St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-28
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BII,L
WAS UP FOR IT'S DISCUS.
SION.
THE ARMoR PLATE FRAUDS.
TALK DRIFTED ABOUT UNTIL. THH
WHOLE SUBJECT Had BEEN
COVERED.
NO HIGH OFFICIALS INVOLVED.
1T Was Explained That the Result OF
the Recent Investigation Would
Show That.


preparation bill was before the senate
throughout the day. An amendment offered
by Mr.. Chandler. making 1t unlawful for re-
tired naval officers to enter the service of
contractors furnishing armor to the govern
ment, occasioned an animated debate, which
gradually broadened into discussion of the
entire subject of armor plate. Mr.. Tillman
was among the most active In support of the
amendment, speaking Of the efforts to cheat
and rob the government, and the tendency
OF millionaire contractors ''to thrust their
hands into the pockets Of Uncle SAM" Mr..
Chandler and Mr.. Hale supported the amend-
ment, and Mr.. Gray and Mr. German op-
posed it. The amendment was not disposed
OF when the senate adjourned.
After Mr.. Chandler had presented q rs.
port on the alleged election frauds In Ala
bama, the naval appropriation bill was taken
up. Mr.. Chandler offered an amendment
making 1t unlawful after June 30, 1897. for
naval officers to take service with concerns
furnishing armor or other equipment for the
government. He said the practice of allow
ing retired naval officers on three-fourths
pay to enter the service of contractors deal.
ing with the government was very objection.
able Mr.. Gray eontended that 1t was un-
just to restrict the services of naval officer
on the retired list. There was no reason
why retired officer should be reduced to
beggary by being denied the right to enter
upon private work. Some of the officers
were retired for slight causes.
MT. Allen asked for information as to ir-
regularities. 1t was explained by Mr.. Chandr
Ter that the result of the recent armor in.
vest1gation had not been made public. Mr..
Hale said, however, that no corruption had
been shown against naval officers. Mr..
Chandler said that when the naval commit.
tee asked for naval officers conyersant with
affairs at the Carnegie works and the Beth
lehem works, two officers had appeared who
were supposed to represent the government.
put II turned out that the officers were on
the retired list and were in the service of
the Carnegie works and Bethlehem works.
Mr.. Bacon Oem., Ga.) said the two ofl-
GERS who appeared before the naval commit
tee declined to give information as to tha
cost OF armor plate, as it would be antago-
nisuc to their service to the Carnegie and
Bethlehem works. He insisted that It was
an evil to so circumstance naval officer
that his service could not be given to the
government.
mot while he is receiving pay from the
government" interjected Mr. Tillman Dem.
5. C.), who was an interested listener to tha
debate
I agree with you in that said Mr.. Gray.
Tnen we are going to bring you around
right" said Mr. Tillman lightly. ''I am un-
willing to see these millionaires grow richer
by thrusting their hands into the pockets
of Uncle Sam"
Mr. Hale nointed ont tbo+ +ho oesoo-a =
took part in making contracts for armor
were able to look ahead to the time they
would be on the retired list and might en-
ter into the service of the contractors. In
answer to a question, Mr.. Hale said the ex-
perts before the naval committee had shows
that the cost of production for armor was
$3.50 per ton.
Mr.. German called attention to the grave
suggestions of irregularities some time ago.
resulting In an investigation by the naval
committee involving the cost of armor The
committee report ought to be at hand to
permit intelligent consideration of these pro-
posed appropriations for armor He asked
If the committee had not succeeded In deyel-
op1ng anything more than minor improperly
as to retired officers serving contractors.
Mr.. chandler responded that 1t was by no
means all that the committee had examined
into. He would say however, that no impu-
tation against any high official of the gov
efnment was involved. There had been some
disclosures a. to the interest Of naval 81
ficers in patents used by the government, and
the propriety of this was not under considera-
ton. The largest question to which the
committee had given its attention was the
price of armor plates.
Mr.. German went on to show the manner
in which the armor contracts had been placed
in the United States secretly Secretary
Tracey had sought the American manufac-
turers and had induced them to put in plants
capable of turning out armor, and as a result
these American works were developed, cap
able of furnishing armor equal to any made.
AS means of entering foreign markets ar
NOR had been offered to Russia at less than
it cost until large foreign contracts were
secured.
Mr.. Tillman interjected the remark that
when these armor concerns claimed they
were furnishing armor to Russia at loss
he did not believe them. 1t had been de-
veloped In the committee investigation that
the original design was to pay sufficient for
armor plate to pay for putting In the armor
plants. This had beeen DONE and In this
way the government had practically estab-
lished the Bethlehem works, although the
contractors owned it and were interested in
getting the highest possible rates for armor.
After further debate the bill was laid aside
and the senate adjourned.
The Rermudn Sa1Iad