Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-03-04
ARMOR PLATE.
The Discussion Causes a Turbulent
Scene In the Senate.
NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL PASSED.
Tho Bill to Prohibit the Transmission Of
Detailed Accounts Of Prize Fights
Causes = Lively skirnish
In the House.

WASHINGTON, March 2.-Senator Till
man, of South Carolina, provoked q
turbulent scene in the senate last
night when he charged that the armor
plate manufacturers had their paid
agents in that body who were robbing
the government. The charge was resent
ed by Senator IIawley, of Connecticut.
Senators IIawley and Squire had
spoken against Senator Chambers
amendment to the naval appropriation
bill to reduce the price OF armor plate
to $500 ton, and Senator Elkins had
complained of the lack of information
on the cost Of armor plate, when Sena-
tor Tillman took the floor. although
a member OF this naval committee" be-
gan Mr.. Tillman, 81 have given as
much time to this as could spare from
my other duties but am not able to
give the senator as much information
a, he wants. But am able to say
he added, with emphasis, that no re-
cent expenditure OF the government
has been so reeking with fraud and 50
disgraceful to those connected with it."
Mr.. Elkins spoke warmly of the lack
of information before the senate upon
the price of armor plate. 1t was the
most remarkable proposition ever pre-
sented to congress, he said, that when
the committee on naval affairs reported
that fair price would be $500 and $500
for armor plate, the committee
fixed the price at $500 a ton.
The Chandler amendment reduc-
ing the price of armor plate to $500
Il ton, was adopted without a division.
Then another amendment, proposed by
Mr., Pettigrew to reduce the total OF
contracts authorized to S2,407, sos, to
correspond with the reduction per ton,
was adopted The naval bill was
passed at midnight, and although Mr..
Chandler tried to call up the interna-
tional monetary conference bill, the
senate ad journed.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-The house
galleries were thronged with visitors
all day, but the crowds witnessed moth
ing beyond the dullest Of routine mat
ters until the last half hour Of the ses-
sion, when the bill to prohibit the
transmission Of detailed accounts OF
prize fights by mail or telegraph was
brought up. This led to a very lively
skirmish, in which prize fighting was
denounced on all sides, and the advo-
Gates of the bill insisted that the sick
ening details" should be suppressed in
the interest of good morals. But the
bill met most strenuous opposition on
the ground that it would tend to estab-
fish censorship Of the press. At the
end of the debate the adversaries of
the measure outvoted the friends of
the bill on several filibustering mo-
tons, but an agreement for a recess
until ten o'clock to-day put an end to
hostilities The bill now becomes the
unfinished business whenever the call
Of committees is reached, but as con-
ference reports have the right of way,
it is doubtful whether that order of
business will again be reached this
session.
The sundry civil bill was sent to con-
ference, as was also the post office APP
preparation bill together with a num-
her of other bills.
Mr.. Van Horn, Of Missouri, secured
the passage of rather peculiar bill.
1t authorizes the Interstate national
bank of Kansas City to move from Kan
,as into Missouri The bank is in a
building on the boundary line, and de-
,ires to move from one portion of the
building, which is in Kansas, to an.
other portion, which is in Missouri,
This requires an act of congress- The
house agreed to the conference report
on the st, Louis bridge bill The con-
ference report on the bill to protect
national military parks was agreed to.
A bill was passed to provide for the
transmission to Washington of presi-
Dental election returns by mail. The
bill abolishes the system of messen-
gers now employed.