St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-01
OUR HOARD OF COLD
sHERMAN's REsoEUTION FOR THE
RESTORATION of THE
RESERVE.
SENATOR NELSON ON FlN.NCE
UNCLE KNUTE SAYS HIGHER DU-
TIES WILL END THE PRES.
ENT TROUBLES.
SUSPICIOUS ARMoR CONTRACTS.
Senator Chandlerss Resolution for
an Investigation of Them
SENATOR NELSON ON FlN:NcE
ARMoR CONTRACTS.
Senator ChandIerss Resolution for
an Investisatlpn of Them
Is Adopted.

| WASHINGTON,D Dee. 31-The senate
held a two hours, 81 ssion today. in the
| course of which a. soeech by Mr.. Nit
4chell on the reste- san~of the. McKin-
| ley duties on wooiswas listened to, and
! a resolution was passed for the inves-
| tigation by the committee on naval af-
fairs Of the prices paid by the govern
ment for ship ar1nor The resolution
| contained a broad intimation that Of
| ficers Of the government were interest
ed in armor plate processes, and Sena-
tor Chandler. the author Of the resolu-
ton. said the facts that had come to
his knowledge warranted him in assum-
| ing the responsibility for inaugurating
the inquiry The most important feat
ure of the session perhaps was resolu-
| tion offered by Mr.. Sherman for the
restoration of the gold reserve, which
thereafter should be held sacred for
the redemption OF the greenbacks and
treasury notes, the former to be reis-
sued only in exchange for gold coin
and bullion Mr. Sherman will address
the senate on his resolution on Friday.
Mr.. Elkins asked for the Immediate
consideration of a resolution aprop-
os Of the anticipated bond is
sue, declaring 1t to be the sense
of the senate that no bonds Of
the United States should be sold at pri-
vate sale or by private contract, but
should be disposed of by advertising to
the highest bidder. Mr.. Hill, Of New
York, objected. Mr.. Hill Rep.,
Minn.) made his first speech in the SEN
ate, advocating higher duties for the
present financial troubles.
When the senate met Mr.. Perkins
(Rep., ,Cal) asked unanimous consent for
the consideration of q resolution direct
ing the committee ON finance to report
an amendment to the house tariff bill
laying a = additional duty on raw sugar,
equal to the other increases of the bill.
Mr.. Berry Dem-, Ark.) objected.
1t was agreed tos adjourn over till
Friday, Mr.. Morrill, tRep.. vt.> explain
ing that the finance fcommittee desired
to consider the bond and tariff bills on
Thursday.
ARMOR CONTRACTS.
Mr.. Chambers resolution offered yes
terday, directing the committee on
naval officers to investigate the prices
paid by the government for armor plate,
and as to whether any official of the
government were Interested in patent
processes, was then called up. At the
suggestion of Mr. Gprman (Dem., Md
the words directing an inquiry into the
facts as to whether the prices paid by
the United States were "as low as paid
by foreign governments" were stricken
out.
Mr.. Mills Dem., Tex.) could not see
the reason for the amendment.
Mr.. German explained that it was
we'll known that an armor plate COM
pany had competed with England for
furnishing arnor plate for a Russian
vessel. The prices asked were lower
than received from the United States.
The contract, he sthought, had been
made at loss. There had been no con
cealment about IT AS to the remain
der of the resolution, Mr.. German said
it contained an illtimation that there
had not been careful business conduct
/ of the office of the navy department,
and further that officers Of the govern
| ment were interested in arnnor plate
patents. If the information Of the SEN
ator from New Hampshire warranted
| these intimatiofls, he had no objec-
ton to the resolution, but he regret
! ted that ANYBODY should deem it nee
essary to make such an inquiry. He
spoke of the fact that both political
parties had united in the regeneration
of our navy. Great discretion had
been given to the secretaries of the ma
w. and the results had been marvel
Gus to the. world. The honesty. integ-
rity and inte1ligenee of the heads of
the navy department had not been
questioned. He again expressed regret
| that just at this time in the peculiar
atmosphere whieh enveloped us, it
should be thought necessary to make
this inquiry
Mr.. Hale also snpke of the achieve
ments of the navy department and
expressed the zhopethat nothing would
be found anniss.
/ Mr.. Chandler said he shared the gen.