The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-05-06
Mr. GRAY: Go on and let us see.

/
to pay the retired officers in the employ
of our enemy.
Mr.. Gray: We pay them whether
thew are so employed or not.
MIR. Tillman: Very we'll. We want
them to get out of that, as matter of
decency, as a matter of taste. We
want them to get into an employ in
which the government has no inter
est. in which their talents cannot be
used to cheat the government.
Mr.. Gray: How can their talents
be used to cheat the government
Mr.. Tillman: These officers are
right here using their technical skill
in drawing up contracts for the COM
pany, and they get every advantage
they can in drawing specifications for
the contractors.
Mr.. Gray: Do they make contracts
for armor plates?
Mr.. Tillman: They are here as rep
resentatives of the contractors to draw
contracts between the government and
the factory.
Mr.. Gray: have asked once or
twice whether any body knows that
fact. 1 have not received any reply.
Mr.. Chandler: The Secretary of the
Navy now meditates making con-
tract with these two concerns, who are
in combination and not competing
with each other, for $4,000, 900 worth
of armor for the Kentucky and the
Kearsarge, and of course these two re-
tired naval officers are giving their
employers their very best service in
every direction to get the highest price
for that armor.
Mr.. Gray: The question: asked was
whether the officers were acting for
their concerns in making contracts;
whether they were the hand or mind
that made the contract2 ,
Mr.. Tillman: We dolnot pretend
know who is coming forward as the
putative bidder. We suppose the
Bethlehem works and the Carnegie
Iron Works, the only two concerns In
this country that can manufacture
armor plate, will be the only bidders.
We present the spectacle, I may say,
as we are entering OF the question of
armor plate, although it is not the
right time, because we have not got
to that quettion, of putting our hands
in the hand cuffs of these two compa.
nies. They have formed a trust, and
to the best of my knowledge and be-
lief, am ready to take oath to it, they
propose to rob this government be-
cause you have on the statute books a
law requiring us to use only American
armor. Therefore we are in the posi-
ton of giving to a monopoly the right
to charge the United States 5000 a ton
for armor which they have sold to the
Russian government for $500.
Mr.. Gray: Why do you not repeal
the law?
Mr.. Tillman: Very we'll I am ready
to 20 with you to repeal it. 1 am will
ing to give preference to the Ameri-
can industry; I want to have armor
plate for American vessels made in
the United States, but am unwilling
to see monopolies grow rich by put.
ting their hands into the pockets OF
the United States and taking out as
much as they want.
Mr.. Gray: Let us get back to these
officers.
Mr.. Tillman: TheseSoffcers are in
an unfortunate position. Perhaps
they do not realize it, and am per-
haps unfortunate that I can not see
the matter as the Senator from Della
ware does. He thinks it is honorable
and in good taste for men who are in
the employ of the government to 60
into the employ of our enemies.
Mr.. Gray: 1 agree with the Sena'
tor about enemies.
Mr.. Tillman: If the armor-plate
manufacturers who have been trying
to get the last dollar from the govern
ment are not enemies, what are they2
Mr.. Gray: We ought not to have
anything to do with them.
Mr.. Tillman: HOWE
Mr.. Gray: By not making any con-
tracts with them. If they are enemies
in the sense in which the Senator from
South Carolina asserts they are then l
say that It's the duty of the Navy
Department, it is the duty of Congress
to cut short all connection between us
and them.
Mr.. Tillman: That is begging the
question. We must have armor made
somewhere. We either have to re.
peal the law by which we are forced
to buy American armor-and l have
heard that all the armor-plate manu-
facturers of the world are now form
ing trust to rob the governmental
the world
Mr.. Gray: Very likely.
Mr.. Tillman: The only thing we
can do would be to have an armor
establishment of our own, and take
these skilled people whom we have
educated and put them their, and put
the material there, and make our own
armor. -,
Mr.. Gray: These gentlemen will
be very glad if you will.
Mr.. Tillman: Let it be clearly and
distinctly understood that so far as
this discussion and these Individual
gentlemen are concerned, I have nc
personal feeling in the world.
Mr.. Gray: understand.
Mr.. Tillman: I have no feeling
about it.
Mr.. Gray: I understand.
| Mr.. Tillman: / never met then
prior to the time when they came be
fore the committee. I never heart
anything about it until they came
there. Then we discovered the posi-
ton which they occnpied toward tht
government and toward the people
who are furnishing the government