The herald., 1896-04-29
Senators Resume Consideration
of the National Navy
RETIRED NAVAL OFFICERS
Will No Longer Work For the Armor
Plate Makers
The House Passes the PickIer General Pension
Bill-tiammond's Case Causes Dis.
cussion-commlttee Work
Associated Press Special Wire.

WASHINGTON, April 2S.-The senate
resumed consideration of the naval ap-
propriation bill today, after some routine
business had been disposed of. The
pending question was on the amendment
offered by Mr.. Chandler, making it un-
lawful for retired naval officers to en-
ter the service Of contractors furnishing
material to the government. Before
proceeding to this amendment, Mr.. Ba-
oon democrat o Georgia) reported
new amendment from the committee on
naval affairs. 1t provides as condition
to the building of four battleships as
provided by the bill, that In case the Sec
retary of the navy makes separate con-
tracts for armor or armOr plate, he shall
not accept bids exceeding $3.50 per ton
for such armor, and in case the secre-
tary cannot make contract within such
limits he shall delay action and report
the facts to the next session of congress.
The Chandler amendment was agreed to,
<5 to H. As adopted, the prohibition
against naval officers serving naval con-
tractors goes into effect June 80, 1897.
This brought the debate to the most
important feature of the bill, appropri-
ations for four battleships to cost So
75O, 900 each, three thirtyknot torpedo
boats at $S0o000. and ten torpedo boats
at $500,000.
Mr., German moved an amendment to
fix the number Of battleships at two in
stead of four, and Mr.. Quay fixing the
number of battleships at six. The whole
country, he said. had been stirred up by
the message of the executive, and re-
sponsive to this the public and the press
had been in a state of excitement as to
our relations with other nations.
When congress assembled 1t was In
formed by the executive that the finan-
cial condition of the country was of the
flrst moment; that the condition of the
treasury demanded economy or else the
country would be confronted with either
an increase of taxation or else the sale
Of bonds. But when the war scare took
posi- ession of us more vessels were de-
manded. appropriations greater than
those of war times We're proposed, and
the secretary of the navy revised his
recommendation of two battleships by
proposing from four to six battleships.
The senator added that of the amounts
paid for pensions and ships. 1852, 900, 600
came from the sale of bonds. This pre-
sented the question whether it was a
time to make these great appropria-
tions. 1t was evident that there would
be no legislation in this country for the
relief OF the treasury.
Mr.. German had been speaking with
much earnestness, and it was evident
that debate of more than passing in
terest had been opened. The galleries
quickly filled and the rear and side
areas were crowded with representa-
tives who came over from the house.
During Mr.. Germans last statement
Mr.. Sherman rose for an interruption.
II am very glad the senator has con-
fessed the sln-the greatest in the
Democratic party" said Mr. Sherman.
1.-THE Republican house of representa-
tives has framed a bill increasing the
revenues Of the government $4,000, 600,
and that bill was sent to the senate.
Here it was defeated by the votes of the
other side of the chamber, so that the
only measure offered to this congress to
raise more revenue was defeated by
Democratic votes"
This precipitated a question Of who
controlled the senate, Mr. German de-
claring Republican control Of the COM
mittees settled the point.
I'VE warned you," he said, that you
had not the power to relieve the country
and asked you to join us in a non-parti-
san measure of relief. But our offer was
rejected. You knew there could be no
action, and in my judgment this pro-
posal to relieve the treasury was in
tended as failure"
II most emphatically deny that
again interposed Mr.. Sherman, as he
proceeded to show that the revenue bill
was not partisan in character, but a
relief measure, pure and simple
Mr.. German responded that theOhfo
senator knew no agreement could be
reached on measure such as had been
brought in.
Mr.. Hale interrupted and asked Mr..
German when there was a tender on his
part of Democratic cooperation in franz
ing a revenue bill. when was this
dicker proposed?" asked Mr.. Hale. II
never heard of it before"
Mr.. German replied that no dicker had
been proposed, but that he had suggest
n t1ay lao 10 b0vzrr Ill
take control of the committee that both
sides come together on general policy.
Il now recall" proceeded Mr.. Hale.
THAT the senator suggested the best
thought of the senate should come TO-
gether and reach an understanding as
to organization but I never supposed
the senator meant to come together on
the great question of tariff and finance -
Mr.. Sherman at this point called atten-
tion to the fact that the tariff bill had
been defeated in the finance committee
with a silver bill for which all the Demo-
Gratis had voted but Mr. German re-
fused to be diverted to the silver oues-
tion, and reasserted that the Republic
ans were in control of the finance com
mittee and responsible for legislation.
After further parleying on this point
Mr.. German, resuming his speech,
charged that the scheme was to provide
greater appropriations than the reve-
nues could meet, and thus to prepare the
way for higher tariff. He read state
ment of the secretary of the treasury
saying that while the situation might
not require more revenue, it was such
as to require the strictest economy.
Yet, in the face of that statement" "
he said. I'VE will have a bill appropriate
ing $51 100000 for the navy in time of
peace"
The expenditures next year would be
x620,000.000, the revenues but 1914, 900, ,000
But. in addition to this enormous dis
crepancy between the revenues and the
expenditures, the house had authorized
contracts by the war, navy and treasury
departments to the amount of $S4, 500, ,00O
The appropriations in the river and
narpor bill, with all it's defects, he re-
garded as much more important to the
puDnc than the appropriations for the
navy. He endorsed Secretary Car
!isie,s action in using the proceeds of
ponds sold to meet these deficiencies
ana declared that "it would have been
criminal not to have done So"
IN closing his speech the senator, will,
great sarcasm, referred to the secretary
OF the navy and his ambition to build ur
man ana equip "a splendid navy"
He described the demands OF the Sec
retary with contempt, and attributed