The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-02-23
Ar NOR PLA EQUEsTlON
Mr. BOuteIIe Tells How the Committee
Arrive at Its Conclusions Regarding It.
THEY ACCEPTED ,HERBERT's FIGURES
Omission OF Providing for New ships
In No Sense Due 10 I.axity on Part
Of Committee bat of Considora-
ton OF tho National Finances
aud Inability TO Obtnin t.rmor.

Washington, February GA few
weeks ago only the House was the scene
OF prolonged debate full OF bitterness
and personal accusation concerning the
Pacific railroads refunding bill. To-day
another opportunity for q display Of
temper and recrimination on the same
subject was given In the consIderat ton
or paragraph In the Deficiency BILL
appropriating $l,300,0 GOO to pay a judg-
ment OF the court OF claims III favor Of
the southern Pacific, but the matter was
considered IN a rather dgnified manner
win merely suggestion of feeling.
SAVERS OPPOSES REFUNDING.
Mr. Sayers, Democrat, Of Texas. led
the opposition to the appropria ton,
taking the ground that the Southern
Pacific controlled the Central Pacific
and should not be paid any money while
the latter stood so deeply indebted to the
government. The House, in committee
OF the whole, refused to strike out the
paragraph in.ques ton, and also de-
clined to make some minor amend
ments designed to curtail the benefits
conferred by the bill on the Pacific rail
roads. Later on Mr.. Sayers cndeavored
to have the Deficiency bill sent back to
committee With Instructions 10 strike out
the Pacific railroad paragraphs, but
was defeated in yea ana nay vote.
DEFICIENCY BILL PASSED.
The Deficiency bill was passed with Il
few changes in its PROVISIONS. The ap-
preparation OF Sl2,00U TO refund TO mem
BEES sums detached from their salaries
Tor absence, was eliminated, as were
likewise Items providing for the pay
ment OF actual salaries 10 the special
employees conceded the Democrats by
the majority.
y conference on tile bill appropriate ting
S2oO,OU0 for closing the crevasse at Pass
rOutre, Ia, was p.esen and agreed
to-
NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS
Mr.. Boute!le. the chairman OF the
Naval Affairs Committee. succeeded IN
getting up the Naval Appropria ton bill
before adjournment. and after he had
explained its principal provisions, CON
sider3b Bile progress III IL reading was
made before the end OF the session,
which came at $40 o'clock
No exercises in celebration of Wash
!nglon's birthday took place in the
House
THE .ARMOR PLATE QUESTION.
IN his explanation OF the Naval
bill Mr. Boutelle referred to the armol'
plate question and told how the commit
tee had arrived al its conclusions regard
ing the plate. Congress had provided a t
lis last session that no contracts should
be made for armor for the three battle
ships then authorized until the Secreta-
~ Of the Navy could investigate and
make Z report on the cost of manufac-
turing armor. That report had been
made al this session, and the Committee
on Naval Affairs, by providing that the
total cost OF armor for the three ships
should not exceed ,$400 ton, had fol-
lowed the report 1t was fair to say
that the manufacturers Of armor pa te
did not agree with the secretarys con-
clusions.
SECREIARYiS FIGURES ACCEPTED
But the secretary said he had given
his best judgment and the committee,
without attempting to FIX the price
themselves, had most wisely accepted
the report of the Secretary of the Navy
S coming in the nature of Il depart
mental estimate.
Concerning the action Of the commit
tee In leaving out an appropriate ion for
new ships, Mr.. Boutelle explained that
that omission represented in no possible
sense any laXity on the part Of the COM
mittee in pushing forward the building
OF the new navy. The committee had
done SO out of consideration Of the ma
tional finances, primarily; out of con-
siderat!on Of what 1t believed to be the
present temper Of the House, and on
account Of the inability to obtain armor
for the three battleshIps now on the
stocks.