The San Francisco call., 1897-03-02
Senate in Session Day and
Night to Finish lis
Labors.
Frivolous Debate Gives Way to
Business and Headway
Is Made.
Chandler's Armor.Plate Amendment
TO the Naval Bill Finally
Adopted.

WASHINGTON, ID. u, Marcn l.-Ine
Senate met at IL o'clock this morning and
Immediately proceeded to the consideration
of the District OF Colum bia appropriation
bill. A motion to reconsider the vote by
which the sundry civil bill was passed
last night was made by Lodge (R.) OF
Massachusetts.
Some time afterward he stated his rea-
son for the motion. 1t was that In his
absence last night, and without any notice
to him or any mem ber OF the Com mittee
on Immigration, an amendment had been
put in vitality affecting the subject OF i'm
migration. He desired to have the amend
ment rejectet, but as be had just now re-
ceived the assurance of the chairman OF
the Committee on Appropriations (Al-
lison) anu others that the amendment
would be abandoned in conference ne
withdrew the motion.
The House bill to authorize the sale OF
forfeited smoking opium was passed with
an amendment striking out the provision
for the sale of the forfeited opium and in
serting in lieu of it the words "shall be
destroyed"
The District appropriation bill being
under consideration, it was passed with
very little friction or discussion.
Chandler (R.) Of New Hampshire gave
notice that he would at the earliest pos
sibe moment ask action on the House
amendments to the bill for an interna-
tional monetary conference.
The last Of the great appropriation bills
the general defciency-was reported to
the Senate this morning. The Senate
dal fn hoi y,o
| made up principally OF claims against the
Government. The bill now carries total
of $40, 334. 939.
The Senate at II 80 took up the naval
appropriation bill. While the bill was
being read it was ordered, at the sugges-
tion Of Mr.. A lison, that at 6 p. NJ. the
Senate shall take q recess until P. NJ.
The torpedo-boats amendment and all
other amendments up to that point were
agreed to without discussion. The re-
mainder of the bill having been
disposed OF the controverted amendments
were taken up. The first question was the
provision in the bill that the total cost of
the armor shall not exceed 50. 600, 90
which the Senate Committee had reported
the amendment that mo contract for
armor-plase shall be nsde at a rate to ex-
ceed $4O0 per ton"
Hale (R.) Of Maine, in charge OF the bill,
stated the reasons for the action OF the
committee.
Chandler (R.) of New Hampshire moved
to amend the Senate amendment by
making it read: mo contract for armor
plate shall be made at an average rate to
exceed $500 per ton," and argued in sup
port of his proposition.
Replying to a question by Quay (R.) OF
Pennsylvania, Chandler said he had no
recollection of the amendment fixing the
price at $40O being sent by the Senate
Naval Committee to the Senate Appro-
priation Committee
It was surely the conclusion. he said, of
the appropriation committee. He be-
lieved that the contractors would make q
fair and reasonable profit on the armor for
the three battle-ships at $500. He under
stood that the Illinois Steel Company had
written to the Secretary of the Navy stat
ing that if sufficiently large contract
were given to it it would undertake to
| make the armor plate for $500 ton.
Noticing remark by Quay, Chandler
| said that he understood the Senator from
of the Illinois Steel Company was not
| bona fide, out was for the purpose of an
noying and embarrassing the Carnegie
and Bethlehem companies. That might
| be so, he said. He did not know that il
was so. He had no doubt that the ex-
pehditure of million dollars would
enable the Illinois Steel Company or the
| Cambria Company or other companies to
| enter into competition tor the contract,
/ and to furnish armor plate 10000 tonsl
for not exceeding $500 ton. He there
| fore thought that his amendment ought
to be agreed to.
! German (D.) of Maryland said that the
cost OF the armor would be five times
greater if manufactured by the Govern
ment than if the armor were made by pri-
vate establish ments.
| German advised Senators that the wise
thing to do now was to adhere to the sys.
! tenn inauguraled in 1885, when Chandler
| was at the head of the Navy Department.
| The proposition to establish an armor
| factory by the Government would be un-
wise and should be antagonized by the
| Senate.
| The bill was laid aside Informally with.
out action on the pending amendments.
| Conferences were ordered on the Post
Office appropriation bill and on the sun
| dry civil appropriation bill.
| The credentials of .Senator-elect Turner
| of Washington and Heitfeld of Idaho were
| read and placed on file.
On motion of Hill (D.) of New York the
Senate at 4:30 P. NJ. proceeded to the con-
sideration of executive business, and at
| p. NJ. took recess until O'CLOCK.
| When the Senate resumed It's session at
8 o'clock the naval appropriation bill was
taken up. the pending amendments being
relative to armor plate.
| Hawley (R. of Connecticut opposed both
the establishment of an armor factory and
| the fixing of the price of armor at either
$500 or $400 per ton.
Elkins (R.) of West Virginia opposed
the expenditure of the 1910, 900 for arinor
plate carried by the bill until something
definite was known of the real cost OF
| armor.
| He inveighed against the policy of buy
Ing ar,nor without knowing anything
| about its value. He advocated suspen-
sion of the work on the battle-ships il
| necessary, for with Congress about to adj
journ, with an arbitration treaty with
Great Britain awaiting ratification, with
| the Cuban question having the right OF
way, and Julio Sanguilly on his way to
the Senate to see his sympalhizers, there
/ was no necessity for haste.
| Timmins ID. of Kentucky said that
i while he was member OF the Committee
| on Naval Affairs he was unable to give
| Eikins all the light he desired, But he
knew there was no expenditure $50 reek-
| ing with fraud and so disgraceful to those
responsible for it." He asserted that the
two armor-making plants in the country.
the Bethlehem and Carnegie plants, in
stead of competing were in collusion to
keep up the price of arNor plate.
! He went on to say that companies got