Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-07-13
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, July 10.
GENATE.

plate tor new battleShlpS leo 10 Cohsiu
cradle discussion. The bill provided a
total appropriation of $3,410,725 for
armor for the three battleships au,
thorized 10 1896 and limited the cost
per ton to 1925. Mr.. Butler offered an
amendment reducing the total to
50, 4O7 800, limiting the cost to $500 per
ton, and providing for the establishment
of a government armor factory ifpri-
vate concerns do not bid within S3OO
per ton.
Mr.. Pettigrew spoke of the evidence
taken before the committee on naval
affairs, showing conclusively, he said,
that armor plate could be made TOR
$3.50 per ton. Notwithstanding this,
the armor factories being in collision
refused to make armor for $500 and de
manded 1925. Instead of opposing the
trust Mr.. Pettigrew said, the naval
committee now proposed to accede to
its demands. 1t was procedure too
disgraceful to be tolerated, the Senator
asserted. 1t should be discussed in
full Senate and the Senator therefore
called attention to the absence OF q
quorum.
The call disclosed the presence OF 40
Senators, just quorum, and the debate
on armor plate proceeded.
Mr.. Butler spoke in severe criticism
of the course of the armor factories and
of the disposition in official circles to
yield to them.
He said that by fraud aud deception
armor plate had been palmed oil on the
government so defective that it could
be pierce like pine board. The Sena-
tor asserted that men had been shot
and put in dungeons for ofteDses OF far
less magnitude.
Mr.. Tillman insisted that many Of
the alleged defective plates were in
use, and said their exact location on
| various warships was specified in the
report of the House naval committee.
When Mr.. Butler reiterated the
statement as to the extent OF the de-
fective armor in use, Mr.. Hale inter
rupted with a sweeping denial. He
said that such condition would be ap-
palling if it existed in reality but there
was no warrant for the assertions by
Athe North Carolina Senator. He utter
ly aud absolutely denied that any pro-
portion of the armor plate on our war
ships was unserviceable.
Mr.. Butler declared that he knew OF
no more dangerous kind of high treason
tnan the equipping of war vessels With
defective plates. 'If we are to take
Hawaii, if we are to go into the land
grabbing business, then," said Mr.. But.
Ter, 1--WE must have fleet as good and
better than any other country in the
world.
When Mr.. Butler closed Mr. Chan
dler facetiously called on Mr.. Tillman
to take the floor. The South Carolina
Senator responded that unless there
was something to fight there was no
need Of talk.
Mr.. Chandler inquired of Mr.. Till
man what had become of the House
resolution adopted as result of the Car
negie investigation. 1t had come TO a
democratic Senate, had been referred
to democratic naval committee. He
asked Mr.. Tillman if he was demo
crat, what the democrats had done
with this resolution.
Mr.. Tillman responded that he
thought his course had shown him to
be impartial in pointing out the short
comjngs and the rascality-if that word
was allowable-of democrats as we'll as
others. Mr.. Tillman pointed out al
legged Irregularities in furnishing armor
plate and referred to the fact that Sec
rotary Herbert had imposed a fine on
the Carnegie company, which fine was
remitted by the President.
"And was tia democratic President
who RENTED the ine?" queried Mr..
Allen.
please don't leave out 'so.called' in
referring to that President" answered
Mr.. Tillman amid laughter, las it hurts
nv feelings to hear him referred to as q
democratic President" He went on 10
say he had never sought to fsthom the
mystery of how the President had trit d
to override law and decency by remit
ting the fine.
Mr.. Hale opposed the Butler amend
ment and referred to the building up Of
the new navy and the incidental de.
velopment in the United States of
plants capable of producing everything
needed for equipping the finest ships
afloat. The Senator said government
work on warships had not proved Q
success and every ship built in a public
/ yard had proved pest to the govern
ment officials.
| HOUSE.
The House took recess to-day until
tomorrow at noon without transacting
sl,y business. Mr. Cannon, the chair
nun of the appropriations committee
of rhe last Congress, announced that it
was evident that the deficiency bill
would not be ready to act upon until
to morrow and he, therefore, moved
recess until tomorrow at nom.
Mr.. Simpson, under the guise of
parliamentary inquiry, asked the
Speaker whether the House yesterday
took recess or adjourned.
The Speaker replied that the House
had recessed.
~ thought the motion was that the