The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-23
AMENDMENT FOR
AN ARMOR PLANT
Underwood Proposes an Appropriation
Of $4,OOO,OOO.
THE TIME IS OPP0RTUNE
For the Building Of a Government Ar
NOR Plate Factory.
TRIBUTES TO SENATOR MORRILL,
House and Senate Devoted Considerable
Time in Extolling the Virtues OF
the Dead Statesman-Was ashing-
tons Farewell Address Read.

Washington, February 22.-The house to-
day inaugurated the custom which has pre-
vailed for many years in the senate OF
listening to the reading of Washingtons
farewell address on Washington's birthday.
The address was read at the request of
Mr. Bailey, of Texas, the democratic lead
er.
Two hours were devoted to the naval ap-
preparation bill, but seemingly only the
threshold of the debate upon the cost OF
armor plate has been passed. Mr.. Boutelles
amendment fixing the maximum price OF
armor plate at $545 per ton, but restricting
| the provision to the appropriation made in
the present bill, was ruled to be In order.
whereupon another proposition was offered
by Mr.. Underwood, Of Alabama, for the
erection of an armor plate plant for the
government. point of order against the
latter proposition was pending when the
consideration of the naval bill was suspend
ed to allow the members of the house to
pay tribute to the memory of the late Sem
ator Morrill,, of Vermont.
The house shortly after convening went
into committee of the whole and resumed
the consideration of the naval appropria-
ton bill. the pending question being on the
point of order raised by Mr.. Hopkins (rep.
ILL.,, against an amendment offered by Mr..
Boutelle, fixing the minimum cost of armor
plate for which $4,00O,000 was appropriated
In the pending bill, at $545 per ton.
Inferior Glass of Armor
Mr.. Boutelle declared that the result of
Mr.. Hopkins efforts would be to sheath
our ships with inferior armor. The ships
now building, except the three battleships
authorized last year, were to be sheathed
with armor costing $500 a ton. This armof
was inferior to that which other nations
were using. With biting sarcasm he said
he did not think any one except Mr.. Hop
kins desired anything but the most formid-
able armor to go upon our ships ~
Mr.. Hopkins denied that he had raised
technical objections to the bill. The
trouble. as he saw It, was that Mr.. Bou-
telle seemed to think that no one should
have anything to say about naval appropri-
ations except himself Mr.. Hopkins said
he must insist that the gentleman frop
Maine was not the whole thing" Qaugh-
ter)
Mr.. Hopkins said he had no personal or
selfish motive in raising the position he
had. Then proceeding to review the long
controversy of the cost of armor plate
The investigation of TIE rifty-thrd and
Fifty-fourth congresses and the final action
Of congress after full debate in restricting
the cost of armor plate to $780,
He asked why Mr.. Boutelle had not Of
fered the house some facts which warrant
ed this proposed increase.
Mr.. Boutelle interrupted to state en-
phaticallly that that was exactly what he
would do II Mr.. Hopkins would give him
a chance.
Mr.. Sherman (rep.. N. ", who was in the
chair, overruled the point of order.
Supported His Amendment
Mr.. Boutelle thereupon took the floor in
support of his amendment, explaining the
circumstances which had led the commit
tee to recommend an increase Of the price
of armor plate to $545 He recalled the
fact that Mr.. Hopkins. in former con-
gress had specifically stated that the Ill
inois Steel company was prepared to fur
nish, armor at $3.50 per ton. Mr.. Boutelle
said he felt certain at the time this was
| a bogus proposition. Congress then limited
| the cost to $500. But no proposals were re-
ceived. The price was increased to $4O0.
Before he could conclude his statement Mr..
Boutelle's time expired.
Mr.. Underwood (dem., Ala-), offered as
| a substitute for the whole paragraph q
proposition to appropriate $4,000.0O0 for the
erection of an armor plate plant at such
place as commission composed Of three
officers of the navy might select.
Mr.. Boutelle raised point Of order
against 1t.
Mr.. Underwood maintained that the
amendment was in order He attacked the
position of the committee, which, he said.
asked for this enormous increase in the
cost of arInor plate without printed hear
| ings showing the reasons therefor.
Mr. Boutelle, after being hard pressed
| for the amount to be paid for the Krupp
| royalties, said that two reputable firms
| said Krupp armor could be obtained for
| $545.
Amount of the Royalty
"But what is to be paid for royalty?"
persisted Mr.. Underwood
From $3.50 to $500 per ton," replied Mr..
| Boutelle.
Mr. Underwood criticised Mr.. Boutelle
| for not giving the house the information
| he claimed to possess when he reported
| the BILL. Mr.. Underwood contended that
the Krupp process was no more expensive
| than the Harvey process.
An armor plate plant, he said, In con-
clusion, would be built for SO, 600, 900 and the
government be saved the gigantic profits
| dragged out of it by the armor plate con-
Germs.
Mr.. Underwood said that the time was
opportune for building government plant.
Without deciding the point OF order the
| committee rose at 2:46 p. m.
The senate amendments to the naval per-
| sonnel bill were non-concurred In and the
| bill was sent to conference.
The remainder of the day was devoted
| to eulogies upon the life and public SER