each of which forty districts one appointment for admission to the ~orfolk navy-yard. Naval .Academy shall be made every year, under the following conditions, Mr. THOMAS. How many of the buildings referred to by the gen namely: The Secretary of the Navy shall niNDe a competent board of examiners and arrange for a,competitive examination every year in each of the forty dis tleman in the Norfolk navy-yard were built by contract? tricts. Representatives, Delegates, and the president of the board of commis Mr. DEZENDORF. I do not think any of them were built by con sioners of the District of Columbia may each name one candidate every year to tract. They were all built by the day, and they were all built under appear for examination in their respective cadet districts, the candidate stand ing highe ton the list of those examined to receive the appointment; the candi the estimates, every last one of them. They were all built under the date next highest may be appointed alternate and proceed to .Annapolis at his superintendence of Captain P. C. Assserson. own expense, to be immediately examined for admission in the event of the I wish to say a word now in reference to the ironclads. I am in favor failure of his principal, provided that-this legislation shall not affect admission of completing all the ironclads, not one of them, but all of them. I be to the academy during the.year 1883. lieve the time has come when, if we need cruiSers, we will also need :Mr. ROBESON. I shall now move that this committee rise, and when something for harbor defense. 1 in the House I design to move that all general debate be limited toone Some gentlemen asked why not take this money and apply it to the hour on Uonday next. building of coast fortifications. Where would your fortifications have I move that the committee do now rise. been when the Merrimac came to Fortress Uonroe but for the "Yankee Mr. BLOUNT. I would like to ask the gentleman from New Jersey cheese-box,'' the Monitor? The day offortifications is past, practically, how be will dispo e of the hour? forever. What we need now is swift cruisers to go to sea, and the iron :M:r. ROBESON. I expect to give it to the gentleman from Georgia. clads, armored ves: els, for harbor and coast defense. l\fl'. BLOUNT. I have no complaint about_that. A great deal has been said about these ironclads now in an unfinished The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the motion that the commit condition. I have heard it asserted upon this floor in times past that tee do now rise. they would not float; that they were practically useless; that it was The motion was agreed to. money thrown away to app1'opriate for them any more. What is the The committee accordingly rose; and theSpeaker having resumed the result? Why they have been launched and they do float, and they chair, Mr. P .AGE reported that the Committee of the Whole House on have shown more free-board than the bill calls for. I undertake to say the state of the Union having had under consideration thenavaJ.appro-. · that ifcompleted, with the deflective armor of Passed Assistant Engineer priation bill had come to no resolution thereon. Clark, they will be the most formidable vessels that float upon any waters. l\1r. ROBESON. Mr. Speaker, I now move that when this House And right here I desire to say a word simply by way of repetition of again resolves itself into Committee of the Whole on the state of the what I before said last session, that we have the port of San Francisco Union all general debate upon the pending bill be limited tb one practically at the mercy of that little power called Chili. She can come hour. in there and levy tribute or burn down the town and demand her mill l\1r. 1\!ILLS. Say two hours. ions, and we have not a vessel that could stand in her way. Now, one Mr. ROBESON. No; one hour. of these ironclads is at the Uare Island navy-yard, and I think that l\1r. MILLS. I understand the gentleman from Georgia desire t() vessel ought to be completed at once. I am ready to vote the money be heard. to do it with at once. Why should not we do it? We have to relieve l\1r. BLOUNT. The gentleman from New Jm-seyhas agreed to give ourTreasury. We have too much money there. It js overflowingwith me the hour. treasure. We do not know what to do with it. You are here trying The motion to limit debate was agreed to. to devise some means and measures to cut down the revenues of the Mr. ROBESON moved to reconsider the vote by which general de country and yet you are not willing to appropriate the revenues of one bate was limited; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid single week to put this ·country in a po ition where we can command on the table. the respect of our enemies, or rather of foreign powers, for we have no The latter motion was agreed to. enemies just now. :Mr. ROBESON. I move that the House do now adjourn. 1883. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 1421

