The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-24
THE HOUSE.
Naval Appropriation Bill Amended
and Then Passed.

and Then Passed.
Washington, February 23.-The navai
appropriation bill finally passed the mouse
this afternoon after four days OF acrimoni-
GUS debate, most of which was spent upon
the question of rehabilitating the naval
academy at Annapolis In accordance with
the scheme inaugurated by the appropria-
ton Of 100000 in the last naval bill, and
the proposition to increase the maximum
price to be paid for armor plate TO Soio
per ton, existing law limiting 1t to $500.
Upon both propositions the naval commit
tee suffered eignal defeats. The amend
ment to build great armor plant was
ruled out on point of order. but after u
rancorous debate In which the price to
be paid for armor was cut down from $b45,
the price which the committee insisted
was being paid for the new Krupp armor,
to $445, and proviso was also added pre-
GLIDING the government from gaying more
than was paid by any other Foreign gov
eminent for similar armor.
Another victory over the committee was
secured by the adoption of q provision to
the naval bill creating the rank OF admiral
Of the navy. This was accomplished by
Mr.. Moody tMass.), who offered a copy
of the senate bill creating this rank as an
The amendment was adopted The naval
committee had amended the senate bill SO
as 10 also create the rank of vice admiral,
but Mr.. Moody's amendment was the orig
inal senate bill without the latter provi-
sion.
Immediately after the reading of the
journal today, Mr.. Crumpacker called up
the contested election case of Brown We,
Swanson from the Fifth Virginia district
but by 80 to 1919 the house declined to
consider the case.
District OF Columbia business was tner
taken up.
| At 1:45 the house vent into committee Of
| the whole and resumed consideration Of
the naval bill. the contest being on the
point of order by Mr.. Underwood Qem,
Ala.) to appropriate 900 for the con,
struction of an armor plant at such place
as a board of naval officers might select
Mr.. Boutelle continued his defense G
the recommendation OF the committee t.
increase the maximum price OF armor t,
s545.
Il The chair sustained the point of ords
against the Underwood amendment.
The question then REQUIRED on Mr.. Bou
telle's amendment fixing the price of armo
at S545 per ton. Mr.. Boutelie contende'
that the cost of krupD armor would b
slightly less than that OF Haryeyized armo
at $500 per ton.
Mr. Hopkins fRep,, Iil.) moved {
amend the Boutelle amendment so, aB L
fix the price OF armor plate az s445 pc
ton. The royalty on Krupp armor, he said
was $45 per ton and he had searched 4
vain for evidence TO show that the manu-
| a. nf n "a
more expensive than Harvey armor. Their
had been no independent investigation
There was no recommendation save frol
] a subordinate official OF the navy depart
ment
THAT Is not true interrupted Mr.. Bou
telle, housishing aloft handful of docu
: ments. II have hcre the evidence, whic
4 the house refuses TO hear.
Mr.. Hopkins declared TINT he had bee
informed on reputable authority that II
presidents position in the bill was q
attempt TO Ounce" the government. Tn
statement aroused the Indignation OF N
q Boutelle and sharp colioqry between Il
two followed.
Mr.. Rxey Dem, va), member
e the naval committee. opposed the commit
0 tees proposition, which, he said Won
increase the cost Of the arrnor for a sing
ship $4,000.
: humilating TO hear member OF the nav
committee admit that the government w
absolutely at the mercy Of the arnior pla
manufacturers.
4 Mr.. Hepburn Howa) made a violent a
3 aault upon the commuters recommended,
g 10 increase the cost OF arinor.
After reviewing the history OF the a
NOR plate investigation he asserted tn
: the committee always resisted every G
: fort Of the government to get from u
i der the domination of the Manufacture
y Of armor,
= MI. Walker fRep., Mass.l offered
d amendment TO Mr.. Hopkins amendrnaI
!. providing that the government shopld n
d nav more for armor plate than any 10
4 eign government paid
= Mr.. Williams Dom, Miss insisted tn
ali the evidence before the house STOW