The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-02
disposed Of, the controverted amend

4. lue lll,st question was on the prOVi-
sion in the bill that the total cost Of
armor shall not exceed s3,21O,O0O, to
which the Senate committee had report
ed an amendment that mo contract for
armor plate shall be made, az 4 rate to
exceed $500 per tom
Mr.. Chandler (Rep0of New Hampshire
moved to amend the Senate amendment
by making 1t read: mo contract for ar
NOR plate shall be made al an average
rate TO exceed $500 per ton"
On these several propositions discus
sion was kept up until half past four,
without any solution Of the question.
The bill was laid aside informally
without action on the pending amend
ment.
CONFERENCES ORDERED.
Conferences were ordered on the post
office bill. and on the sundry civil appco-
priation bill. "
The credentials OF senator-cleot Tur
ner. of Washington, and Ieittield. OF
Idaho, were read and placed on file.
The Senate at 4 80 p. III. proceeded to
the consideration of executive business
and at q p. m. took recess until S.
SENATE IN NIGHT SESSION.
When the Senate resumed its session
at o'clock the naval appropriation Bill
was taken up the pending amendment
being that relative to armor plate.
CROPPING IN THE DARK.
iAlr. Elkins, of West Virginia, op-
posed The expenditure Of the s3,21O. 600 for
armor plate carried by the bill until
something definite was known OF the
real cost Of armor He inveighed against
the policy of buying anything without
knowing anything about it's value The
Committee on Appropriations had fixed
one price and the former Secretary Of
the Navy {Mr. Chandler) has fixed an
other. and both were cropping in the
dark. '7
..E REEKING WITH JIRAIID
MI. Tillman said that While he was
member OF the Committee on Naval
AIairs he was unable to give Mr.. IIlltins
an the light he desired, But he knew
WITH fraud and SO disgraceful to those
responsible for IT. He said that in
Vest1gation into the cost OF making ar
NOR had shown that the cost hereto
fore paid for the establishment Of tho
plant twice over, and virtually made 4
present OF 1t to the company. He fur
ther asserted that the two arinor-mak-
Ing plants In the country-the Bethie-
hem and Carnegla -plants-instead Of
competing We're in colluson to keep up
the price Of armor plate.
TILLAIAN'S BoMBSHELL.
Is. The mere suggestion that the Govern
ment should go into the business OF
manufacturing armor was sure to raise
the spectre Of Government ownership
OF railroads and like concerns People
Spoke OF congress controlling the trusts
put instead of this ''the trusts had their
hands In our breeches pockets" He
hated to think that these monopolies
mad their paid agents In the Senate, but
It looked like II. II don't want to say
anything hash" he went on impress
sively, but God knows that / believe
every utterance have made Is true
This statement came like a bombshell
IN the Senate, and led Mr.. Hawley to
demand whether the Senator from
South Carolina dared to make such
charge agansit the Senate.
Il dare say" replied Mr.. Tillman de-
liberately, that so far as l can see and
I cane Nplain this on no other ground"
And l say" rctor,ed Mr.. Hawlcy,
that that is an unworthy slander, un-
worthy Of any gentleman"
am bound TO put two and two to-
other hypothesis" said Mr.. Tillman, and
he went on to say that the companies
got their prices because they have
friends in this chamber"
lie spoke Of the examination made
into the armor furnished by Carnegie
some years ago. when It was shown that
the blow holes were plugged up, the
Government stamp misused and the
plates improperly tempered, and the
Secretary OF the Navy, through some
'hocus- pocus." fined Mr.. Carnegie for
furnishing defective plates, while our
As'o0hA ASdS lCSitShl, WHO, bOQ DC
praised, goes out Of power in three days
more. remitted this fine"
It was scandalous that our boasted
navy-"our pet should be protected by
these sponge" plates and the first shot
from q foreign warship would go
through one Of these boasted ships, and
800 Or 600 American seamen are sent to
the bottom Of the sea through the frauds
perpetra.ed in The Senate"
Rather than pay any more money to
these armor barons he would rather
build a Government factory for the
manufacture Of nrmor, even If 1t cost
5000 or $500 q ton, for then there would
ut least be the consolation of knowing
that the armor was good, and the money
was distributed among the workingmen.
THE HOUSE NOT SPARED.
In answer to q question from Mr..
Quay. Mr. Tillman said that nothing
would be gained by sending the bill back
to the House. for that body was in the
power Of the trusts-the Standard Oil
company-as much aS the Senate, "and
every man there was manacled and
under the rule OF one man--the Speaker
and compelled to crawl around on
their bellies like worm or like
whipped cur"
Mr.. Quay moved to lay on the table
the motion to reduce the maximum cost
Of armor from $+00 to $500 q ton, but this
motion was beaten-ayes, -; noes, &c.
Mr.. Chandler, in final explanation
Of his amendment, said there was no