JULIA A. NUTT. President of the United States; which was read, referred to the Com Mr. HOUK. The Committee on War Claims, to whom was referred mittee on Commerce and orde1·ed to be printed: t be letter of the Secretary of War transmitting the report of the Quar To the Senate and House of Representatives: termaster-General on his examination of the claims of Julia A. Nutt, I transmit herewith for the consideration of Congress a communication from the Secretary of War, dated the 17lh instant, inclosing, with other papers on the widow and executrix of Haller Nutt, late of Natcbe.z, Mississippi, have subject, a petition of Thomas Mulvehill, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, praying instructed me to report the same back to the House, and to ask that for the repossession of certain shore lands at Pittsburgh erroneously conveyed the letter of the Secretary of War and accompanying papers be printed by him to the United States. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. and recommitted to the Committee on War Claims. ExECUTIVE !ANSION, JanttaT"!(19, 1883. There wa no objection, and it was so ordered. PAYMENT FOR LANDS IN INDIAN TERRITORY. JOHN G. DOREN. The PEAKER also laid before the House the following message fi:om Mr. LE FEVRE, by unanimous consent, submitted the following the President of the United States; which was read, referred to the Com resolution; which wa read, and referred to the Committee on Accounts: mittee on Indian Affairs, and ordered to be printed: Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the Clerk be, and be hereby is, To the Senate and HOttse of Representatives: directed to pay to John G. Doren, late index cle~·k of the House, 12.25, being the amount necessary to reimburse him for money actually paid out during the I transmit herewith a communication, dated the 18th instant, from the Secre Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth Congresses, for indispensable assistance in making tary of the Interior, with accompanying papers, in relation to the request of the the indexes for the use of the House. Cherokee Indians in the Indian Territory for payment for lands in that Terri tory west of the ninety-sixth degree west longitude, the cession of which to the HARBOR OF E ST DUBUQUE, ILLINOIS. United States for the settlement of friendly Indians thereon is provided for in the sixteenth article of the treaty of July 19,1866. Mr. HITT, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 7334) to CHESTER A. ARTHUR. continue the improvement of the harbor of East Dubuque, illinois; ExECUTIVE !ANSIOS, January19, 1883. which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on REMOVAL QF SNOW AND ICE IN THE DISTRICT. Commerce, and ordered to be printed. The PEAKER also laid before the House the following message from JOSEPH P. MATTHEW. tbePresidentofthe United States; which wasrefelTed to the Committee ir. RAY, by unanimous consent, from the Committee on Invalid on Appropriations, and ordered to be printed. Pensions, reported back with a fuvorable recommendation the bill (H. To the Senate and House of Representatives: R. 6383) granting a pension to J o eph P. Matthews; which was referred I transmit herewith for the consideration of Congress a communication from to the Committee of the Whole House on the Private Calendar, and the Secretary of War, dated the 17th instant, inclosing copies of letters respect ively from the Chief of Engineers and Colonel A_ F. R0ckwell, in charge of public ordered to be printed. buildings and grounds in this city, urging the importance of an immediate appro JULIUS 1\I. CARRINGTON. priation of $1.,000 for removing snow and ice from the walks and pavements in and around the various public reservations under his control during the re On motion of Mr. TOWN SEND of Ohio, by unanimous consent, leave mainder of the present fiscal year. was given to withdraw from the files of the House the papers of Lieu CHESTER A. ARTHUR. tenant Julius M. Carrington. EXECUTIVE IANSION, January 19, 1883.

:MESSAGE FROM THE ENATE. FORT CAMERON1 UTAH TERRITORY. A message from the Senate, by :Mr. SYMPSON, one of its clerks, in Tbe SPEAKER also laid before the House the following message from formed the House that the Senate had pas ed, with amendmentsin the Pre ident of the United States; which was referred to the Commit w bicb the concurrence of the House was requested, the bill (H. R. 7049) tee on 1filitary Affairs, and ordered to be printed: making appropriations for the-service of the Post-Office Department for To the Senate and House of Representatives: the fiscal year ending J nne 30, 1884, and for other purposes. I transmit herewith for the consideration of Congress a communication from the Secretary of War, dated the 18th instant, inclosip.g an extract copy of are E.