Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-03-01
The Senate Hard at Work on Ap-
preparation Bills.
CLOSING DAYS are VERY BUSY
Naval Bill Occupying the Time
at Present.
NJ ALTERS IN THE HOUSE

The Senate was at work again at IL
o'clock today, after being in session until
shortly before midnight last night AS the
inaugural approaches the senators are the
hardest worked body of public men in
Washington. many of the appropriation
bills being in the balance. The prospect Is
that the senators will sit practically night
ana DAY until noon of March 4 and
throughout the night of March 3. On the
If slant Of room of March the session will
erd. for the officials have determined that
there will be an end to the venerable Gus
tom of turning back the hands of the clock
in order to crowd through the remaining
bills.
Mr.. Lodge (Mass) gave notice today of
motion to reconsider the vote on the pas
sage of the sundry civil bill. He soon with
drew the notice. saying he had been assur-
ed that an Objectionable amendment relat-
ing to the immigra ton laws would be taken
out in conference.
The District of Columbia appropria ton
bill was then taken UP.
The bill was laid aside for the passage of
House bill to authorize the sale of forfeited
domestic smoking opium, with Senate
amendmen ts providing that such opium
shall be destroyed.
Senator-elect Thomas C. Platt of New
York came on the floor and held quite a
l.
H.n, whom he succeeds, being among the
members to greet him.
Further items. aggregating SAL. 900, were
added to the bill by the Senate, and the
amendments agreed to declares the policy
of the United States to be against appro-
priations to aid any church or religious So
c!eties in charitable work. and terminating
all such aid after June 30, 1898.
Mr.. Chandler wanted to go on with the
Senate bill. with House amendments, for
an international monetary conference. 1t
went over. however owing to the pressure
OF appropriation bills.
The naval appropriation bill was then
taken up.
Mr.. Chandler stated that he would move
later to Increase the appropriat ton for tor
vided.
All the other items were agreed to with
out comment. except that relating to cost
of armor and the establishment of gov
eminent armor plant, which occasioned ex-
tended debate. Mr.. Hale. in charge Of the
bill, explained that thorough investigation
led to the belief that armor plate should
not cost above 800 per ton The House
bill was on the basis of 800 per ton. The
Senate committee added the specific pro-
vision, NO contract for armor plate shall
be made at a rate exceeding 800 per ton.
Mr.. Chandler moved an amendment to
the foregoing, fixing the price at 500 per
ton.
The senator paid high tribute to Sec
rotary Herbert for his able and courag-
eous report, which concluded that the
cost of armor should not be above 500
per ton. or $3.50 per ton less than the Sec
rotary had paid for armor during the last
year.
Mr.. Chandler differed with Mr. Herbert
however, in computing the several items
going into the cost of armor The sena-
tors conclr sion was that $500 was nearer
just price than 800, assuming that the
government was prepared to make a large
contract.
Mr.. Quay and Mr.. German stated that
the $500 rate had been agreed to by the
naval committee. and SO recommended to
the appropriation committee for insertion
in this bill.
Mr.. Chandler dissented from these state
n.ents. asserting that no agreement had
been reached, and that $500 was an ample
price for the government to pay.