The record-union., 1897-07-14
The Last of the Great Supply
Measures Disposed Of.
Cost Of krmOr Plate the Theme Of an
Extended and Lively Debate.
An Amendment Finally Agreed to
Restricting the Price to Three
Hundred Dollars per Ton-The
Secretary of the Navy Directed
to Investigate as to the Esta b.
ishment of a Government Ar
Nor Factory.

NOR Factory.
WASHINGTON, July 13.-The price
to be paid for armor plate for three new
battleships now in course of construc-
ton was the theme of the extended
and at times lively debate in the Senate
to-day. Late in the day an amend
ment to the deficiency appropriation bill
was agreed to restricting the price of
armor to $500 per ton, or S125 less
than the amendment reported by the
committee and expected by the Navy
Department as the minimum rate ac-
ceptable to the armor contractors.
Another amendment inserted in the
bill directed the Secretary of the Navy
to investigate as to the establishment
Of a Government arTnor factory, and to
report to the next session of Congress.
During the debate Hale urged that the
failure to equip the battleships With
armor would humiliate the United
States in the eyes of the world, and
would lessen our naval power at a time
of possible foreign complications. After
inserting the armor amendment to the
deficiency appropriation bill. the last
of the great supply measures was
passed.
When consideration of the deficiency
appropriation bin was resumed the
question of armor plate for new battle
ships led to considerable discussion.
The bill provided total appropriation
of $3,410 725 for armor for the three
battleships authorized in 1896 and linn
tied the cost per ton to S420
Butler of North Carolina offered an
amendment reducing the total TO 81,
407 800, limiting the cost TO $500 per
tom and providing for the establish
ment of Government armor factory, il
private concerns do not bid within $500
per ton.
Pettigrew of South Dakota asserted
that to yield to the demands of the
armor- plate trust was a procedure too
disgraceful to tolerate.
Butler spoke along the same line.
Butler declared that he knew of no
more dangerous kind of high treason
than the equipping of warships with de-
fective plates One of those, the Ore
gon. with spongy, imperfect, fraudulent
plates. it was said, had been ordered to
the Hawaiian Islands at a time when
JaDan MdS IIllIlbllS5 VI leihAlASo Pbs7NC@7
sion of the island 1t would be fortu-
nate if the first hostile shot fired at
her did not hit one of those defective
plates-if, indeed, there were any good
ones on her.
eff we are to take Hawaii. if we are
going into the land-grabbing business,
then" said Butler, 1--WE must have
fleet as good and better than any in the
old country
Tillman pointed to alleged irregular
tiles in furnishing armor plate, and re-
fered to the fact that Secretary Herbert
had imposed a fine ON the Carnegie
Company, which fine was rem1tted by
the President.
"And was it a Democratic President
who remitted the fine?" queried Allen.
please don't leave out 'so-called in
referring to that President" said TILL
man. amid laughter, 'as it hurts my
feelings to hear him referred to as
Democratic President.
Hale opposed the Butler amendment,
and referred to the building up OF the
navy and the incidental development III
the United States of plants capable OF
producing everything needed for equip
ping the finest ships afioat.
Bacon of Georgia moved to place tue
rate at $3.50 per ton. He believed the
Government would have to build its
own foundry, but for the present he
urged it to be expedient to offer $500
and stand by it, allowing the arma-
ment of the ships to fail if need be un-
til Congress re-assembles.
Perkins of C3s fornia urged that the
ha iaH
docks to rust and corTode, unless
equipped with armor and put into SER
vice.
Teller of Colorado contributed a live
lv speech. 1t had been the general
impression that our ships represented
the power and the dignity of the ma
tion. but, he said, our warshps had
proved a source of confusion to the
last administration.
Allen of Nebraska criticised the gen
eral policy of expanding the navy, COM
pairing the cumbersome battleships
with the effective monitors. The buiid-
ing of these huge ships was a scheme,
he asserted, to spend the pubic money
and to place advantageous contracts.
The first vote was on an amendment
limiting the cost of armor to $500 per
ton. 1t was carried on q viva voce
vote. Hale and one or two others being
the only ones to vote in the negative.
Butler then offered an amendment
authorizing the Secretary of the Navy
to make an investigation and receive
propositions for the establishment of a
Government armor factory, and report
to Congress at it's next session. 1t
was agreed to.
An amendment was adopted to pay
the balance of S14,4S5 to claimants un-
der the Spanish-American Claims Com
mission, and then the deficiency bill
was passed.
Hale moved to adjourn over Wednes-
day. Lost on viva voce vote
White secured the passage of his
Joint resolution directing the Secretary
of War to proceed with the construc-
ton of a breakwater at San Pedro, Cal
At $50 p. M, the Senate held an ex-
ecutive session. and then adjourned
IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, July 13.-The House
took a recess to-day until tomorrow
without transacting any business. Can
non, the Chairman of the Appropriation