The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-02
PRICE OF ARMoR PLATE is CUT
SENATOR TILLMAN SECURES RE
DUCTION OF s145 A TON.

~ k7AtnN-SCNtEul OAhCE Am
pOrtant Amendments to Naval APP
preparation Bill which Passed the
Senate-BilI to Pay SPANS $780,
OOO,OOO-The GOthmann Gun
Washington, March 1.-The Senate is
rapidly clearing it's decks for final adjourn
ment.
The naval appropriation bill, which ordi-
narIly consumes the time of the Senate
for several days, was passed this after
noon after. less than five hours of de-
bate
4 In that time however, it was amended
radically in one respect. The price to be
paid by the government for armor plate
was fixed in the bill at $500 ton. reduc-
ton of the amount fixed by the House of
s145 ton.
In addition the Secretary of the Navy
was authorized, in the event of refusal
of the armor plate companies, to supply
armor at $500 a ton, to proceed to the
construction of an armor factory to cost
81, 100000, and placing in the secretary's
control 50, 100000 with which to operate the
government plant.
The fight for these amendments was
led by Mr.. Tillman of South Carolina, who
made a Enthusiastically sensational
speech in support of the propositions. The
Senate adopted resolutions of regret at
the death of Lord Herschel, and. concluded
the days session by pronouncing eulogies
upon the late Representative Dingley.
Passed Bill to Pay Spain.
One of the first acts to-day was the con-
sheraton of the bill carrying $20,OOOOOO
with which to pay Spain for relinquish-
ment of the Philippines, in accordance
with the treaty of Paris.
Mr. Allison of Iowa reported the meas
ure from the committee on appropriations,
and asked for its immediate consideration.
The bill was laid before the Senate, and
in half a minute was passed without
word of debate.
A bin was also passed granting to the
Mussel Shoals Power Company right TO
erect and construct canal and power sta
| lions at Mussel Shoals, Ala.
Mr. Allen of Nebraska, called up the
resolution of Mr.. Vest in relation to the
acquisition OF foreign territory by the
! United States, and delivered upon 1t his
| valedictory. Six years ago, he said he had
| entered the Senate chamber as the single
member in this body of a new political
| party.
ITO be a pioneer of a new political
| 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 he
| would not repeat in like circumstances. He
acknowledged debt of gratitude TO many
| of his colleagues and to Vice Presidents
| Stevenson and Hobart for their uniform
and courteous treatment and rulings.
Mr. Tillman secured the adoption of
resolution authorizing the Secretary of
War to loan to the executive committee OF
the United Confederate Veterans for their
| reunion to be held in Charleston, S. c., on
| May 10, 1899 ten thousand cots, ten thou
sand mattresses and two thousand tents.
Money to Build Up the Navy.
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
| $44, 856 63S. AS reported to the Senate 1t car
! ried $49, 204, 969, an increase of "a ,34S, 3Sl.
After some formal amendments were Of
| fered by the committee and agreed to, Mr.
| Gray, of Delaware, called attention to a
| provision of the bin approprlating $1,0OO,0O0
| for the purchase and manufacture of
| smokeless powder. He deemed 1t a policy
| of our people not TO bring the government
| into competition with private industry. He
| offered therefore an amendment providing
| that not more than $4,000 of the sum
should be expended in manufacture.
Mr. Hale said the committee had been
assured by the department that the gov
! eminent had no intention of using the full
| appropriation for the manufacture of pow
der, but probably not more than s15O,OO0.
| However, he accepted the amendment and
| it was agreed to.
| other amendments were agreed to as
| follows: Authorizing the Secretary of the
| Navy to contract for two submarine
boats of the Holland type at cost not
to exceed $135 900 each appropriating $26 900
| for the purchase Of additional land for the
| Port Royal naval station.
Device to Explode Gun Cotton.
Mr.. Hanna offered an amendment au-
! thorizing the Secretary of the Navy to
purchase from the Gothmann Torpedo
Gun Company of Chicago the gun equip
i~ment for one or more of the harbor de-
tense monitors, subject to the usual in
| spection of the bureau OF ordnance at a
| cost not exceed $4,000.
In explanation of the amendment Mr..
| Hanna said the invention to be utilized
| under the amendment was the first that
| had ever been conceived for the safe ex-
| plosion of wet gun cotton. He said the fuse
| had been declared by the ordnance bu-
reau of the navy and army to be abso-
| lutely perfect and safe. He thought the in
| ventlon would revolutionize the contest
now in progress between high explosives
and the bcGt known armament The
| amendment was agreed to.
The Secretary of the Navy was author
| lied 20 appoint a commission to consider
the desirability Of constructing a dry dock
| al Key West or nearby waters
Cut the Price of Armor Plate.
The controversy over the price OF armor
plate was then precipitated by Mr.. TIN
man, who offered an amendment, reduc-
ing the price fixed by the bill from S4l5 per
ton to $500.
Speaking of his amendment. Mr.. Till
man declared that millions of dollars were
| being squandered by the government in
| featherng the nests of the armor trust.
and he felt that the Senate and country
| ought 20 know what kind OF q steal was
1 going on"
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