The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-05
ARMOc PLATE.
QUESTION rs A VERY TROUBLE
SOME ONE.
Secretary Herbert Gives His Views
Radical Reduction in Price Pro-
posed By Others.

Washington, Feb. 4.-The DISPOSE
ton of the troublesome question of the
arnlor plate. it's cost. etc, appears to
be one upon which the senate commit
tee. no naval affairs cannot speedily
reach a conclusion. An hour and a
half was consumed this morning a
the consideration of the Chandler re-
port, but no decision was reached
That portion relative to the cost of
armor was not touched upon The
secretary of the navy fixed the cost AT
$500, and Mr.. Chandler reduces it to
$500. The firms engaged in the manu-
facture of the armor are now receiv-
ing $500 and $500 ton. The committee
Will further consider the subject next
Tuesday.
1t is evident that the language of
the Chandler report is too severe in
some respects to suit the committee.
During today's session it was toned
down in some portions. The structures
upon the alleged conduct of Commo-
dore FOlger have not yet been re-
ported, but determined effort is to
be made by the friends of this Of
hcial to eliminate Mr.. Chambers Sc
we're condemnation in this respect. The
main question before the committee is
what sum shall be fixed as the proper-
This is difficult problem, and its So
luton has not been worked out The
consensus of opinion appears to be,
however, or naming the amount in
the bill instead of leaving it discre-
t1onary with the secretary of the navy.
as has been suggested by some mem
Ders OF the committee. 1t is believed
that in the end the committee VIII
adopt the figures of Secretary Herbert.
VIZ: $500 ton. Extremists on the
committee go even lower than Mr..
Chandler. Mr.. Tillman having stated
that 500 ton was sufficient for this
work.
1t is not the intention of the COM
mlttee to leave the secretary at the
mercy OF two armor plate concerns Of
the United States, and thus jeOpa rdise
the three armored vessels now on the
ways. If the price is fixed at $500 a
ton there will be a saving of about !
500 ton or half million dollars en-
edch WarShip. The committee is ia
vorable to a provision in the bill fixing
the price to be paid for this armor
Wnlcn VIII carry an appropriation
sufficient TO enable the secretary, in his
discretion, 10 purchase or build an ar
NOR plate plant on behalf of the gov
eminent This can be done. the COM
mittee believe, for two or two ard a
half million dollars. This viii be
done, II at all, not so much because
II is believed the government will ever
build such plant, but for the reason
that 1t Will act as a wholesome reeu-
lator and prevent the arrnor pIate
firms from refusing TO supply armor at
the price fixed by congress- Whether
1t would be wise for the governments
TO enter upon this work, is a cues
ton upon which there is a difference
or opinion When he was before the
committee, Secretary Herbert stated
that it would probably cost more for
the government to construct a plant
than it would for private capital. and
1t is said that he also admitted that
1t would probably cost more to make
the armor. The provisional appronria-
ton for such a plant is deemed essen
tial, in order to compel the contractors
to lower their bids, and there is little
doubt but that it will be inserted in
the proposed bill