Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-27

sion to interrupt him, IL he would con-
sent to be interrupted. and a mere state
ment that he would not consent would
have foreclosed the request. His other
commentaries are both unnecessary and
wholly Improbable.
Mr. Boutele. | consented to be inter-
rupted twice, with courtesy which | do
not think the gentleman appreciates.
Mr. Lewis of Washington. | do appre-
eiate it. That is why ! criticise It.
Uaughter)
Mr. Boutelle. Mr.. Speaker. as [ was
saying, the only alternative Is to author
ize the secretary OF the navy to construct
o government armor plant. Now, it has
never been the policy Of the government
since we began construction. of the new
navy to do his kind of work in govern
ment establishments In the first place, II
would require probably two years to
build government plant; it would cost
an enormous sum Of money; and II all the
experience we have had from the begin
uing in the building of our vessels Is good
for anything, ii would result in the ar
NOR costing us from 50 to IS per cent
more than IL has already done.
Mr.. Brueker ! should like to ask the
gentleman question.
Mr.. Bouteile. If the gentleman will be
kind enough to allow me to finish, | will
answer him afterwards.
The Speaker. The gentleman from
Maine declines TO be interrupted.
Mr.. Boutelle. | do not think this meth
cd of proceeding with constant Interrupt
tons is useful. / will answer questions
when / have finished my statement.
Mr.. Brucker. | viii say 70 the gentle
man
Mr.. Boutelle. / can not be interrupted.
The Speaker. The gentleman from
Maine has the floor
Mr.. Boutele Without any argument
at this point. am going TO assume that
neither this House nor the Senate really
contemplates The idea that at this stage
of our naval development with three bat
tie ships that require armor. and without
any assurance as TO what we may do in
the future in regard to armored ships we
VIII, as a matter OF economy. authorize
the government to construct an enor-
nous producing plant, the estab-
lishment OF which will take two years.
with such results as TO cost as have been
proved over and over again In the build
ing of ships at our navy-yards. when
have always proved enormously more ox-
pensive than when they were built ny
contract.
Now, the question that underlies this
whole business Is whether the govern.
ment of the United States has been COM
PEELED 10 pay an cx0rbitant price for an
important portion OF the material for Its
navy AS To the exact amount that 1t
costs TO produce armor plate SO many
feet long 50 many feet wide. so many
inches thick, | am not enough Of an ex-
pert to be qualified 10 testify; but we
nave here the result of he most ex
tsibSltNt tIibfSiBSAltoN kHAi fDuti ne mace
by the secretary of the navy. using his
expert officers. upon whose good faith to
the government We certainly can rely.
for they are the salaried and commits
stoned officers Of the government and
have no possible interest except to serve
the government faithfully. and as the
result of this careful investigation Mr..
Secretary Herbert concluded that 800 per
ton would be an equitable price.
We have put that proposition To the
al a ftfillif ~ X nd hos
been proven that In the United States to-
day there IL no corporation that desires
10 furnish or is capable. according 10 its
own statement. OF producing this armor
1T S5oo per ton. So far rs the proposition
of the Illinois Steel Company was con
cerncf, that was tentative: and even il
the extraordinary conditions which they
requlred-the impossible conditions. /
might say, for no Congress. I opine. at
this day would provide peremptorily and
positively for the construction Of twenty
more of these great war ships-evcn II
We acceded 10 all the conditions, Cummo-
dorc Sampson. then chief OF the bureau
of ordnance. has stated in a report made
after careful investigation at the works:
II may he fairly said that ii would re-
quire at least two years for them to
produce any satisfactory armor.
Now. that is the condition In which we
are today. The question is. Are we pay
ing, have we been paying. such an exor-
hitant price for our armor as TO justify
us
The Speaker The time of the gentle
man from Maine has expired.
Mr.. Boutelle. | should like little more
time.
MIR Lewis OF Washington ! move that
the gentleman have five minutes addi-
tional.
Mr.. Boutelle. prefer to take the time
from the gentleman who has charge OF
the bill.
Mr., Lewis of Washington. Time Was
the only thing j could offer the gentle
man and after his conduct toward me
he might have appreciated 1t.
Mr.. Cannon, ] yield 10 the gentleman
from Maine five minutes in addition. Is
that satisfactory?
MIR Boutelle. l should like to state this
case properly.
Mr. Cannon. OF course l will yield to
my friend as much time as he may de-
sire: but ] wish to state that | shall ask
the House TO sit this afternoon until this
bill Is completed, because | want Ii to be
enacted into a law in the near future.
Mr.. Boutelle. All desire is to state the
main facts of the situation. | will state
them as briefly and conciseiy as possible,
If the speaker will kindly persuade gen
tienen not to interrupt me
Mr. Cannon. VIII my friend from
Maine say how much additional time he
desires?
Mr. Boutele. Ten minutes.
Mr.. Cannon. yield the gentleman ten
minutes
Mr. Boutelle II is a pretty difficult
thing to instruct large assembly like
this in a technical matter in fifteen or
twenty minutes.
Now, the question whether we have
been paying too much for this armor is a
practical question. l read an article yes
terday in New England paper-an indie
pendent paper
Member Independent of whom?
Mr.. Boutelle. If the gentleman will
possess himself in patience for about five
minutes, he will add greatly to my obli-
very prominent paper in regard to this
very discussion. and to my mind 1t Illus
trates the view that the common-sense
citizen OF this country would take on
this subject Speaking of this controyer-
sy as TO the price paid for steel armor, it
says:
We should suppose that it would be
possible TO get down to absolute facts in
controversy of this kind.
How Is il proposed to get down to the
facts as To what it ought to cost TO fur
nish this armor? What are the facts?
Where are we to get them as to the price
of this material? What is the common
sense view TO take of the situation when
somebody says we have been paying ex-
orbitant prices? Why. sir. this newspa
per voices the natural expression of COM
mon sense on that subject 1t says:
1t should be possible to discover what
England. France, Germany ana Russia
are paying for supplies of this character.
That seems to me to be very proper
method of obtaining information