The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-02
ATTACKS COLLEAGUES.
Nlfman Charges That ArmOr Plate
Makers Control Congress.
Almost q Personal Encounter
In Chamber.


w acuai6tOii, mdTCH cthaSt
met at II o'clock yesterday forenoon and
at once got to work In earnest on the
appropriation bills.
The District appropriation bill was
passed. increasing the amount carried,
az passed by the house, by 1,655,S66.
At Ills, the naval appropriation bill
was taken up. The bill as reported to
the senate appropriates $35, ,72S. 234. being
an increase of $3.563. 900 over the amount
I'm the bill as it passed the house. The
items constituting the increase include
the following: Naval hospital, Chelsea,
Mass, $4,000; training vessel for naval
academy. $685. increase of the navy,
construction and machinery, $500. 900; es-
tablishing a government armor factory.
$2,500.000. The appropriations commit
tee reports an amendment authorizing
contracts to be made for three torpedo
boats, not TO cost more than 100000 in
all.
Senator Tillman provoked a tur-
bulent scene in the senate last night,
when he charged that the armor plate
manufacturers had their paid agents in
that body who are robbing the govern
ment. The charge was resented by
Senator Hawley of Connecticut where
upon Mr.. Tillman replied that the CALLED
Jade winces," and II looked for time
as though personal conflict was immi-
nent, until Mr.. Hawley was escorted to
the cloakroom. Senators Hawley and
squire had spoken against Senator
Chambers amendment to the naval ap-
preparation bill, to reduce the price OF
armor plate to $500 a ton, and Senator
Elkins had complained of the lack of in
formation on the cost OF armor plate.
when Senator Tillman took the floor.
Although a member of this naval
committee" began Mr.. Tillman. who fol-
lowed Mr.. Elkins, "and although have
given as much time to this question az
L could spare from my other duties am
not able to give the senator as much
information as he wants.
But am able to say" he added with
emphasis, that no recent expenditure OF
the government has been so reeking with
fraud and so disgraceful to those con-
nected with ii.
when Secretary Whitney made the
first contracts for armor plate, il was
understood that those enormous prices
were to be paid only for time, and on
AsGOuut Ol lnt SICdt tAptHscS HcCCS-
sary to build akarmor plate plant. The
new navy was now beginning to be some
thing respectable. When last year, un-
der the impetus of the Venezuelan war
scare, the house had sent a proposal for
four battleships to the senate, the num-
ber had been fixed at three, because
there were only three yards I'm the coun-
try that could build such ships. The
three companies had agreed upon the
prices, had bid in collusion and conse-
auently the government was paying over
500, 900 more for these ships than was
necessary"
Then, coming to the armor plate ques-
tion, he said
Instead OF US controlling the monopo-
lies, the monopolies have this senate in
their vicious pocket"
Senator Hawley, at this charge. half
rose from his chair, as though he would
interpose an objection, then changed his
mind and sank back.
az would hate to say or even insinu-
ate" Mr.. Tillman continued, twirling his
glasses iii his hand, that these armor
plate manufacturers have their paid
agents in this senate
Then Mr.. Hawley arose. beginning:
''Does the senator dare"
Mr.. Tillman took the words from his
mouth. Il dare to say" he shouted,
that, so far as / can see, there are
things here that can be explained in no
other theory"
eff the senator dare's to say, or even
to insinuate such disgraceful thing, he
says what is untrue and what is un-
worthy a gentleman" Mr.. Hawley re-
piled very deliberately and emphati-
cally.
The galleries were crowded, and at
this exchange OF charges a deep hush
succeeded their buzzing. Senator Till
man was unruffied. He thrust a hand
into his trousers pocket, nonchalantly,
and, looking over to Senator Hawley,
coolly retorted ''To that can only say
1t is the CALLED jade that winces."
Senator Hawley turned pale and
trembled visibly. IF the senator ap-
plies that to me, I have a sufficient an
swer," he said. angrily.
Two or three senator's gathered
around Senator Hawley, endeavoring
apparently, to calm him. Finally, he
walked with them into the cloakroom.
while Senator Tillman continued his
speech.
II don't want to say anything harsh"
nt Sdtu oOu huOWs We sOt tnOuRn
yitriol In me now"
Going on with the subject of armor
plate, he said he could see no explana-
tion for the state of affairs except that
manufacturers had their friends i'm the
senate chamber. There was proof that
the government was to he looted to the
extent OF $4,000, 900 or 50, 600, ,O00 yet sena-
tors said: I'VE can't help it," The
trusts had the government down and
their hands I'm Its pockets Yet, can any
one oppose them? IL anyone proposed
that the government do it's own work.
make its own armor plate. senator's were
quick To bring out the awful spectre of
socialism. Said Mr.. Tiilman: "The
country's eyes are on us. We are al
ready disgraced because we do not
hasten to do the bidding of wall street
fast enough The touch of the button
between Wall street and the senate
seems to have been broken somewhat
lately, and go the metropolitan press IS
set upon us 10 whip us into line"
II Continuing. Mr.. Tillman said tbera