New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-06
THE NAVAL ARHOR QUESTION.
! PROPOSITION TO RAISE THE LIMIT OF COST
TO $500 A TON.

l PROPOSITION TO RAISE THE LIMIT OF COST
TO 500 TON.
Washington May (SpeciaD.-It is expected at
the Navy Department that the question of the cost
Of naval armor will shortly be settled The prob
ability is that a provision will be Incorporated in
the General Deficiency Appropriation bill now be-
fore the Senate increasing the that the Score
tary OF the Navy may pay for armor. An amend
mcnt the bill has been introduced in the Senate
by Mr. Perkins which authorizes the Secretary 70
pay $3.50 a ton. Existing law limits the price 70
$500. and when bids recently opened 10 supply
plates for the Wisconsin. the Illinois and the Ala
bama. only firm. the Illinois Steel Company,
offered furnish armor at this rate. The company
made the stipulation that it should receive con-
tract covering long period of years. This stpu-
lation Secretary Long could not agree TO- and,
owing TO the further fact that the company had no
armor plant. he referred the question back to Con-
gress recommending that 800 be fixed as the max
irnum price for armor. Speaker Reed, having de-
cided that no House committees should be APP
pointed at this session. there fear at the Navy
Department that delay would ensue in completing
the three battleships. for which plates will soon
be needed.
and II the expected happens the General Deficiency
bin Will make a suitable provision. Naval officers
are agreed that the only two firms in the country
which can manufa cture armor. the Bethlehem and
Carnegie works. will not furnish hign-grade plates
Congress to consider is whether American battle
ships shall carry inferior armor or the Senate and
House shall vote a more liberal expenditure.
number OF Senators similarly view the case. They
are prepared to move that the maximum price per
ton be made 800 the sum recommended by Score
tary Long and by his predecessor. Mr.. Herbert.
The raVal authorities have No assurances that
the Bethlehem and Carnegie companies Will accept
500 a ton but they say that this price Is much
more likely 10 he acceptable 70 the companies than
ioo or even $3.50. The unofficial suggestion has
been made that. with slight modica lions of armor
chcations to quality Of naterial. bur In
relation to details Of workmanship. such as bend
ing planning down edges ETC.. the pennsylvania
90 mpauies will submit proposals ar 500 per ton
The suggestion is 2 timely one. in the opinion or
naval ordnance experts. In case Congress fixes on
500 K will receive serious attention.
The position Of Senator Chandler on the ordnance
question causes considerable speculation. II was
he who secured the adoption of the provision max
inc $500 the limit OF Only recently the Sena-
tor said that il was his purpose 70 show the
Ponnsvlva MIA mOnopolists' "a he called the Beth
lehem and Carnegie companies, that they did not
have the Government by the throat. ne Is eX-
pected fight the proposition 10 Increase the limit
70 500 and when an effort is made 10 raise the
price 10 500 Mr.. Chambers opposition Will proha-
ilv be vigorous Nevertheless it now seems almost
certain that a clause will be inserted in the Cen
eral Deficiency hill authorizing the Secretary or
the Nav 10 contract for high-grade armor at the
rate $500