The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-14

new battleshiGs now in course OF con-
struction, was the theme of extended.
and at times lively, debate in the sen
ate today. Late in the day an amend
ment 70 the deficiency approximation
bin was agreed 20. restricting the price
OF armor 20 $500 per ton, or SIPS less
than the amendment reported by the
committee. and recommended by the
navy department as the minimum rate
acceptable TO the armor contractors.
Another amendment inserted in the
bill directed the secretary OF the navy
10 investigate as to the establishment
OF a government armor factory, and-to
report to the next session Of congress.
During the debate, Mr.. Hale urged that
the failure to equip the battleships with
aimor would hGmiliate the United
States IN the eyes of the world. and
would lessen our naval power al a
time of possible foreign complications.
After inserting the armor amendments
the deficiency appropriation bill, the
last OF the great measures, was passed.
IHE PROCEEDINGS.
Consideration Of the deficiency appro-
priation bill was resumed. The ques-
ton of armor plate for new battleships
LED TO considerable discussion.
The bill provided a total ap0ro3ria-
ton of s.. 40, 725 for armor for the three
battleships authorized in 1896. and linn
lied the cost per ton TO S42h.
Mr. Butler IN. c. offered an amend
ment reducing the total to S2.40I. 500,
limiting the cost to $500 per ton, and
providing for the establishment of
government armor factory, il private
concerns DO not bid within $500 per
ton.
Mr. Pettigrew Is. D., asserted
that to yield TO the demands OF
the armor plate trust was q procedure
TOO disgraceful to be tolerated.
Mr.. Butler spoke along the same
lines criticising the armOr factories.
and asserting that directive armor
plate had been palmed of on the gov
eminent, and was now in use in our
war vessels.
In this last statement he was SUD
ported by Mr.. Tillman.
HALE DENIES IT.
When Sfr. Butler reiterated the state
ment as to the defective armor in use.
Mr.. Hale Interrupted with a sweeping
denial. He said that such a condition
would be appalling if it existed in real
ity but there was no warrant for the
assertion by the North Carolina senator.
He utterly and absolutely denied that
any proportion of the armor plate on
our WarshiDs was unserViceable
Mr.. Butler declared that he knew Of
no more dangerous kinds of high
treason than the eQuipping of war YES
sells with defective plates. One Of these
vessels. The Oregon, with spongy, i'm
perfect, fraudulent plates, il was said.
had been ordered 10 the Hawaiian
Islands al a time when japan was
-rSTeateRtng to take possession Of those
islapds. Il would be unfortunate if the
nrsA hostile shot fired at her did not
hit ore Of those detective Dlates-if
indeed. there were any good ones on
her. If we are 10 take Hawaii. if we
are to go into the land grabbing bust
ness, then said Mr.. Butler. I'VE must
have A fleet as good ana better than
anv old country in the world. If we
are launching on the policy Of aggran-
dizeneut, then we must be able TO
.compete with England or any other ma
ton
TgLLMAN TO THE FORE.
Mr. Tniman pointed out alleged ir-
regularities in furnishing armor plate,
and referred 10 the fact that Secretary
Herbert had imposed a fine on the Car
negie company, which fine was re-
mitted by the president.
"And was Il a Democratic president
that RENTED the fine?" queried Mr.. Al
len.
.sPlease don't leave out 'socalled' in
reference 10 that president" answered
Mr.. Tillman amid laughter, las it hurts
my feelings TO hear him referred to as
q Democratic president" He went on
to say that he had never sought to
fathOm the mystery of how the presi-
dent had tried TO override law and de-
'cency by renting the fine. The sena-
tor reviewed the evidence on the cost
of making armor and said that unless
the senate adopted some remedy such
as the one now proposed. there would
be absolute and shameless surrender
CT public interest 10 the armor plate
factories.
Mr.. Hale opposed the Butler amend !
ment,'' and referred to the building up
of the navy and the Incidental develop |
ment in the United States Of plants
capable Of producing everything needed |
for eouipping the finest ships aflOat !
This was of vast advantage TO the !
nc zernment in its naval progress, and |
= had at the same time given employ /
bot 10 many wOrkmen. II was but |
krai in the development of so great |
e nferPrfse that some evils should |
creSb in. but he had no sympathy or
defehSe of such evils
TbeAsenatOr discussed the cost OF ar |
NOR, saying that the $500 rate as estab-
lished by the last congress was due to /
IN expectst lion that the Illinois Steel /
company se2od ready TO furnish armor 4
Plate for lesx than the old rates, but 4
there had been no practical realization |
OF this expectation. As 10 the estab- /
lishment Ct a government armor plant, i
Mr. Hale said TIE building of the |
American navy had proceeded too far /
toward completion to warrant starting
a government plant at this late day.
TOTALLY nIPRACTICABLE.
Commenting on the offer of the Hi
rois Steel company to furnish armor
7snder contract covering 20 years, Mr..
Hale said such a proposition was total
y impracTscable. Who knew ANYTHING
about the character and armor require
menTs Of war ShiDs 20 years hence2
In closing. Mr.. Hale referred 10 the
naJiona. humiliation in case of an
We had three incomplete
EStSisships ready for their armoI, and
useless without it. There was some
thing more in this question, Mr. Hale
said, than she mere cost Of aruaor. We
had national honor, a national dignity
TO maintain, and there could be no
hating. no turning back, when once
We had embarked on an active policy
OF unfolding national honor.
GREAT BRITAIN's THREAT.
8Ir. Stewart (eNev) declared that the
recent threat Of Grea1 Britain in the
naval review OF the Victorian Jubilee
meant that nations must continue
bp:ldiag ships or else be subjugatad.
Mr. Bacon (Ga.) moved 10 place the
rate al $3.50 per ton. He believed the
government would have TO build its
own foundry. but for the present he
urged il TO be expedient TO offer $3.50,