The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-24
Pet Measures of the Naval Com
mittee Were Killed.
FOUR DAYS OF DEBATE
Tho Armor Plate Deal Turned Down by
the House-The Rank of Admiral
Created for Dewey in Spite
of Boutelle's Efforts.


spent upon the question of rehabilitat-
ing the naval academy at Annapolis in
( accordance with the scheme inaugurated
by the appropriation of half a million
In the last naval bill and the proposition
to increase the maximum price to be
paid for armor plate to $545 per ton,
existing law limiting it to $500. Upon
both propositions the naval committee
suffered signal defeats. The amendment
ITO build a great armor plate was ruled
out upon a point of order, but after de-
bate in which the price to be paid for
armor was cut down from $545, the price
which the committee insisted was being
paid for the new krupp armor, to $445,
and proviso was also added precludng
the government from paying more than
was paid by any other foreign govern
ment for similar armor. When the bill
was reported ito the house Mr.. Bou-
telle attempted to secure a reversal Of
the verdicts of the committee of the
whole on the academy and armor plate
amendments, but in both cases he was
defeated motion to recommt the bill
made by him being voted down, 70 to
1855. Another victory over the commit
tee was secured by the adoption of a
provision to the naval bill creating the
rank of admiral of the navy. This was
accomplished by Mr.. Moody of Massa-
chusetts, who offered a copy of the SEN
ate bill creating this rank as an amend
ment to the naval bill. The amendment
was clearly subject to the point of Or
der against it raised by Mr. Boutelle,
but the sentiment of the house was so
apparently unanimous in favor of the
amendment that he withdrew the point
of order and it was adopted without
dissenting vote. The naval committee
had amended the senate bill so as to
also create the rank of vice admiral.
lint lxy'c nd
original senate bill without the provis-
ion.
The house declined to consider the
Brown Swanson contested election case
in the Fourth Virginia district by vote
of 1872 to 80. This is the second at
tempt to call up this case
At LAS p. m. the house went into COM
mittee of the whole and resumed the
consideration of the naval appropria-
tion bill. Mr. Sherman. rep, N. Y, who
was in the chair sustained the point of
order raised against the amendment Of
fered by Mr.. Underwood. dem, Ala. to
appropriate 100000 for the cpnstruc-
ton of a government armor plant.
The question then required on Mr..
Boute1le's amendment fixing the price
of armor at $545 per ton. Owing to it's
resisting power, Mr.. Boutelle contended
that the cost of Krupp armor for like
protection would be slightly less than
Harveyized armor at $500 per ton.
Mr.. Hopkins, rep, ILL.,, moved to
amend the Boutelle amendment so as to
fix the price of armor plate at $445 per
ton. Mr.. Hopkins declared that he had
been informed upon reputable author
ity that the proposition in the bill was
an attempt to "bunco" the governm emit.
Mr.. Rixey, dem. Ga, a member of
the naval committee, opposed the com
mittee's proposition, which, he said,
would increase the cost of armor for a
single ship $4,000.
Mr.. Hilborn, rep, Cal, explained the
difference between the Krupp and the
Harvey processes. Samples of the
Krupp armor. he said, had been tested
at the Indian Head proving grounds
and our officials reported it to be fully
rs per cent. superior to the Harvey ar
NOR
Mr.. Hepburn, rep, Iowa, made a vio-
lent assault upon the committees rec
ommendation to increase the cost of
armor The committee, he said, some
times vacillated as to the number of
ships to be authorized, but it never
Vaclllated in recommending that the
government should annually be held up
by manufacturers of armor plate and
compelled to pay eXtravagant prices
Mr. Hepburn said he had no doubt that |
every ton of armor bought from the
two companies which supplied the gov
eminent had yielded more than a hun
dred dollars of illegitimate profit. He |
would not make such a statement, he |
said, without warrant. He asserted |
that the committee always resisted |
every effort of the government to get |
from under the dominion and rapacity
Of these companies. Now that the cost
of HarVeyiZed armor had been reduced
to $500, the committee appeared with
something infinitely superior" but he
added sarcastically, the committee
does not seem to know in what the su-
periority consists.
Mr.. Boutelle and Mr.. Cummings de-
Tended the action of the committee.
The latter said the proposition of the
committee simply directed the secre-
tary of the navy to secure the best pos
sble armor at the lowest possible cost
and fixed the minimum cost at $545.
This limit was fixed because the
Cramps, under their contract with the
Russian government, paid that price
for krupp armor.
Mr.. Walker, rep. Mass. offered an
amendment to Mr.. Hopkins amend
ment providing that the government
should not pay more for armor plate
than any foreign government paid.
After much debate the amendment car
ried. 112 to as.
Mr.. Hopkins amendment to the
amendment was carried. 1902 to IS, and
as amended liking the price Of the az
NOR plate at s445 per ton. the amend
ment was adopted without division.
Mr. Moody, rep, Mass. then created
something of a furore by Offering at
the end of the bill a COPY of the SEN
ate bill to create the rank of admiral
of the navy. Uproarious applause
greeted the reading of the amendment
The naval committee had amended this
bill so as to create the rank of vice ad-
miral as well as admiral, the purpose
being to allow Dewey to be appointed
admiral and Sampson vice admiral
This move euchered the naval COM
mittee.
Mr.. Boutelle at first reserved point
of order against the amendment, but
turning suddenly on Mr.. Moody, de-
clared he would withdraw the point in
Difference to what appeared to be the
general demand of the house, if the
amendment could be voted upon with
out debate.
I'VE will vote without a word" said
Mr.. Moody.
Vote, vote" went up in chorus from