Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-13
COST OF ARM0RPLATE|
An Animated Discussion Aroused in
the Senate.
SAFETY OF Our SHIPS CHALLENGED
Proposed Government Amor Foun-
RESULT OF INVESTIG ALTON

Consideration of the deficiency appropria-
ton bill was resumed in the Senate today
The question of armor plate for new battle
ships led to considerable discussion The
bill provided total appropriation of R41O,-
725 for arnor for the three battle ships au-
thorized in 1885, and limited the cost per
ton to $425.
Mr. Butler On. c. offered an amendm ant
reducing the total to s.. 407 800, limiting the
cost to $500 per ton, and providing for the
establishment of government armor fac
tory, if private concerns do not bid within
$500 per ton.
Mr.. Pettigrew Is. d. spoke Of the EVIL
dencc taken before the committee on laval
affairs, showing conclusively, he said, that
armor plate could be made for $50 per ton.
Notwithstanding this. the armor factories
being in collision, refused to make armor
for $500 and demanded sl23. Instead of OPP
posing the trust, Mr.. Pettisrew said. the
naval committee now proposed TO accede to
it's demands. 1t was a procedure too dis
graceful to be tolerated, the senator as
serted. 1t should be discussed in full
Senate and the senator. therefore. called at
tention to the absence of a quorum.
The call disclosed the presence O. forty
five senators. just a quorum. and the de-
Mr.. Butler spoke in severe criticism of the
course of the armor factories and of the
disposition in official circles to yield to
them.
The senator reviewed the investigations
made by Secretary Herbert as to the cost
of armor plate, and read from the report of
!. the House committee on naval affairs rela-
tive to irregularities In the manufacture of
armor plate. He said the reports showed
by fraud and deception armor plates had
been palned off on the government so de-
fective that they could be pierced like
pine board. The senator asserted that men
had been shot and put in dungeons for Of
fenses of far less magnitude.
Mr. Hale questioned these statements.
saying that no defective plates were at
present IN actual service on warships.
Mr. Tillman Of South Carolina insisted
that many of the alleged defective plates
were in use, and their exact location on
various warships was specified in the re-
port of the House naval committee.
When Mr.. Butler reiterated the statement
as to the extent of the defective armor in
use, Mr.. Hale interrupted with a sweeping
denial. He said that such condition would
be appalling II it existed in reality, but
there was no warrant for assertions by the
North Carolina senator. He Utterly and
absolutely denied that any proportion of
the armor plate on our warships was I'm
serviceable. Al -
Mr.. Butler declared that he knew of no
more dangerous kind of high treason than
the equipping of war vessels with defec-
tive plates. One Of those vessels, the Ore
gon. with spongy, imperfect. fraudulent
Plates. had been ordered to the Hawaiian
Islands at time when Japan was threat
enng to take possession Of those islands.
1t would be forturatt If the first hostile
shot fired at her did not hit one of those
defective piates-if, indeed. there were any
good ones on her. /'l
IF we to take Hawaii if we are to
go into the landgrahbing business, then"
said Mr.. Butler, we must have a fleet
good and better than ANY other country in
IF we are launching or that policy OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT then we must be able to
compete with England or any other ma
tion.' ..,. 80
When Mr.. Butler closed Mr.. Chandler
facetiously called on Mr.. Tilman 10 take
the floor. The South Carolina senator re-
sponded that unless there was something
tc fight there was no need of talk.
Mr.. Chandler inquired of Mr.. Tillman
what had become of the House resolution
adopted as a result of the Carnegie investi-
cation. 1t had come to a democratic Sem
ate, had been referred to a democratic
naval committee. He asked Mr.. Tillman
had done with this resolution.
Mr.. Tilman responded that he thought
his course had shown him to be impartial
in pointing out the shortcomings and the
rascality-if that word was allowable-of
democrats as well as others. The naval
committee which the New Hampshire SEN
ator had referred to having majority
of so-cailed democrats had simply pigeon
holed that resolution. Mr. Tillman pointed
out alleged irregularities in furnishing
armor plate, and referred to the fact that
Secretary Herbert had imposed a fine on
the Carnegie company, which fine was re-
mtted by the President.
And was 1t democratic President who
remitted the fine?" queried Mr. Allen.
please don't leave out so called in re-
ferring to that President" answered Mr..
Tillman, amid laughter, las 1t hurts my
feelings to hear him referred to as demo-
cratic President.
He went on to say he had never sought
to fathom the mystery of how the Presi-
dent had tried to override law and decency
by renting the fine.
The senator reviewed the evidence on the
cost Of making armor. and said that un-
less the Senate adopted some remedy, such
es the one now proposed, there would be
an absolute and shameless surrender Of
public interest to the armor plate factories.
Mr.. Hale opposed the Butler amendment,
and referred to the building up of the new
navy and the incidental development In the
United States of plants capable of pro-
ducing everything needed for equipping
the finest ships afloat. This was of vast
advantage to the government in Its naval
progress, and it had at the same time
given employment to many workmen. 1t
was but natural in the development of SO
great an enterprise that some evils should
creep in, and he had no sympathy or de-
Tense for such evils.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House Of Representatives took re-
cess today until tomorrow at noon without