New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-02
THE NAVAL BILL PASSED.
Nr-MRER OF NEW WARSHIPS MATEki
ALLY REDUCED.
PRICE OF ARMOR FINED AT $500 a lO->~
PROVISION FOR A GOVERNMENT PLAN /
THE s2oooo.Ooo FOR SPAIN VOTED


| after less than 1--WE hours of debate In 'na'
time however It was amended radically IN one
| resnect The prtce TO be paid by the Govern
| p,rnt for armor plate was fixed in the Dill at
| s2Co n ton a reduction Of S145 n ton from the
amount fixed by the House. In adol'lon INC
| bill authorizes the Secretary OF the Navy III ''0
event of the refusal OF the armor-plale ooi"
| panies TO supply armor at ~" 'oh' 10 pr
| coed TO the construction Of an arihor i"''o''
! to cost 81 100000 and places In the SecIe'~l9
! control 100000 with which 10 operate 'io
Government plant. The fight for these aiiie"N
ments was led by Mr.. Tillman VINO rhaue d
enthusiastically sensational speech IN support
OF the propositions.
The Naval Affairs Committee had maze sumo
,o,,or,ont amendments TO the bill the principal
one being a reduction OF one-third IN the mum
har ~ new warships authorized. As passed by
the House the bill provided for three new oa'
t,osbins and three nrst-class and six smali
o-,,eers II now authorizes two battle-shlps'
turo 0rst- class cruisers and four small cruisers
| While the appropriation for the pay OF the Nav!
| VOC Increased from S12 440 to S13,1ooll'
/ tba committee reduced the number or ehhSVeu
men from % 800 to 1900, but inserted a pro
,,so that vacancies can be filed Immediately Dy
enllsting additional men.
PAYMENT TO SPAIN VOTED.
Ono ~ the first acts Of tho Senate when II met
o, II o'clock to-day was the consideration OIL inc
hiu carving $4,000 600 with which 10 pay SPAN o'
relnouishing the Philippines. IN ACCORDANCE Wv,
the Treaty Of Paris Mr.. Allison reported 'ie o'',
from tho COMMITTEES on ApproI riations and asker
for immediate consideration. 1t was laid Deiore tie
| e.,a.a and in half a minute was passed without
a word Of debate ,,..,,o. cor,r,s
Mr. Cullom. member Of the haWandn Inn -.
sion spoke briefly on the Dill creating tIo a,d
Government for tho Territory OF Hawai- ne uu
| not expect he said. 10 secure the passage OF "ie
| nm -. ,bie session Of Congress, but he wished 10
! ovn,ain what had been done by the Commission
| He then reviewed carefully the work or the ooin
mission and the result Of its labors as empoded III
| the bills presented TO Congress.
! Mr. Perkins inquired whether any provision eN
,stod REGARDING the allen contract laws apphcaole
| n the states and Territories OF the United states
| .'Nono whatever" replied Mr Cullom
| "r-nlees we take action before the close OF the
| rresent session." suggested Mr. Perkins, as many
| contract laborers desired may be imported ih'o
| Hawaii"
"Doubtless. that Is true" replied Mr.. Culiom. no
| regarded the bill creating government for Hawaii
! as Of paramount importance. 1t proposed 10 erect
! the Hawaiian Islands into Territory OF the United
| States and It required and deserved the careiuI
| consideration Of Congress Mr.. Cullom discussed at
| length the acquisition Of territory by the Onlted
| states at various times. lie referred TO Mr. Hoar
as a gentle echo Of tho ant-imperiasts or former
| DAYS" In conclusion Mr.. CUllom said II might nc
that the counsel Of some who were hating patn-
| OTIS" could prevail in some way and that the Ameri-
! can flag should be lowered in Porto Rico and the
| PHILIPPINES; but. however that may he. nobody.
however stagnant, would prevent the United states
| flag from floating IN the sunlit air of Hawaii
Mr. Allen called up the resolution Of Mr.. Vest IN
relation to the acquisition of foreign territory by
the United States and delivered upon 1t MS vale
dictory.
THE NAVAL BILL TAKEN Up.
Consideration Of the Naval Appropriation bill was
then begun the amendments Of the committee being
acted upon as the measure was read. The Bill. as
! passed by the House, carried $H,&6s3S which the
| Senate increased by si5S33l.
Mr. Gray called attention TO provision OF the
| bill approprating 100000 for the purchase and
manufacture Of smokcless powder. He deemed It
the policy of the American people not TO bring the
| Government into competition with private industry.
! This country had been developed by private initi-
alive and enterprise and he could see no good rea-
son why tho Government should enter into COM
petition with private concerns lie offered there
fore an amendmen, providing that not moro than
$4,000 OF the sum should be expended in manu-
facturo.
Mr. Hale said the committee had been assured by
the Department that the Government had no IN
tonuon Of using the full appropriation for the
manufacture of powder, but probably not more
than $4,000 However, he accepted the amend
ment and # agreed to.
Senators Frye Elklns and White were appointed
as conferrees on tho River and Harbor bill
Amendments 10 the Naval bill were agreed 70 as
follows:
tract for Two submarine boats Of the Holland type
at a cost not to exceed $500 each. and appro.
prating $4,000 for tho purchase of additional land
for tho Port Royal naval station.
Mr. Hanna offered an amendment authorizing the
Secretary of the Navy 10 purchase from tho Cath
man Torpedo Gun Company ~ Chicago. the gun
| equipment for one or more Of the harbor-defence
monitors. subject TO the usual inspection Of the
Bureau Of Ordnance. at cost not exceeding
$4,000 In explanation OF the amendment Mr..
Hanna said the invention to be utilized under the
amendment the first that had ever been con-
ceved for the safe explosion Of wet gun cotton.
He said the fuse had been declared by the Ord
nance Bureaus Of the Navy and Army be abso-
lutely perfect and safe He thought the invention
would rcvolutionize the contest now in progress
between nigh explosives and the bcst-known 'arma-
ment. The amendment was agreed 10.
The Secretary Of the Navy authorized TO
appoint a Commission to report a location for a
coalng station on the Pacific Coast south Of San
Francisco. to appoint board to consider the con
struction 81 a drydock in the Columbia River. and
to appoint a similar board 10 consider the desirabll
itv OF constructing n drydock at Key West or
nearby waters.
ARMOR- PLATE FIGHT RENEWED.
The controversy over the price OF armorpate
was then precipitated by Mr.. TIman. who offered
an amendment reducing the price fixed by the bill
from siJ ton to 500. Mr. Tillman declared that
millions Of dollars being squandered ny the
Government in feathering the nests Of the armor
trust. and he felt that the Senate and the country
ought TO know what kind Of steal was going
on" He said that he offered an Alternative prop
osition establish Government armor plant. so
that the United States could say TO the armor
trust that II II did supply armor at a proper
price the Government would manufacture its own.
He said II perfectly evident that the two
Pennsylvania arInor plants had "a pull. whatever
that might mean" in the other house OF Congress.
and were able to hold up the price OF armor
Mr. Tillman became involved in a sharp coloquy
with Nj Gallnger oYer the subject Of doing Gov