Mr. RAYMOND. lmoveto amend by adding $5,000 to the appropriation. I do it for the purpose of sayin what I can say, in the 5 minutes allowe under the order of the House, in favor of this appropriation. I hope the impression will not prevail in this committee that the ComAppropriat was one whit less anxious to practice economy and save money to the Government than any member who has s oken upon that subject upon this floor. It has been the effort of that committee, in every instance, to save money to the Government, and the reason why they reported this item in the bill was because, to the best of their judgment, after due examination, and after inquiry from all who could be presumed to know about this particular point, they came to the deliberate conclusion that in the long run, money would be saved to the Government, and a very large amount, too, bymaking this appropriation. t must beborne in mind, when the question of economy on the part of the committee is considered, that 2 items in the estimates of the Navy Dept have been stricken out by the committee. One was an item of $125,000 called for by the Dept for officers quarters; the other an item of $25,000 required for the buildin of a quaywall. This purchase of Seaveys Is and would answer both purposes, by making it unnecessary to make these other appropriations. The committee acted on this principle, thatwheremoneywasto be expended, it should so far as possible be expended for purposes that would go permanent and not tem porar. Now, to buildithese Officers quarters wonl be to furnish but cramped and confined accommodations, and the building of a qua wall would not give all the facilities neede; whereas the purchase of the island will answer both purposes, and be a permanent possession to the Government, and worth more than the sum proposed to be given for it and then in addition to that, which was the controlling reason, came in all the reasons which the Gentfrom Illinois [Mr. Wasn BURNE] has done us the favor to read from the document from which he has quoted. Those are simply additional reasons, besides that which influenced the committee. It was the opinion of the committee that the most economicalhhing for the Government would be to purchase this island, ahd strike out the other appropriations asked for, and which I have mentioned. Of ceurse, the committee has no desire except to subserve the general interest of the Government and the country. They are all as anxious to promote economy as the Gentfrom Illinois [Mr. Wasnnunxs] or my colleague from NewYork [Mr. CONKIJNG] can he. think ifthose gentlemen had devoted as much time to the in vestigation of the points involved in this subject as the committee has done, they would have less doubt about the propriety of this appropriation than the i now seem to have.