The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-02
ARMoR PLATE UNDER ATTACK.
EtKINs AND TILLMAN STIR UP THE
SENATE.

ate TO Find Out what Armor Plnte
costs Before Putting a Price On 1t.
Washington. March To-day the Sen
att. in the space Of about one hour and
a half. passed the District of Column
bia appropriation bill, carrying items to
the amount of $7.4H,677, being an excess
of s1655,OOO over the bill as it passed
the House Half of the amount is to be
paid out of the treasury of the United
States and half out of the revenues of
the District of Columbia.
Then the naval appropriation bill was
taken up 1t carries $50, rs. 2S4, a little
over $4,000 more than the bill con-
tanned when it left the house.
The principal items of increase are:
Naval station. Port Royal, S. c., $4,000.
Naval yard Mare Island, Cal, $3.50, 900.
Naval hospital Port Royal. S. c., $1,000.
Training vessel for naval academy, $780,
OOo.
Increase of the navy, construction and
machinery, $4,000.
Establishing government armor facto-
~ $2.5OOCOO.
In addition 10 these items, the appro-
priation committee reports an amend
ment authorizing contracts TO be made
for three torpedo boats, not 10 cost over
ssOooOO in all.
While the bill was being read, it was or
dered, at the suggestion of Mr. Allison,
that at o'clock this afternoon. the Sen
ate shall take a recess until s o'clock.
The torpedo boats amendment and all
the other amendments up to that point.
were agreed to without discussion or ques-
ton
The amendment in page 30. OF the bill,
providing that no contract for armor
plate shall be made at a rate to exceed
500 per ton;" and the connected amend
ment striking out the clause that no por-
ton of the armor shall be purchased until
il has all been contracted for; were pass
ed over temporarily Also the amendment
appropriating $2,500,000 for the establish
ment of an armor factory.
The remainder of the bill having been
disposed of, the controverted amendments
were taken up.
The first question was on the provision
In the bill that the total cost of the armor
shall not exceed $4,000. to which the
Senate committee had reported the
amendment that " no contract for armor
plate shall be made at a rate to exceed
$500 per ton"
Mr. Chandler rep. of New Hampshire,
moved to amend the Senate amendment,
by making 1t read: mo contract for arm
or plate shall be made at an average rate
to exceed $500 per ton"
On these several propositions a discus
sion was kept up until 4:30 o'clock, with
out any solution of the question.
The bill was laid aside informally, with
out action on the pending amendment
f,..a orda IT.
Office appropriation bill and on the sun
dry civil appropriation bill
The credentials of Senators-elect Turner
of Washington and Heitfeld Of Idaho were
read and placed on file.
The Senate, at 4:30 o'clock. proceeded to
the consideration of executive business,
and at o'clock took recess until
O'Clock.
When the Senate resumed it's session
at O'clock the naval appropriation bill
was taken up. the pending amendment
being that relative to armor plate.
Mr.. Hawley, rep, of Connecticut, oppos-
ed both the establishment of a govern
ment armor factory and the fixing of the
price of armor at either $500 or $500 per ton.
He defended the private manufacture of
war material, and said that instead OF try
ing to cheat the government they always
sought TO give the government the best.
The builder of a crack cruiser was proud
government
Mr.. Elkins. rep, of West Virginia OPP
posed the expenditure of the 50, 10000 for
armor plate carried by the bill until
something definite was known of the real
cost of armor. He inveighed
against the policy of buying
anything without knowing about its value.
The committee on appropriations had
fixed one price, and a former Secretary of
the Navy (Mr. Chandler) had fixed an
other, and both were cropping in the dark.
1t was remarkable piece of legislation
that fixed the price of armor plate with
out any definite knowledge of the value,
and to say TO the contractor in the same
breath, that If he did not accept this ulti-
matum, the government would buy his
plant at much more than its value. He
advocated a suspension of the work on
the battleships, If necessary, for with the
congress about to adjourn, with an arbi-
tration treaty with Great Britain await
ing ratification. with the Cuban question
having the right of way, and Julio San
gully on his way TO the Senate to see his
sympathizers, there was no necessity for
haste. THE contractors refuse TO tell the
cost of manufacturing armor," said MIR.
Elkins, and, therefore says the senator
from New Hampshire (Mr. Chandler), we
will pay $500 ton. Therefore, says the
committee on appropriations we will pay
800 a ton, and the senator from Mary
land mir. Gorman). says, Amen; we will
pay $500 a ton while we who furnish the
votes have to follow them blindly."
Mr.. Tillman said that. while he was a
member of the committee on naval af-
fairs. he was unable to give Mr.. Elkins
all the light he desired. But he knew
there was no expenditure $50 reeking
with fraud and so dsgraceful TO those
responsible for IT," He said that inves-
tigatiOn into the cost of making armor
had shown that the cost heretofore paid
the Bethlehem steel works for armor had
paid for the establishment of the plant
twice over and virtually made a present
of II to the company. He further assert
cd that the two armor- making plants in
the countryside Bethlehem and Carne-
gie plants-instead of competing were in
collision 20 keep up the price Of armor
plate.
The mere suggestion that the govern
ment should go into the business OF manu-
featuring armor was sure to raise the
specter Of government ownership of rail-
roads and like concerns. People smoke Of
congress controlling the trusts. but instead
of this the trusts had their hands in our
breeches pockets" lie hated to think that
these monopolies had their paid agents in
the Senate. but IL looked like IL. II do not
want 20 say anything harsh he went On