The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-26

WASHINGTON. April 25.-War and
war measures were the only topics dis
cussed by the senate today during
/. more than four hours Of it's session ..,
The body had scarcely convened when
the message of the president urging
congress to declare the existence of
war between the United States and
Spain, was laid before it. Without
comment the message was referred to
the foreign relations committee.
Mr.. Allen (Neb) introduced the fol-
lowing joint resolution, which he asked
to have referred to the committee on
foreign relations:
That state of war now exists and
has since the 18th day of February
1888, existed between the United States
OF America and the kingdom of Spain"
Consideration of the naval bill was
then resumed, the. pending question be-
ing upon the amendment offered by Mr.
Butler On. c. to regulate the price Of
armor.
The amendment provides that, for
the armor for the three battleShips now
in course of construction the govern
ment shall not pay to exceed S40O y
ton, including the nickel; and that sub
sequent contracts for arInor shall not
call for greater price than $500 per
ton. In case the drmOr cannot be OBJ
tanned the secretary Of the navy Is au-
thorized at once to purchase or estab-
l1sh a government armor factory, for
which $l,5OO,000 is appropriated and, In
addition, $1,000,0OO is appropriated for
the manufacture of the armor.
Mr.. Butler strongly advocated the
adoption Of the amendment, and charg-
ed that the ships of this country were
covered with defective armor.
Mr.. Butler was proceeding to read
some testimony taken before a commit
tee OF the house Of representatives re-
lating to defective plates on various
United States war vessels and to make
sharp comment upon it, when Mr.. Haw-
ley said sharply: II must protest
against this believe the senator from
North Carolina is out of order in MAX
ing these charges here publicly If he
should reduce them to writing and
transmit them privately to Spain,
pointing out these defective plates. he
would be guilty of treason"
Mr.. Tillman IS. c. called attention
to the fact that the statements made
by Mr.. Butler had been based upon
official and congressional reports, which
were easily accessible.
Naval Bill Passed.
Mr.. Hale moved to lay the amend
ment upon the table and it was so or
Gered by a vote Of Sc to Is.
Mr.. Hale offered an amendment au-
thorizing the secretary Of the navy to
enlist at any time, after the passage
of the act, as many seamen, landsmen
and boys as he may deem necessary to
man the ships Of the navy or for the
use of the navy as a temporary force
and appropriating $4,000 600 for that
purpose.
Mr. Hale agreed to an amendment
offered by Mr.. Cockrell (Mo) that the
he 1riy fho
ing war;
The amendment was agreed to, the
amount appropriated made Immediate
ly available.
An amendment was also agreed to,
providing that hereafter all f1rst-class
battleships and monitors shall be nam
ed after the various states. The bill as
amended was then passed.
The bill for the better organization
of the line Of the army Of the United
States. providing for the three bat
talon formation, was called up by Mr..
Hawley.
The amendments offered by the COM
mittee were agreed to without division.
The bill was placed upon it's passage
and passed within twenty minutes Of
its Introduction.
At 2:55 p. M, the message clerk Of
the house informed the senate that the
house had passed an act declaring a
state Of war existing between the Unit
ed States and Spain. The message was
read to the senate, and, at 1853 p. m,
the senate went into secret legislative
session to consider the resolution de-
claring the existence Of war. At 4:37
p. m. the senate resumed business in
open session.
A message was received from the
house announcing it's disagreement
with the senate amendment to the
army reorganization bill and asking for
conference The conference was
agreed to- and Messrs HaWley Proctor