The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-23
THE ARMOR PLATE DEBATE
Boutelle's Amendment Ruled to
Be in Order.
FIGHT IS NOT FINISHED
Underwood OF Alabama Offers q Propo-
sition Calling for the Erection of
an Armor Plate Plant BY
the Government.

| #
Washington, Feb. 22.-The house to-
day inaugurated the custom which has
prevailed for many years in the senate
of listening to the reading of Washing
toms farewell address on Washingson's
birthday. The address was ~ead at the
request of Mr. Bailey of Texas, the
democratic leader. Two hours were de-
voted to the naval appropriation bill,
but seemingly only the threshold of
| the debate upon the cost of armor plate
has been passed. Mr.. Boutelle's amend
memt fixing the minimum price of ar
NOR plate at $545 per ton, but restrict
| ing the provision to the appropriation
made in the present bill, was ruled to
be in order, whereupon another PROPOSE
| ton was offered by Mr.. Underwood of
| Alabama for the erection of an armof
/ plate plant by the government A point
| was pending when the considera-
| tion of the naval bill was suspended to
| allow the members Of the house to pay
! tribute to the memory of the late Sem
ator Morrill, of Vermont
After the approval OF the journal in
| the house. Washington's farewell adj
dress, upon motion OF Mr.. Bailey, DEM.
| Tex. was read by the clerk of the
house. Conference agreement upon the
legislative appropriation bill was adopt
ed without debate. The house then
went into committee of the whole and
resumed consideration of the naval APP
preparation bill, the pending question
being on a point Of order raised by Mr..
Hopkins, rep, ILL.,, against the amend
| \ -. ID .k-1l- ~
maximum cost of armor plate, for
| which $4,000,O0 was appropriated in the
pending bill at S545 per ton.
Mr.. Boutelle declared that the result
of Mr.. Hopkins effort would be to
sheath our ships with inferior armor.
The ships now building, except the
three battleships built last, were to
be sheathed with armor costing $500
ton. This armor was inferior to that
which other nations were using. With
bitter sarcasm, he said he did not think
| any one, excepting Mr.. Hopkins, de-
sired anything but the most formidable
| armor to go upon our ships.
| Mr.. Hopkins denied that he had rails
| ed technical objections to the bill. The
| trouble as he saw 1t, was that Mr.. Bou-
| telle seemed to think that no one should
! have anything to say about naval APP
| preparations except himself. Mr.. Hop
| kins said he must insist that the gen
| tlenaan from Maine was not the whole
| thing" Laughter.) Mr.. Hopkins said
| he had no personal or selfish motives in
raising the point of order he had. He
| then proceeded to review the long con-
| troyersy over THE cost of arrnor plate,
the Investigation of the 53rd and 54th
| congresses and the final action of con-
gress after full debate In restricting
| the cost Of armor plate to $500. Yet,
| now, said he, the gentleman from
Maine, in violation of the rules of the
| house, attempted to increase the cost to
| $545 He asked why Mr.. Boutelle had
not offered the house some facts which
| warranted this proposed increase.
Mr. Boutelle interrupted to state en-
pha'tically that that was exactly what
he would do If Mr.. Hopkins would give
him a chance.
Mr. Sherman, rep, N. Y, who was in
the chair, overruled the point of order.
Mr.. Boutelle thereupon took the floor
in support of his amendment, explain
ing the circumstances which had led
the committee to recommend an in
crease in the price of arnor to $545. He
recalled the fact that Mr.. Hopkins, in
former congress- had specifically stat
ed that the Illinois Steel company was
prepared to furnish armor at 1850 per
ton. Mr.. Boutelle said he felt certain
at the time that this was a bogus pro-
cost to $500, but no proposals We're re-
ceived. The price was increased to
$500. Before he could conclude his state
ment, Mr.. Boutelles time expired, and
Mr.. Handy, DEM, Del, objected to an
extension.
Mr.. Underwood, dem. Ala, offered as
substitute for the whole paragraph
proposition to appropriate $4,000, 900
for the erection of an arnor plate plant
at such place as a commission compos-
ed of three officers of the navy may
select Mr.. Boutelle raised a point OF
order against it.
Mr. Underwood maintained that the
amendment was in order. He attacked
the position of the committee, which,
he said. asked for this enormous in
crease in the cost of armor plate with
out showing the reasons therefor.
Mr.. Boutelle, after being hard pressed
for the amount to be paid for the Krupp
royalties, said that the two reputable
firms had said that Krupp armor could
be obtained for $545.
But what is to be paid for royal
ties?" persisted Mr.. Underwood
From s45 to $50 per ton," finally re-
piled Mr.. Boutelle.
Mr.. Underwood criticised Mr.. Boutelle
for not giving the information he claims
ed to possess when he reported the bill.
Mr.. Underwood commended that the
Krupp process was no more expensive
than the Harvey process. and was sup
ported by Mr.. Todd, DEM. Mich, who
claimed to have copies of the KrupD
patents An armor plate plant, he
said. in conclusion, would be built for
$4,000 900 and the government be saved
the gigantic profits dragged out of 1t
by armor plate concerns.
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