The times., 1897-07-14
A Successful Fight Against the
Proposed Armor-Plate Steal.
SENATOR HALE'S ADMISSION
TIE l. Forced to Acknowledge That
the ArmoT-plate Concerns Have
the Government by the Throat.
A striking Example OF the Paw
er OF the Trusts.

plate steal This fight was iuaugWdtca
10y Senator Butler, or North Carolina, anc
lie conducted II with great force aud
knowledge OF the subject. The result was
one of tue most decisive or the sessioh
against the exactions of combines All.
butter was assisted very ably bE MT
TiIIman. Mr.. Allen and Mr.. Chandler.
one of the most entertaining and edl
fying incidents OF the debate was thc
forced admission OF Mr.. Bale That the
armor plate concerns had the Government
by the throat: that either the Government
must abandon its design OF building the
proposed three batieships OF pay the
coainanias what they asked for their
armor plate
MIR. Haieis still obIivious OF the American
risoners. When the deficiency bin was
sssed Yesterday afternoon he suggested
Chat the Senate adjourn until tomorrow
MT Morgan objected so vigorously that
this proposition was abandoned. Mr.. MGR
gan has some very important matters
which he viii keep before the public
One Of these is the Pacific Railroad re-
organization matter and Of the others,
one. at least, OF them may be heard from
today.
lain and his substitute. Rev. Hugh John
ston. ID. D., the morning prayer was
offered up by Rev. Luther b. Wilson.
j. D., presiding elder Of this Methodist
Episcopal district.
hill was introduced for the extension Of
the Metropolitan Railroad Company's lines.
Mt. Hale called up the deficiency hin
Immediately after the reading OF tie
journal.
Senator White offered joint resolu-
uon which was passed, authorizing the
Secretary OF War TO advertise for bids
for the construction Of a breakwater at
san Pedro, Cal, that officer having at
present no authority to so advertise.
Mr.. Butler introduced his bill for the
Establishment Of postal savings banks. Re
ferred to Committee on PosUoffices and
Postroads
The armor plate matter then came up.
The committee lad advised S425 a ton
for The plates, the total cost OF the same
for he three new battleships TO be S3,4lO,-
725. MI Butler Of North Carolina gave
n3Eice several days ago that be would fight
thesr figures, and moved an amendHeut
TO reduce the price per ton 10 $500, and the
aggregate cost TO 50, ,4O7 300. Mr.. But
ler's amendment also contemplates the
construction of armor plate by the Govern
nlenu i5ScT, at its own or leased arnur fac
torres; and provides for 81 100000 for
& Government plant.
When the amendment was called for
10y Mr.. Hale, Mr.. Chandler referred 10 the
condition Of tie Senate" and suggested
that the question would call for a yea and
nay vote.
Mr. pettigrew made some remarks, in
whi1h he referred TO the Senate agreeing
10 the S425 ii ton as a cowardly surrender
10 The armor plate people. He dema nded a
call of the Senate TO determine whether
Or not there was quorum. The Vice p resi-
dent declared - TO be present, and the
business wen on.
Nh Butler then proceeded with his ar
Eumeut in favor Of the lower rates He
reminded the Senate that last session, by
a vote Of 36 to -, it agreed to $500 a
ton, and also 10 a provision that if that
Were notaccepted by the manufacturers, The
6cvrmment should make its own amor
plate. That prOviso was, however, sub
sequently voted out, and the placing in the
bin Of Szoo or $425 wasan easy matter.
Mr. Butler asked the Senate whether We
should submit to the eXtortIonate rates OF
these amor plate people or wait until
we could make terms that would not be
a surrender to them Mr. Butler quoted
Secretary Long as saying as witness
before the Naval Committee that if we
declined to accept the present contract
there would lie no forfeit TO be paid by
the Government: that the only loss would
be the delay in the building OF the three
new ships. Mr.. Butler wanted TO know
whether there was any great demand for
such haste.
Mr. Butler then read from the record d OF
Investigations made by Secretary Herbert,
in which il was shown that the labor and
methods for a ton of armor Gust only 81 Ga.
Ten per cent add> d for loss. re jected armor,
etc, and | o per cent for ne W process would
make only 81 90. Mr. Butler held that from
the records the Government had already
paid this company for its plant in its con
tinued high appropriations. All possible
cost would beonly S226.
Mr. Butler said that at S425 a ton the
company would make a profit of 81 ,s40,-
Ooo- II we make il $500 a ton the profit
VIII s.iH he S576,O 600 That meant q
profit OF 25 per cent, which was high
enough. He would ike 10 know if any
Senator would make a contract for himself
1t was bad enough to be held UP and
robbed under duress, hut it was known
that, by false reports, false testimony,
bribery and corruption, these companies
had palTned off defective armor on the
Government.
Mr. Putler bad read here a statement to
the effect that defective plate had been
furnished by the Carnegie Company.
Mt. Hale said that he did not know ol
any such amor plate on vessels.
Mr. Tinnlan reminded Mr. Hale that a
resolution passed the House without a
division as}ing for an inquiry as to Ger.
tain defective arnOred vesS els. The
names of the vessels were specified and il
was proposed to take off the armor and
subject It to tests Mr. Tfnman said that
al these facts were obtainablein the speech
which he made when the matter was IN
for consideration
MI Hale commented on some of Mfr
Butler's statements as extravagant. Il
would Iise' he said Ito enter a denial
OF the statement the Senator makes, that
one-half OF the amor, or any large proper
ton of TIE hrm0r or any armor, that has
been accepted on ships is defective.
utterly and absolutely declare that such a
statement is not bone out by the facts .
Mr.. Butler said that it would be o shame
70 give again n contract to a company 1.-THE
C3rnegie) which had once been found Il
have acted badly
Mr.. Chandler would like tc remind the
Senator that the late President had finet
the Carnegie Company
! Mr. Butler-Yes, the President who
5oIped with a lot of other men to loot the
Treasury