The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-15
Senate Proceedings.

| cOUSluefHDIe ulScuSSlOn. II ne Dill pTONl
ed n total appropriation of S3,410.725 f.
arm0r for three battleships authorized
1896 and limited the cost price to S42
Mr.. Butler of North Carolina offerc
an amendment reducing the total to So
407 800, limiting the cost to $500 pt
ton and providing for the establishment
of government armOr factory if privat
concerns do not bid within $500 per tor
Mr. Pettigrew of South Dakota said
yield to the demands of the armor plat
trust was a procedure too disgraceful t
be tolerated.
Mr.. Butler spoke along the same lin
and asserted that defective armor plat
had been palmed Off on the government
and was now in use on our war vessels
This last statement, he said was support
ed by Mr. Tillman.
When Mr.. Butler reiterated the state
ment as to the extent of defective armO
in use Mr.. Hale interrupted with sweep
ing denial He said that such n condi
ton would be appalling if ii existed il
reality but there was no warrant TO
the assertion by the North Carolina sen
atOr. He utterly and absolutely dcniet
that any proportion Of the armor plate OF
our warships was unscrviccable.
Mr.. Butler continuing, declared thai
he, knew Of no more dangerous kind OF
high treason than the cquipping of wal
vessels with defective plates. One OF
those vessels, the Oregon, with spOngy
! imperfect, fraudulent plates, it was said
had been ordered to the Hawaiian islands
at n time when Japan was threatening
To take possession of those islands. II
would be fortunate if the first hostile shot
| fred mt her did not hit one of these de-
foctivc platcs--if indeed there were any
'."'' nrns IN ror If we are to take
| Hawaii, if we are to 90 into the ,"nd-
grabbing business" said Mr.. Butler, 1--WE
| must have a fleet as good and better than
any other country in the world. If we
| are launching out on that policy Of ag-
grandizcmCnt. then we must be able to
| compete with England or any other ma
| ton"
Mr.. Tillman pointed out alleged irrcgu-
| laritics in furnishing armor plate and re-
ftrrcd to the fact that Secretary Her
bert had imposed fine on the Carnegie
company, which fine was RENTED by the
president
"And was it Il democratic president
who RENTED this fine?' queries Mr..
Jones.
please don't leave out 'so-called in re-
fcrring to that president" answered Mr..
Tillman amid laughter, "as it hurts my
feeling to hear him referred to as dem
Ocratic president"
ne went On 10 say he lHu never SOUGHT
to fathom the mystery of how the presi-
dent had tried TO override law and de-
cency by renting the fine. The senator
reviewed the evidence on the cost of
making armOr and said that unless the
senate adopted some remedy such az the
one now proposed, there would be ALSO
lutte and shameless surrender of public
interest to the armOr plate factories.
Mr.. Hale opposed the Butler amend
ment and referred to the building up of
the navy and the incidental development
in the, United States of plants capable
of producing everything needed for equip
ping the finest ships aiioat. This was of
vast advantage to the government in its
naval progress, and it had at the same
time given employment to many work |
men. 1t was but natural in the develop |
ment of so great an enterprise that some
evils should creep in, and that he had
no sympathy or defense for such evils.
The senator discussed the cost of ar
NOR, saying that the $500 rate estab- !
lishcd by the last congress was due to
an expectation that the Illinois Steel COM
pany stood ready to furnish armor for !
much less than the old rates, but there |
has been no practical realization of this |
expectation. As to the establishment of |
a government armor plate. Mr.. Hale said |
the building of an American navy had |
proceeded too far toward completion to |
warrant starting government plant mt !
this late day.
Commenting on the offer of the ILL
nois Steel company to furnish armOr UNI
der contract covering twenty years,
Mr.. Hale said such a proposition was
totally impracticablc. Who knew any
thing about the character and armOr re-
quirements of warshps twenty years
hence"
In closing. Mr.. Hale referred to the |
national humiliation in case of an cmcr-
gency. 1--WE have three incomplete bat
tleships ready for their armor and use
less without it. There was something
more in this question:" Mr.. He said, |
than the mere cost of armor. We have
Il national honor, Il national dignity to
maintain, and there can be no hating,
no turning back whence once we have
embarked on an active policy of uphold
ing the national honor"
Mr.. Bacon OF Georgia moved to place
the 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 $3.50 and
stand by 1t, allowing the armament of |
the ships to fail, if need be- until CON
grcss rcassembles.
Mr.. Teller contributed lively speech.
1t had been the general impression that
our ships represented the power and
dignity of the nation, but he said our
WarShips had proved source of confu-
sion to the last administration. The Gu
ban war, the worst conflict in 100 years,
with murder and outrage, had ragged
at our doors, and throughout the con-
flict we had no ship to send there as the
representative of our national dignity and |
honor. The authorities had been afraid
to send ship, fearing it might cndanger
our peace with Spain.
why, war with Spain would be Il
thrilling affair so far us we are concern
ed" said Mr.. Teller.
lie ridiculcd the idea of having ships
II they were not to he sent where needed. |
We have good deal of trouble over our
ships. anyway, Mr.. Teller said. and prob
ably they would be as well on the stocks |
as IN service. 1t would be greater sur
render of national dignity to bow to the |
armor contractors than to let the sh, |
stand on the stocks, and the senate. go
clared he would let them stand ~ nor
ed for all time rather than .Ield IN |
by the armor combine
Mr.. Allen of Nebra criticised tho
general policy of e. ding the navy
comparing the Jersome battleshins
,,.ith