Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-03-02
IN THE U. S. SENATE.
Senator Tillman Charges Fraud in The
ArmOT Plate Matter.
THE GOVERNMENT TO BE LOOTED.
A Dark Page Ia the History of the
Dealings Of tho Carnrgles With
the Governments.

WASHINGTON, March l.-Senator
rIllman provoked a turbulent ecsne In
the Senate tonight when he charged
that the armor plate manufacturers
had their paid agents in that body.
who were robbing the government.
The charge was resented by Senaior
Hawley Of Connecticut, whereupon
TIllman replied that "the CALLED Jade
winces," and 1t looked for time as
though a personal cor flict was i'm.
minent until Hawiey was escorted to
the cloak room.
Senators Haw1ey and Squire had
SPOKEN against Senator Chandlei's
amendment to the naval appropriation
bill to reduce the price Of armor plate
10 $500 o ton, ami Senator Elkins had
complained OF the lack OF information
on the cost OF armor plate, when Sem
ator Tillniau took the floor.
ALTHOUGH a member OF this naval
committee" began Tillman, who fol-
lowed Il kins, "and though | have
given rs much time to this as L could
spare from my other duties, am not
uulC ~ XIV tup cGhutOt 40
formation as he wants"
z"But 1 am able to say" he added,
with emphasie, "that no recent expen-
dituTe OF the government has been
so resking with fraud and so disgrace.
ful to those connected. When Secre.
tary Whitney made the first contra ct
for armor plate 1t was understood that
those enormous prices were to be paid
30 NJ af
great expenditure necessary to build
an armor plate plant. When last ye.r
under the i'm petus OF the Venezuela
war scare, the House sent proposals
for four baItieehips to the Senate, the
number was fixed at three because
shere were only three yards in the
country that could builu such ships.
The three companies have agreed upon
the prices, had bid in collision and
consequently the government was pay
ing over million and half for these
ships more than wss necessary"
Then coming to the armor plate
question, he SAID:
'Instead OF our controlling the
monopolies, the monopoiies have this
Senate in their vicious pocket"
Senator Hawley ut this charge half
rose from his chair, as though he
would make an objection, then changed
his mind and sank back.
81 would hate to say or even insinu.
ate," Mr.. TillmRn continued, twirllng
his gIasses in his hand, "that thess
armor plate manufacturers have their
paid agents In this Senate"
Then Mr.. Hawley rose, beginning:
"Does the senator dare"
fEillpnan fnnk tina wn 10 fray,, III
mouth. al dare to say" he shouted,
that so far as / can see there are
things here that can be explained on
no other theory"
'If the senator dares to say or even
to insinuate such disgraceful thing,
he says what Ia untrue and what is
unworthy OF a gentleman" Mr.. Haw-
ley replied very deliberately ana EN-.
phaticatly.
The galleries were crowded, and at
this exchange OF charges deep hush
succeeded their buZzlng. Senator TIL.
man was unraflied. He thrust hand
into his trousers pocket nonohalantly,
and looking over to Senator Hawley
cody returned: ITO that can only
say 1t 10 the CALLED jade that winces.o
Senator Hawley turned pale and
trem bled vlsibly.
"If the senator applies that to me,
/ have sufficient answer" he said
Rngrily.
TWO or three senators gathered
around Senator Hawley endeavoring
apparently to calm him. Finally he
walked with them to the cloak room,
while Senator Tillman continued his
speech.
~ do not want to say anything
bsrsb. God knows have 60! enough
vltriol in me now"
Going ON with the subject of armor
plates, he said, he could fnd no foun
dalton for this state OF affairs except
that manufacturers had their friends
Ia the Senate chamber. There was
proof that the government wss to be
looted to the extent OF two or tbie'