~: ROLLED BILL SIGNED. port of the Adjutant-General respecting the military reservation of Fort Cam eron, Utah Territory, and recommending that authority be granted during the Ir. ALDRICH, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that pre ent session of Congress for the disposal ofsaid reservation, it being no longer the committee had examined and found truly enrolled a bill of the fol needed for military purposes. lowing title; ·when the Speaker signed the same: CHESTER A. ARTIIUR. A bill (S. 422) for the relief of George W. Maher. EXECUTIVE MAN ION, January 19,1883. INDIAN LANDS FOR NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD. CATHARINE BULLARD. The SPEAKER also laid before the House the following message from Mr. PEELLE, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 7335) the President of the United States; which was referred to the Commit granting a pension to Catharine Bullard; which was read a first and tee on Indian Affairs, ·and ordered to be print.ed.: second time, refened to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to be printed. To the Senate and HOttse of Representatives : I tra.n mit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, with SECTION 2603 OF REVISED STATUTES. a draft of a bill and accompanying papers to accept and ratify an agreement Mr. RICE, of Ohio, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. with the confederated tribes of Flathead, Kootenay, and Upper Pend d'Oreilles Indians~ for the sale of a portion of their reservation in the Territory of :!\Iontan a 7336) to amend section 2603 of the Revised Statutes of the United States; requirea for the Northern Pacific Railroad, and to make the necessary a}'propri which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on ation for carrying the same into effect. Commerce, and ordered to be printed. The subject is presented for the con ideration of the Congress. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. PO T-OFFICE APPROPRIATIO~ BILL. EXECUTIVE 1\!ANSIOS, JanttaMJ 19, 1883. Ur. HISCOCK. I ask that the bill (H. R. 7049) making appropria The motion ofl\1r. RoBESON was then agreed to; and accordingly (at tions for the service of the Post-Office Department for the fiscal year 5 o'clock p. m.) the House adjourned. ending J nne 30, 1884, and for other purposes, with amendments by the enate,·be takenfrom the Speaker's table; and I move that the billand PETITIONS, ETC. amendments be referred to the Committee on Appropriations and printed. The following petitions and papers were laid on the Clerk's desk, The motion was agreed to. under the rule, and referred as follows: By the SPEAKER: The resolutions adopted by the Ohio State Board THE LATE HON. J. T. UPDEGRAFF. ·or Agriculture, protesting against any reduction of the duty on wool l\1r. J.D. TAYLOR. I a:sk unanimous consent that Tuesday, Feb to the Committee on Ways and Means. ruary 6, at 2 o'clock, be assigned as the time for appropriate remarks on Also, the resolutions adopted by the Illinois Bar Association, urging the memory of the late ·Hon. Jonathan T. Updegraff. the passage of bill to establish an intermediate court of appeals-to the There was no objection, and it was so ordered. Committee on the Judiciary. LOUISIANA JUDICIAL DISTRICTS. By 1\Ir. G. R. DAVIS: The resolutions adopted by the Chicago Board Mr. ELLIS. I ask that the bill (S. 1963) to atta{!b the parishes of of Trade, recommending as a proper and wise.business measure the im Saint Mary and Iberia, in the State of Louisiana, to the western judi mediate passage of tb.e Sherman bill for the extension of the bonded cial districtofLouisiana., betaken from theSpeaker's tableandreferred period on spirits-to the Committee on Ways and Means. to the Committee on the Judiciary. Also, papers relating to the pension claim of A. H. Germer-to the There was no objection; and the bill was 'taken from the Speaker's Committee on Im•alid Pensions. table, read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on By l\1r. ELLIS: Memorial of commercial organizations and mer t.he Judiciary. chants of New Orleans, praying for the establishment of a light-ship at SHERMAN C. PERRY. Cape Hatteras-to the Committee on Commerce. By 1\Ir. GEORGE: The petition of the Portland (Oregon) Board of Mr. BEACH, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 7337) Trade, for an appropriation for the improvement of the mouth of the for the relief of Sherman C. Perry; which was read a first and second Columbia River-to the same committee. time, referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to be By J1,1r. KASSON: The petition of George H. Maish and others, of printed. · Des Moines, Iowa, for the passage of the Senate substitute for bill H. THOMAS MULVE.HILL. R. 5656--to the Committee on Ways and Means. The SPEAKER laid before the House the following message from the By Mr. R. M. McLANE: ThepetitionofWi~liamH. Perotandothers, 1422 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. JANUARY 22, of Baltimore, Maryland, for damages on account of unlawful seizure and Ur. LAPHAM. I present a memorial adopted by the convention of detent-Jon of sundry cargoes of sugar by the Treasury Department-to cider and cider-vinEt,o-ar makers and fruit-growers of Western New York, the Committee on Appropriations. held at Rochester, protesting against the passage of what is termed the By Mr. MORRISON: The petition of J. B. Brewster & Co. and 18 ''storekeepers' bill,'' and in favor of the unconditional repeal of the law others, manufacturers, forthe repeal of theduty on spring-steel-to the authorizing the manufacture of vinegar