Mr. CHANLER. Mr. Chairman, I am sure time gentleman who has just taken his seat will 0t accuse the members on thisside of the House of any combination in reference to the passing of appropriations contained in this bill, as the distribution of patronage is entircl in the hands of his own party. But, sir, there are questions which touch the interests, not Only of that side of the House, but receive the approval of members on this side. Of these there is none more vital to the prosperity of the country than the strength and glory of your Navy. One of the great sources of wealth is the merchant marine which is protected by the Navy; and for the keeping up of that naval establishment the appropriations here set forth are absolutely necessary. The gentleman asks for arments on the necessity of this measure. I o not think the history of this war has had that effect on the gentlemans mind which it. ought to have had. Ide is eternally bringing in resolutions in favor of some general or other. But when appropriations are asked for the Nav, which did such splendid service, the gent eman Opposes them. He praises generals, and is ready to vote for any appropriation that may be asked for the militar establishment, but when appropriations are as edfor the Navy and for those who labor for the profit and honor of the country in our various navyyards, he raises his steutorian voice and attempts to roar them down. Why, sir, the navyyards and machine shops of this country have to compete successfully with those of our great commercial rival. The gentleman in his hot haste seems to have forgotten that important fact; and it would seem also to be necessary to enlighten his mind by the repetition of the important truth that we should always make preparation in time offieace for any possible occasion of war. ow, Mr. Speaker, one of the great requisites of the Navy and of the merchant marine in this countr, is to have machine shops for the purpose o producing the most capable machinery to compete upon the high seas with the steam marine of any other nation. We are behind the world toda on this question of building steam engines. hencver we build a great steam engine, it is at great cost to ourselves in the original outlay; and it is only in the sho s of the Government we can compete at. all with the Clyde steamers which are built abroad. It is known to everybody that GreatBritain by her subsidies to lines of steamers in every part of the world, and by the immense amount of capital which is invested in the machine shops of Scotland, lends every aid to her mercantile marine. But the gentleman in his exclusive preferences for military commanders seems entirely to forget the Navy, and specially vents his indignation against that important body of laborers who are employed in our several navy ynrds He would deprive them of these approriations, and of the means which are necessary or their support. There is a large number of a prenticcs in the navyyards, who are employed direct lfi at the public expense. They are brought up in these machine shops, and are educate so as to enable them to assist the country in securing that success which we all must desire in competing with the great nations of Europe, as wel as with the great capitalists who are engaged in shipbuilding. But we are told that it is necessary to strike these appropnations out so as to economize the expenditures of the Government. In view of the schemes which have been offered on the other side during this session, this seems to be a very strange argument to be advanced by them. Why should we cripple the Nav by refusing these appropriations when we have measures not only orthe appropriation of enor mous sums of money but fdr the distribution of the public domain for every purpose under heaven? Why, sir, we have had this morning a bill before us distributing filly million acres of the public land. Where, then, was the wrath of this Achilles? Why, sir, he was behind the ships of Greece, I suppose, in order to let the Troians win., kllcre the hammer