The morning news., 1897-07-17
HOT DEBATE IN THE HOUSE
COST OF ARMOR PLATE FIXED AT
1900 PER TON.

MIR. King of Utah Declares 1t WOuId
BE An Outrage to Yield to the Car
negie COmpany's Demands-AIIega-
tion Made That All the Manufact-
| urers of ArnaOr Plate Are In
COmbine-The House Finally Con-
ours In the senate Amendment by
Vote of 142 to -.
! Washington, July 16.-The House to-day
agreed to the partial conference report on
| the general deficiency appropriation bill
and then concurred in the Senate amend
ment fixing the limit of cost of armor
plate for the three battleships now build
ing at $500 per ton. This was the main
item remaining in dispute between the
two houses. A strong effort was made to
induce the House TO agree to a substitute
proposition fixing the limit at 800, as
recommended by the Secretary of the
Navy. but after a three hours debate the
House, by a vote of 142 to IS, concurred
in the Senate amendment.
After agreeing to the conference report
on the bill the items in dispute were dis
| cussed and acted upon. Mr.. Davis dem.
of Florida, made a strong appeal to the
| House to concur in the $4,000 appropria-
ton for Cumberland Sound. Florida. but
! Mr.. Cannon resisted it. The House finally
concurred in the amendment.
When the armor plate amendment was
reached, Mr.. Cannon moved that the House
insist on its disagreement, and w. A.
Stone, rep, of Pennsylvania, moved to
concur with an amendment in the nature
of substitute proposition by terms of
which the cost of the armor plate for the
three battleships was increased from 50, 4O7,-
800 to $S,21O.OOO, and the limit of cost of the
armor plate from $500 to 500.
Mr.. Boutelle, rep. of Maine, the chair
man of the committee on naval affairs of
the last House, supported Mr.. Stones mo-
| ton He explained at length the history
of the controversy over the price of armor
| plate. Mr.. Boutele denounced the prop
| osition to have the government enter upon
| the manufacture of armor plate on its
! own account and expressed the opinion
that the manufacture. by the government
| of armor plate would cost them so to 75
| per cent. more than to have it done by
/ private corporations.
Mr.. King of Utah in opposing Mr.
| Stones motion declared that it would be
disgrace for the government to deal
longer with the Carnegie Company, which
! investigation proved had foisted upon the
government fraudulent and improper
work. Rascals" and "scoundrels" we're
the terms he used in characterizing this
| company.
Mr. Underwood of Alabama read from
| the report of the government experts de-
| tailed to investigate the cost of armor
| plate showing that the highest figures for
the cost of material and formation of ar
NOR are $500.
Mr. Dalzell also supported the amend
ment. The question at the base of this
! discussion, he contended, was whether or
! not congress desired to authorize the com
| pletion of the three battleships now on the
stocks. If il did the secretary OF the navy
must be empowered to pay enough to Sc
cure armor. 1t had been demonstrated that
no bids could be obtained at the present
price authorized by the Senate amend
ment.
"Is not the late Secretary of the Navy
Herbert now the private attorney of the
Carnegie Steel Company asked Mr..
Klng.
Il do not know" replied Mr. Dalzen,
but / should hesitate TO entertain such
| a suggestion about one who Is not here to
speak for himself"
w. A. Stone, rep, Of Pennsylvania, de-
| Tended the Carnegie company.
! Mr.. Simpson, pop, of Kansas. Insisted
that there was a pool of all the armor-
| plate manufacturing companies of the
world and charged that d conspiracy was
in progress to coerce congress into sur
rendering to organized greed as repre-
| sented by these companies. The two war
scares now running In the newspapers.
he said. made up part of this conspiracy.
Messrs. Sayres, dem, Of Texas Gaines,
| dem, of Tennessee, and Walker, dem, OF
! Alabama, also opposed the Stone PROPOSE
tion. The debate was concluded by Mr.
| Cannon. who expressed the opinion that
| the Senate would never agree to any
proposition fixing the limit OF cost al
! more than $780, He did not indorse
portion Of the Senate amendment, and "
Mr. Stones motion was voted down he
said the House conferees would consider
themselves instructed not to agree 10 any
increase OF the limit OF cost 10 more than
500.
Mr. Stone attempted at this point TO So
cure an adjournment and the House
should delay action, but his motion was
voted down.
Mr. Sayres then moved concurrence In
the Senate amendment. on a rising vote
there was plainly a large majority for
the motion and Mr.. Boutelle demanded the
ayes and nays. The record may be val
liable when the next Cuban resolution Is
brought up. he said.
Again Mr.. Stone moved to adjourn.
Mr. Bailey, dem, OF Texas, made the
point that the motion was diiatory and
was sustained by the speaker.
Mr. Sayres motion 70 concur was carried
by i42 20 IS. The bill was sent to further
conference.
The House then. at s:s5 o'clock, adjourn
ed until Monday.