in distilleries; which I move Committee on Ways and Means. lie on the table. By Jltlr. MORSE: Papers relating to the ciaim of Lieutenant W. F. The motion was agreed to. Rice-to the Committee on Claims. ~Ir. PLATT presented the petition of F. R. Scoville and others, to By Mr. O'NEILL: The petition of the Philadelphia Board of Under bacco dealers of Torrington, Connecticut, praying the allowance of a re writers, and of vessel-owners, merchants, masters, and pilots of vessels of bate equal to any reduction that may be made in the tax on tobacco and Philadelphia, relative to gas-lighted buoys-severally to the Commit its manufactures; which was ordered to lie on the table. tee on Appropriations. Mr. CAMERO~, of Pennsylvania.. Mr. President, I present the pe By Jltlr. PAUL: The petition of members of the faculty of the Uni tition of M. H. Eckerd and other workingmen, employes of Wood ward versity of Virginia, for an appropriation for educational purposes-to & King, of Steelton, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; the petition of theCommittee on Education and Labor. David Miles and other workingmen, employes of the Thorndale Iron By Jltlr. PETTIBONE: The petition of::I'tlrs. Jennette McLelland, for Works, of Thorndale, Chester County, Pennsylvaniq,; the petition of a pension-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. Charles B. Watson andotherworkingmen, employesofFerguson, White By Jltlr. REAGAN: The petition o~ L. T. Fuller and others, of Robert & Co., of Robesonia Furnaces, Berks County, Pennsylvania; the petition son County, Texas, protesting against an increase of duty on tin-plates, of H. A. Brady and other workingmen, employes of N ewgold, Scheide &c.-to the Committee on Ways and Means. & Co. (rolling-mill), of Bristol, Pennsylvania; the petition of E. E. By U.r. R. W. TOWNSHEND: Paper relating to the pension claim of White and other workingmen, employes of Hussey, Barnes & Co., of David Sneed-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the petition of Lewis R. Hampton and other By Mr. VANCE: The petition of J. W. Nash and 50 others, for the workingmen, employes of the Parkesburgh Iron Company, of Parkes establishment of a mail-route from Sandy Mush to Pigeon River, North burgh, Chester County, Pennsylvania; the petition of David Griffy and Carolina-to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads. other workingmen, employesofValentine&Co., iron-workers, ofBelle By Mr. WARD: The petition of iron-workers of Parksburgh, Chester fonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania; the petition ofWilliam 1\L Weaver County, Pennsylvania, protesting agnin.st reduction of tariff duties-to and other workingmen, employes of the Macungie Iron Company, of the Committee on Ways and Means. Macungie, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; the petition of E. Oscar By Mr. C. G. WILLIAMS: The petition of Jacob Walrnth and 83 Hampton and other workingmen, employes of George V. Cresson, haft others, citizens of Rock County, Wisconsin, for the abolition of the t..'lw""r ing-maker, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the petition of F. Kilhe:ffer on tobacco, cigars, &c.-to the same committee. and other workingmen, employes of the Harrisburgh Nail Works, of Fairview, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; the petition of Henry C. The following petitions for a reduction of the duty on sugar were Fish and other workingmen, employes of Lindsay & IcCutchen, Star presented and referred to the Com1nittee on Ways u,nd Means: Iron Works, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; thepetitionofDaniel Wiland By lli. KASSON: Of J. H. Eno and 74 others, of Warren County, and other workingmen, employes .of McCoy & Linn, Milesburgh Iron and of J. H. Clark and 46 others, of Wayne County, Iowa. Works, of Milesburgh, Centre County, Pennsylvn.ni'l; the petition of By lli. PETTIGREW: Of Benjamin Sammens and 33 others, of Daniel K. Rettew and other workingmen, employe of the Su queha,nna, Grand Forks; of Keenan & Moore and 47 others, of Casselton; a.nd of Iron Company, Columbia, Pennsylvania; the petition of W. C. Fownes Frank Anders and 20 others, of Fort R..'IDSOm. and other workingmen, employes of William Clark & Co., Solar Iron By Mr. C. G. WILLIAMS: Of J. H. Sabin and 48 others, of,Vilmot, Works, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the petition of Mahlen !iller Wisconsin. and other workingmen, employes of iron-workers at Blanden, Berk's County, Pennsylvania.; the petition of Samuel McClure and other work ingmen, employes of the Stewart Iron Company, of huron, Mercer County, Pennsylvania; the petition of William McGurk and other work SENATE. ingmen, employes of H. Lloyd, Son & Co., Kensington Iron ·works, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and thepetitionofL. Cr~ternndotherwork MONDAY, January 22, 1883. ingmen, employes ofWilliam Mcilvain & Sons (rolling-mill), of Read ing, Pennsylva.nia.. The petitioners r pectfully set forth the following The Senate met at 11 o'clock a.m. Prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. faets: