Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-28
dlsfranehIsIng the coIored voters by :

on Appropriations would result In net
reduction OF s376,75S: leaving the amount
of the bill $3l.279.fS2. The unimportant
amendments of the COMMITTEES were ali
agreed to; while those affecting the In
crease of the navy were reserved Tor
the present.
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
Mr. Quay moved to increase the appro-
priation for reserve guns" for auxiliary
cruisers from $4,000 to 10000 The
amendment gave rise TO debate. In
which Mr.. German commented upon the
suspension of gun-making at the WASH
ington navy-yard. and said that the
prior activity there had been stimulated
by the war feeling got up at that time;
while the suspension OF the work was
due to the fact that the manufacturers
OF steel tubes and steel jackets had failed
TO furnish them according to contract.
lie did no. share, he said. in the feel
ing that there should be any great haste
In preparing for war. II the Treasury
was in proper condition he would favor
the appropriation. But he admitted that
il was unwise at this time 10 appropri-
ate a large amount on account of guns. and
follow 1t up with s2),000,C0o for war-vessels.
Mr.. Quay's amendment was adopted.
OFFICERS IN PRIVATE EMPLOY.
Mr. Chandler offered an amendment pro-
hiblting retired officers of the navy or
marine corps from taking employment
with any person or company furnishing
naval supplies or war material to the gov
efnment-the prohibition not to take ef-
feet until July, 1897. The objections ex-
listing to that custom. he said, he would
not particularize, but there were cases
Of the kind which did not reflect credit
on the officers concerned.
Mr. Gray opposed the amendment. and
justified the practice OF retired naval Off
GERS taking service with private firms
which contract with the government.
Mr.. Hall sustained the amendment, for
the reason, among others, that the pTac-
tice sought to be broken up created scan
dal
In the further course Of the discussion
Mr.. Chandler stated that when the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs was inquiring
into the supplies furnished by the Carne-
gle Company and by the Bethlehem
Works. the two naval officers there were
called for and when they came before
the committee it turned out that they
were officers on the retired list, who were
in the employment of the contractors; Mr..
Chandler added that he could mike
statements which would tend 10 show
the SYSTEM was an ullWlSe one, out ne
refrained from doing so.
Mr.. Bacon DemOcraD, OF Georgia, a
member Of the Naval Affairs Committee,
supplemented what Mr.. Chandler had said
as to the two officers employed at the
Carnegie Works and the Bethlehem
Works. He said the government paid $500
a ton for the armor OF the battleships.
and that the committee desired to know
the actual cost Of its production. The
committee could not ascertain that fact
from these two officers.
Had you any right to expect it?' Mr..
Gray asked
NO" Mr.. Bacon replied, I'VE had no
such right. But the principle is that
these officers had no right TO be IN any
employment where they could stand be-
fore committee OF Congress and refuse
20 answer a question"
Mr.. Gray replied 10 the statements OF
Senators Chandler, Hale, and Bacon. and
made an argument In favor OF the right
of retired naval officers TO seek and 20
accept employment for the maintenance
OF their families-and TO seek It where
their experience and Icatiou would
make their services valuable. How, he
asked, was the United States Government
hurt by their doing so? How much worse
OF was the government for having a con-
tract with a company that employs re-
tired naval officer, either in working or
experimenting work?
ENORMOUS PROFIT.
Mr.. Bacon asserted that the contractors
for armor for battieships were making
a most enormous profit"
IF they are" Mr.. Gray replied. "they
are not doing so by reason Of their en-
ployment OF these retired naval officers
An army pensioner might as we'll be pro-
hiblted from working In one OF these COM
pany's foundries as retired naval officers
from taking employment with them"
Mr.. Tillman. a member OF the Naval AZ
fairs Committee. advocated the amend
ment which was offered. he said. for the
purpose OF stopping a scandal. The COM
mittee, In examining the question as TO
the cost of the armor had come 10 the
conclusion that the interests of the gov
ernment and the manufacturers were OPP
posed to each other. The government
wanted to get armor OF the best quality
at as low a price as possible. while the
manufacturers wanted TO get the last dol
lar possible.
Those two companies (the Carnegie and
the Bethlehem have formed trust, and
propose to rob the government, because
there Is law requiring American armor
to be used on these ships. Therefore. they
are In a position to charge us 500 a ton
for the same armor they supply 10 Russia
at $500 a ton.
Mr. Hale. a member or the Committee
on Naval Affairs, advocated the amend
ment. He would have the prohibition
made so that bureau officer who took
part in making such contracts would not
fall into the temptation of looking for
ward to the time when he would be on the
retired list and enter the service OF the
In answer to a question by Mr.. Lodge,
Mr.. Hale said that the two inspecting Off
GERS of the government at the Carnegie
and Bethlehem works informed the COM
mittee that the cost OF the armor to the
was about $3.50 ton.
Mr.. German reviewed the history of the
contract with the Carnegies. and said that
II was made on the Goth OF November, 1870.
by the then Secretary of the Navy (Mr.
Tracy on precisely the same terms as
the prior contract had been made by Mir.
whitney with the Bethlehem Company.
The terms of these contracts, he said.
had been considered as low, as reasonable.
and as much to the interest Of the gov
tIHtutHt as any cOntIhSiS cNci haoc, anu
Congress justified them. AS to the state
ment that armor was furnished to Russia
at $500 a ton, he stated that the Bethlehem
Company, finding thst It had not work
enough TO keep all it's machinery in opera
tion, had made a contract with Russia
at loss; and that the armor supplied 10
Russia had proved TO be so superior that
a further supply had been ordered at a
price about the same as that the United
States Government was paying. BY that
one single act. Mr.. German added, the
United States had been able to ship large
quantities of armor and other products
Of American furnaces abroad. until Il
for the first time In the his
tory OF the country, as II the United