The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-20
ARMOR PLATE BILL
Senator Smith Proposes
That the Government
Manufacture for
Itself.
OPPOSITION FROM CONTRACTORS
They Object Strongly TO Being
Deprived Of Their Rich Plums
"A Bitter Fight.
OPPOSITION FROM CONTRACTORS

A Washington despatch to the Newark
Sunday CALI says:-A bitter fight is be-
ing made by a well organized lobby
against the passage Of the bill intro
duced in the Senate by Senator Smith of
New Jersey, providing for the establish
ment of Government works for the man
ufacture of armor plate. The Senate
Naval Committee had the Smith measure
under consideration several times this
week, the sessions in each instance be-
ing held behind closed doors.
The lobby is using money literally in
its efforts to defeat the bill, and among
other things is charged with having
bought up a weekly paper here which
is being employed as a m~outhpiece.
This paper contained an attack upon
Senator Smith in its last issue. The
article was headed by a likeness, two
columns in width, of Chairman Henry c..
Prick. of the Carnegie Steel Company,
and accused the Newark statesman of
being inaccurate, inconsistent and "nu-
morous." On the other hand, in the at
tack appears the statement that Prick
is "a marvellous bundle of energy and
fortitude, a large-brained n sagacious
manager, gentleman Of sympathies and
admirable discrimination etc.
Referring to the attack, copies of the
paper containing it having been sent to
each Senator and Representative, a
friend of the New Jersey Senator re-
marked
That article was edited in the bust
ness office of the paper and entered upon
In speaking Of his bill, which has STIR
red up such interest, Senator Smith said
ne was q new m of the Committee
nm ~ " / a + irc 1a,+ -
taxing considerable interest in the armor
plate investigation now in progress.
Among the first things that struck
were the immense sums Of money the
two firms making armor plate were add
ing 70 their profits each year. The in
hrst contract for armor plates was to
help the establishment of armor plate
factories in this country. 1t was hoped
up all over the United States.
Secretary Whitney made the first CON
Tract Mr NTH With the Bethlehem people during
Under Mr.. Harrison the contract was di-
vided by Secretary of the Navy Tracy
with the Carnegie people Of Pittsburg.
Under and by what authority he made
the division l do not know. I have never
round out even yet. But it was divided
all the same.
have really been paid a subsidy. Not I'M
der such a term, but the contract figures
were hlg enough to encourage the in
dustry. AS a consequence, look what they
have accomplished. Both firms, the Beth
lehem and Carnegie, have made a big
proft each year-a profit large enough
TO pay a good dividend on the capital IN
vested and. in addition, large enough to
pay for the entire armor plate plants
themselves. They are now making armor
plate and selling it to Russia at one-half
the price this Government is paying for
its arTnor plate.
w have as yet seen nothing 10 lead
US to believe that the Government is
going to get its armor plate in the future
at any less cost. Neither of these firms
has notified US of this intention
1t was for these reasons, the New Jer-
sew Senator continued, that he, offered
the bill. He thinks the Government
should secure some advantage. If it has
already. paid for the plants of these two
companies, he says, why not spend money
in this direction and let the Government
erect its own armor plate plants, and in
a few years it will be saving vast sums
Of money. Senator Smith mentioned
place for the Government plant, but he
is willing to leave the site to the Board
Of Naval Officers the Secretary of the
Navy is empowered to appoint.
The Senator is not at all disturbed be-
cause he is under fire from the lobbyists
and their organ here.