J. J. BULLOCK, D. D. In common with other workingmen they have been prepared to y last was read and approved. schedules of duties on foreign products r ecommended bytheTariffCommission, although not approving of all of the provisions of the . chedule -their princi CHEROKEE INDIAN LANDS. pal r eason for accepting the chedules arising from a trong desire to ee the tariff question settled upon a ba is that would offer some hope of permanence, The PRESIDENT pro tempore laid before the Senate the following and that would also offer orne hope of stability to theindustries of the country. message from the President of the United States; which was referred They have, however, viewed with n.larm the effects upon general bu iness oi to the Committee on Indian Affairs, a.nd ordered to be printed: the mere proposition of the commi ion to reduce duties, and of the widespread apprehension that Congress may go even further in the work of r eduction than To the Senate and House of Representatives: the commission has recommended, and they point to the recent stoppage of mill I transmit herewith a communication dated the 18th instant, from the Secre and factories and workshop , to the enforced idlene s of many workingmen, ary of the Interior, with a~companying papers. in relation to the request of the to the shrinkage in values and the decline in prices, to the la rgely increased num Cherokee Indians, in the Indian Territory, for payment for lan4s in that Terri ber of financial failure , to the tendency toward lower wage for labor, t<> the . tory west of the ninety-sixth degree west longitude, the cession of which to the h e itation of capital to engage in new enterprises, and to the withholding oi United States for the settlement of friendly Indians thereon is provided for in orders for supplies by railroad companies and other great corporations, as con the sixteenth article of the treaty of July 19, 1866. clusive proofs of the depres ed condition of many of ourleading indu tries and CHESTER A. ARTHUR. of the great shock which our whole industrial y tem has experienced. EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 20,1883. They believe that thi serious and threatening condition of our indu t rial in ter ts can only be changed and confidence and prosperity be restored to the PETITIONS AND ::llEMORIAL . country by the firm refusal of Congress at its present e sion to do anything that will tePd to increase the importation of foreign good or that will make Jltlr. PENDLETON presented the memorial of W. G. Hyndman & competition between the manufacturers of thi country nnd of other countries. Co., Scott & Co., Swift's Iron and Steel Works, Licking Rolling ?\fill for the supply of our markets so evere that the wages of American working Company, Globe Rolling Mill Company, James F. Hazen &Co., Lowry men must be still further and permanently reduced. They call special attention to the large importations of iron and steel which Hardware Company, and eight other firms of Cincinnati, Ohio, protest have taken place during the pa t year, and ask that they may receive the careful ing ~aainst a discriminating duty in favor of tin-plate, and in favor of a con ideration of enators and R epresentative in connection 'vith the propo ed duty of 2} cents per pound on tin-plates and that in no ca.se the duty changes in the duti on these products. The large importations referred to oc curred in a year of low prices in our own country, and when our capacity for be less than 2. 2 cents, as 'recommended by the Tariff Commission; which the production of iron and teel of every description was fully equal to the de was ordered to lie on the table. mand, and also when our iron and steel markets were wholly free from all a bnor Mr. HALE presented a memorial of citizens of Maine, remonstrating mal excitement, and they show that the present duties on iron and steel are not only not prohibitory, but that they are in some instances not sufficiently protect against any reduction of the present duty on anchovies and sardines, ive of the capital and labor engaged in their domestic production. In orne packed in oil or otherwise, in tin boxes, as embraced in Schedule G of ca e they are not so high a itwa themanife tintentionofCongre to impose,. the report of the Tariff Commission; which was ordered to lie on the and in these cases the TariffCommi ion, in recommending an increase of dutie ,. has aimed simply to correct erroneous deci ions by the Treasury Department table. and the courts. Duties, therefore, should not be seriously decreased on any arti Mr. FRYE. I present a petition of the governor of Maine, the mem cles of iron or tee!, and they should be increaP.ed on tin-plate , steel-wire rods, bers of the council, and· nearly all the members of the Legislature of steel-blooms, -pig-iron, cotton-ties, and all "non-enumerated" articles. To. de crease the dutte on many iron and steel product which could be named could Maine, in favor of the bill now before the Senate Committee on Pen only result in an increase of importations, and a consequent increase of revenue,. sions increasing the pensions of sol