The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-02
TILLMAN
BREAKS OUT.
He Jabs His PitchfOrk Vitrio1
Pointed
Into Senator Joseph r. HaWley
of Connecticut.
REEKING WITH FRAUD
He Declares the ArmOr Plate
Contracts to Be.
Says Manufacturers Have Paid
Agents in the Senate.
HaWley Takes 1t to Himself and
Tillman Lets Him.
Says Manufacturers Have Paid
Agents in the Senate.
HaWIey Takes 1t to Himself and
Tillman Lets Him.
STEALS GO THROUGH
Congress Amounting to Millions
of Dollars
While Members Squabble Over
$4,000 Items.

Washington, March 2.-Senator Tillrnan
provoked a turbulent scene in the senate
last night when he charged that armor
plate manufacturers had their paid
agents in that body who were robbing the
government The charge was resented by
Senator Hawley. of Connecticut.
Whereupon Mr.. Tillman replied: LET
the CALLED jade vince" and it looked for
a time as though personal conflict was
imminent, until Mr.. Hawley was escort
ed to the cloak room. Senators Hawley
and Squire had spoken against Senator
Chambers amendment to the naval APP
NOR plate to $500 a ton. Senator A tkinS had
complained of the lack of information on
armor plate when Mr. Tillman took the
although a member of this naval COM
mittee,' began Mr.. Tillrnan. who followed
Mr.. Ell1ins, land though 1 have given as
much time to this as l could spare from
senator as much information as he wants.
But am able to say" he added with en-
phaSiS, that no recent expenditure of the
government has been 50 reeking with
fraud and so disgraceful to those con-
When Secretary Whitney made the first
contracts for armor plate it was under
stood that these enormous prices We're to
be paid only for a time on account Of the
great expenditure necessary to build an
impetus of the Venezuelan war scare, the
house had sent a proposal for four bat
tleships to the senate, the number was
fixed at three because there were only
three yards in the country that could
build such ships The three companies
had agreed upon the prices, had bid in
collision, and consequently the govern
ment was paying over a million and
half more for these ships than was neces-
sary
Then coming to the armor plate cues
ton, he said: Instead of us controlling
the monopolies, the monopolies have this
senate in their vicious pocket.
Senator Hawley. at this charge half
rose from his chair as if he would inter
pose an objection, then changed his mind
and sank back.
ct would hate tO saw or even fa
Mr.; Til In IN continued cont tWirling his
gases IN ms hand mat mat tn9Se ar4r
Then Mr.. Hawley arose, beginning;
Does the senator dare?'
Mr. Tillman took the, words from his
mouth. I dare to say he shouted, that
so far as 1 can see there are things here
that. can be explained other the
''if the senator dares to say or even to
insinuate such a. disgracefuI thing. he
says what is untrue and what is
worthy of a gentleman" Mr.. Hawley re-
piled very deliberately and emphatically.
The galleries We're crowded and at this
ceeded their buzzing.
Senator Tillman was unruffled. He
thrust his hands into his trousers pocket
nonchalantly and, looking over to Sena-
tor Hawley, coolly returned:
TO that can only say it is the jade
Senator Hawley turned pale and trem-
IF the senator applies that to me have
a sufficient answer" he said angrily.
Two or three senators gathered around
Senator Hawley. endeavoring, apparent
~, to calm him. Finally he walked with
them into the cloak room while Senator
Tillman continued his speech.
4 do not want to say anything harsh.''
he said. God knows L have got enough
vitriol in me now
Going on. he said: ct see no legisIa-
ton for this state of affairs except that
the manufacturers had their friends in
the senate chamber. There was proof
that the government was to be mulcted
to the extent of two or three millions
yet the senate said we cannot help it -
He continued to lecture. saying he had
no doubt the proposition would go
through
The old guard never Surrenders.'' he
exclaimed, you get up here and sQuab-
bic over your little $4,000 items and let
these million dollar steals go through like