The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-02
WORK OF THE SENATE.
Naval Bill Passed with Amendments
a2O.OOO 600 Voted for Spain.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-The Senate is
rapidly clearing it's decks for final adjourn
ment. The naval appropriation bill. which
ordinarily consumes the time of the Senate
for several days, was passed this afternoon
after less than five hours OF debate. In that
time. however, ii was amended radically in
one respect. The price to be paid by the gov
eminent for armor plate was fixed in the
bill at 500 a ton, a reduction OF the amount
fixed by the House OF s145 a ton. In addi-
ton, the secretary of the navy was author
lied, IN the event of the refusal Of the ar
mcr-plate companies to supply armor at $500
to proceed 10 the construction of an armor
factory TO cost 81 10000, and placing in the
secretary's control S2,00,OO0 with which to
operate the government plant. The fight for
these amendment was led by Mr.. Tfllman,
who made a Enthusiastically sensational
speech in support of the propositions. The
Senate adopted resolutions Cf regret at the
death of Lord Herschell and concluded the
days session by pronouncing eulogieS upon
the late Repl sentative Dingley.
One OF the first acts OF the Senate when
considerastion Of the bill carrying $40. 100000
with which to pay Spain for relinquishment
of the Philippine islands In accordance with
the measure from the committee on appro-
prlations and asked for its immediate con-
sheraton The bill was laid before, the SEN
ate and in half a minute was passed without
a word of debate.
Mr.: Cullom, 2 member, of the Hawaiian
upon the bill creating a form OF government
for the territory of Hawaii.
Mr.; Perkins inquired of Mr.. .Cullom
Wnetner any provision existed regarding the
alien contract laws applicable to the States
and Territories of the United States
Unless We take action before the close of
the present session.. suggested Mr.. Perkins,
las. many contract laborers as desired may
be imported into Hawaii"
Doubtless that Is true replied Mr.. Gull
lom.
Mr.. Cullom discussed at length the acdui-
various times. In this connection he re-
ferred TO Mr.: Hoar as a gentle echo of the
anu-lmperlallsts of former days"
VALEDICTORY.
Mr.. Allen called up the resolution Of Mr..
Vest in relation to the acquisition of foreign
territory by the United States and delivered
on 1t his valedictory. Six years ago, he said,
he had entered the Senate chamber as the
single member in this body of a new polit-
zeal party. ITO be a pioneer of a new polit-
ical party" said he. was by no means an
easy task" but he would retire from the
Senate with the consciousness of having
done his duty as best he could, and of not
having committed an act or said a word that
ne would not repeat in like circumstances.
- SaANf " OAt HtdIS III tic
west and was essentially a product OF that
region. He would return to ii with glad
OF a lifetime.
The following measures were passed: Joint
resolution construing the act approved June
q. 1880. entitled AN act granting pensions
70 soldiers and sailors who are incapacitated
Tor the performance of manual labor. and
children and dependent parents:' for the
lloWance of certain claims reported by the
accounting officers of the Treasury Depart
OF July claims.
Mr.. Tillman secured the adoption of a
resolution authorizing the secretary of war
10 loan to the executive of the
United Confederate Veterans for their re-
union to be held in Charleston. s. c.. on
NAY 10 1899. 10000 cots. 10000 mattresses and
consideration of the naval appropriation
niI was then begun. the amendments of
measure was read. The reading Of the hiI
was concluded at 1:5O D. m, all the commit
zee amendments having been agreed to in
the course of the reading. After some for
NAL amendments were offered by the com
mittee and agreed to Mr.. Gray called at
aention to a provision OF the bill appropri-
ating l-uo.CJ for the purchase and man
fracture of smokeless powder. He deemed
II a policy of our people not to bring the
government INTO competition with private
industry. He therefore offered an amend
ment providing that not more than $50. 600
OF the sun SHOULD be expended in manu-
faeture. Mr.. Hale accepted the amend
ment and IL was agreed to-.
SUBMARINE BOATS.
An amendment was agreed to authorizing
the secretary of the navy to contract for
TWO submarine boats of the Holland type at
a cost not to exceed s1S5 600 each.
Mr.. Hanna offered an amendment author
izing the secretary OF the navy to purchase
from the Gothmann Torpedo Gun Company,
OF chicago, the gun equipment for one or
more of the harbor defense monitors. SUBJ
Ject TO the usual inspection of the Bureau
OF ORDNANCE, at a cost not exceeding $4,000.
Ine amendment was agreed to.
The secretary Of the navy was authorized
10 appoint a commission TO report on a To-
cation Tor a ccaling station on the Pacific
coast south of San Francisco: TO apDoint a
board to consider the construction of a drv
dock in the Columbia river, and to appoint
a similar board to consider the desirability
near by waters.
The controversy over the price of armor
pate was then precipitated by Mr.. Tflman,
VINO offered an amendment reducing the
price from s445 per ton to $500. Speaking to
his amendment, Mr.. Tillman declared that
millions OF dollars were being ~sauandered
by the government in feathering the nests
or the arnor trust ard he felt that the
senate and country ought to know what
kind OF a steal was going on" He said in
Inc course or his speech that he proposed
an alternative proposition, TO establish q
government armor plant so that the United
states could say To the armor trust that If
- NNA AVN oNPt-S III tlOI ~ a DItDEE price the
government would manufacture it's own
armor. He said 1t was perfectly evident that
the two Pennsylvania arrOr plants had "A
pull. whatever that might mean" i'm the
other house OF CoHgrsss ard were able 10
hold up the price of armor. Mr.. Tillman ia
vored the doing OF the work by the gov
eminent. even at an increased price, for then
labor and not capital would receive the hene-
fits. Why he demanded. ARE we TO yield
to these armOr thieves. these robbers? Are
we TO permit these people 10 order US to
stand and deliver? l have deemed IL my
duty to protest against these methods and
therefore have offered my amendment re-
ducing the price TO $500 a ton"
Mr.. Chandler. in support OF the amend
ment, said the Carnegie and Bethlehem fac
tories were In combination and together in
combination with European manufacturers.
They were making a desperate effort to hold
up the price of armor and the device had
armor, which they maintained could not be
manufactured for less than Ss5 a ton He
did not propose, he said, To be led away
from HIS opinions by any such statement.
He did not believe that IL would cost Sl00 a
ton more 10 make the Krupp armor than
rather wait. before purchasing more armor.
for another careful investigation of the
whole armor plate question
PRICE OF ARMOR CUT TO $500.
Mr. Tillmsn's amendment was adopted, "a
to %. as follows:
Yeas-Allen. Bacon. Bate. Berry, Butler.
Canery, Chandler. Chiffon. Clay, Cock
reIl. Daniel. Hansbrough. Harris, Kenney.
Pasco, Pettigrew. Pettus. Rawlins. Roach,
Ross. Stewart. Sullivan. Thurston. Tfllman,
TURKEY, Turner. Vest. Wellington. White-34.
Nays-Allison. burrows. Carter. Clark.