The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-03-04
IT CAUSED A TURBULENT SCENE
IN THE SENATE LAST
NIGHT.
NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL PASSED
With the Armor Plate Amendment-The
House Discussed the Bill Against
the Publishing of Details
of Prize Fights.

Washington, March 1.-The senate was
at work again at IL o'clock today, after
being in session until shortly before mid
night last night. AS the Inauguration APP
breaches the senator's are the hardest
worked body of public men in Washing
ton. many of the appropriation bills being
in the balance. The prospect is that the
senators will sit, practically night end
day. until noon of March 4, and through
out the night of March B. On the instant
of noon, March 4, the session Will END,
for the officials have determined mat
there will be an end to the venerable Gus
tom of turning back the hands OF the
clock in order to crowd through the re-
manning bills.
Mr.. Lodge (rep.) of Massachusetts gave
notice today of motion to reconsider the
vote on the passage of the sundry civil
hill. He soon withdrew the notice, say
ing he had been assured that an objection
able amendment relating to the immigra-
tion laws would be taken out in confer
ence.
The District of Columbia Appropriation
l.
bill was then taken up. .....,..
The bill was laid aside for the passage
Of the house bill to authorize the sale Oh
forfeited domestic smoking opium, with
senate amendment providing that such
opium shall be destroyed.
Senator-elect r. c. Platt of New York
came ON the floor and had quite Il recep-
ton, many senator's. including Mr.. Hail,
whom he succeeds, being among the num-
Der to greet him.
Further sums of $44 900 were added to
the District of Columbia bill by the SEN
ate. and the bill was passed
One of the committee amendments
agreed to, declares the policy OF the
United States to be against approprla-
tions TO aid any school or religious society
in charitable work. and discontinuing all
such aid, June 30, 1898.
Mr.. Chandler wanted to go on with the
senate bill, with house amendments, 1or
an international monetary conierenGe.
1t went over, however. OWING TO the
nressure of the appropriation bill.
The naval appropriation bill was theh
taken up ,I,
Mr.. Chandler stated that he %; would
move later to increase the appropriation
for torpedo boats and increase the num-
Der provided for.
All amendments were adopted without
comment. except that relating to arnor
plates, which occasioned considerable de,
bate. r
that through investigation he was led to
the belief that armor plates should mol
cost above $500 per ton.
Mr.. Chandler moved AN amendment,
fixing the price at $500 per ton. Inc sen
ator paid a high tribute to Secretary Her
bert for his able and courageous report
which considered the cost OF armor piate
should not be above S4OO per ton, or w
per ton less than the secretary had paid
for armor during the last year.
Mr.. Chandler commented on the o1ler
of the Illinois Steel company to furnish
ormor Mt from 5000 to $3.50 per ton. and
ON the fact that the Bethlehem works
furnished the Russian government afmor
at $40 per ton.
Governor Tanner of Illinois came on
the floor during the debate, and' in
troduced by Mr.. Cullom to number or
senator's
When Mr.. Quay remarked that the IL
linois Steel company had made no dlfect
proposition, Mr.. Chandler said he took
it the senator meant to imply that ILL
nos company was merely seeking to an
noy and embarrass the Carnegie and
Bethlehem companies
Mr.. German traced the development
of the new navy until we had now reached
point where our ships already atioat
and our ship yards rivaled those of the
Clyde. With this result realized, was it
time to reverse our policy and enter upon
a huge scheme of establishing govern
ment armor factory, run by government
officers? 1t was a monster proposition,
under the gulse of Il reform. and it would
make armOr cost -four times what had
been paid private concerns.
When Mr.. Jones (dem.) of Arkansas
spoke of the "monstrous price paid for
armor by the government. and of Secre-
tary Herbert's recent recommendations
Mr.. German said he had never put much
faith in 'dcathbed repentances.'
The naval bill was temporarily laid
aside and conferences were ordered on
the pOstoffce and sundry civil appropria-
ton bills. .a
Mr.. Squire (rep.J Washington presented
the credentials of his successor, George
Turner. and Mr.. ,Shoup Tep.l of Idaho
presented the credentials of Henry Heit-
feldt as successor to Mr.. Dubois for the
term beginning March 4.
At 1870 p. IN. Mr.. Hill moved an eXccu-
tive session. There was sharp opposition.
but on a vote the motion prevailed. 36 to
20, and the doors were closed.