New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-14
ARMOR-PLATE THE TOPIC.
THE COUNTRYs NAVAL POLICY DIS
CUssED IN THE SENATE.
AFTER LONG AND LIVELY DEBATE 1T WAS
vorrD TO LIMIT THE PRICE OF
ARMoR FOR THE NEW BATTLE
SHIPS TO $500 ToS-THE
GENERAL DEFICIENCY
BILL PASSED.

SHIPS TO $500 a lo'-A"H
GENERAL DEFICIENCY
BILL PASSED.
wsshirrton July l3-The price 10 he PAID TOT
=, ror-pate for the three battle-shps now IN eoai
Of construction the theme o. e"'c'"eu or" o.
times Lively debate in the Senate To-Day Lac ~
Tho day an Amendment ID the Deficiency DILL re-
strcting the price OF armor t, $500 ton' or si1'
Io.s tbar the amendment reported by the committee
and recommended by the Navy Department a' ''o
minimum rate acceptable 10 the armor coh'i ac.o''
u,s adopted Another amendment directs the "eo-
rotary OF the Navy 20 investigate as 10 the es'ao
ushment OF a Government armor factory ana 10 re-
NOR. IN the next session of Congress In the depate
Mr. Hale urged that the failure 10 equip the pat'le-
shps with armor would humiliate the united States
in the eyes OF the world and would lessen lis naval
| mower at a time Of possible foreign complications
After inserting the armor amendments the D'"-
cheney Appropriation bill, the asst OF inc great sup
ply measures passed.
The bill provided total appropriation OK C'iW''.'
for armor for the three batte-ships authorized !"
1896 and limited the COS; to 1925 a ton MI bu.ier
offered an amendment reducing the total 10 sZio'oO
| limiting the cost to $500 ton. and providing ior
| the establishment OF a Government armor factory
| IL private concerns do not bid within $500 ton
Mr.. Pe,tsrew spoke of the evidence taken before
| the Committee on Naval Affairs. showing concur
sively he said. that armor-plate could be MADE TOT
$3.50 ton notwithstanding this. the armor facto-
rios beirr in collision. refused to make armor FOR
| 500 and demanded si25 Instead Of opposing the
| trust Mr.. Pettigrew said. the Nava Committee now
| proposed to accede to lis demand. IL was a pro-
ceiurc TOO dssraccfu to be tolerated. lie asserted.
! II should be discussed in full Senate. and he
| therefore called attention 10 the absence OF
| quorum The call disclosed he presence OF forty
five Senators-just "A auorum-and the DEBATE on
armor-p plate proceeded.
| FRAUD CHARGED BY SENATOR BUTLER.
Mr. Butler spoke in criticism OF the course
| of the armor factories and of the disposition In
| official circles to yield 10 them He reviewed the
investigation made by Secretary Herbert as TO the
cost OF armor- plate and read from the report OF
| the House Committee Naval Affairs relative TO
| Irregularities In the manufacture Of armor-plae.
He said the report showed that. by fraud and de-
| coptlon. armor-plate had teen pamed Off on the
| Government so defective that It could be pierced
| ike n pine board. He asserted that mon had been
shot and pat in dungeons fer offences Of far less
ma gnitude
Mr.. Hale questioned these statements, saying
shat none of the defective plates at present
| in actual service warships.
| Mr.. Tillman insisted that many Of the alleged de-
fective plates In use. and said that their ex-
| act location various -arships was specified in
| the report OF the House Naval Committee.
DENIAL FROM MIR. HALE.
| When Mr. Butler reiterated the statement az to
the extent Of the defective armor In use. Mr.. Hale
| interrupted with sweeping denial He said that
| such a condition would be appalling II Il existed
| In reality but there warrant for the as
| scrtlons by the North Carolina Senator. He ut
| tery and absolutely denied that any proportion
| Of the armor-pate the warships unservice
| able.
Mr. Butler declared that he knew Of no more
| dangerous kind Of high treason than the equip
| ping Of war vessels with defective Plates. One OF
| those vessels the Oregon with spongy. imperfect
fraudulent plates, had been ordered to the Ha-
| wa,lan Islands at time when Japan was threat
ening to take possession Of those islands It would
be fortunate If the first hostile shot fired at her
| did no, hit one Of those defective pates-if. in
| deed. there any good ones on her. "If we
| are to take Hawaii. II we arctic go into the land
grabbing business" said Mr. Butler. we must
have fleet as good ard better than any other
country In the world II are launching that
| policy OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. then must be able
to compete with England any other nation"
When Mr.. Butler closed Mr.. Chandler facetious-
~ called on Mr. Tman to take the floor. The
South Carolina Senator replied that unless there
was something fight there need to talk
Mr. Chandler asked Mr. Timan what had be-
come OF the House resolution adopted as a result
Of the Carnegie investigation II had come to a
Democratic Senate and had been referred to a
Democratic Naval Committee. He asked Mr.. TILL
man. II he Democrat. what the Democrats
had done with this resolution.
TIIIMAN ATTACKS CLEVELAND AGAIN
Mr. Tillman replied that he thought his course
had shown him to be impartial In pointing out the
shortcomings and the rascaty-if that word were
allowable-of Democrats we'll as others. The
Naval Committee which the New-Hampshire Sem
ator had referred to as having a majority OF So
called Democrats had simply pgeonholed that
resolution Mr. Tillman pointOd out alleged irregu-
larities IN furnishing armorp plate. and referred to
the fact that Secretary Herbert had imposed a
fine on the Carnegie company. which RENTED
by the President.
| And was 1t Democratic President who re-
mitted the nne?" asked Mr.. Allen.
Please don't leave out so-cnlled' In referring
to that President" answered Mr.. Tillman, amid
laughter las 1t hurts my feelings to hear him re-
| fcrred 10 as a Democratic President" He went
to say nat he be sd Saa to S e
| ride law and decency by remittIng the fine. He
armo and said that unless the Senate adopted
remedy such as the one now proposed there
public public interest to the armor- plate factories.
Mr. Hale opposed the Butler amendment. and
the incidental development in the United States
plants capable Of prod S,a syerynn hin, needed
vast advantage TO the Government in its nava
nS had s was s ony
FOR ssa
Of ar 5 saying tnat the Az rate esta6
| lion that the Illinois Steel Company stood read,
bn, there had been no practical reazaion OF Thu
expectation. Ar to the establishment OF Gov
INK Of the American Navy had proceeded too IA
toward completion TO warrant starting Govern
boa,s P and were noedsd but probably
no more cruisers. and. IA whole, the new NAY;
as ipV ,Sr amop nctory II pona
90 to 90 per more N to furnish "rmor Gov
Government work on warships had not proved
and 1 ,s sp S IN S d
fenting on the offer Of the Illinois Steel compan