The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-22
COST Of ARhOR PLATE
Republican Attempt to Increase a
MOnOpOly'S Profit.
LIMIT Of COST RAISED
GOVERNMENT PERMITTED TO
PAY S545 PER TON.
Proposition to Name One New War
ship ''The American Boy" and to
Apply the American Boys Con-
tributions to Its Construction
Increase of the Navy.

Washington, Feb 2L-The house
reached the last page of the naval bill
today and adjourned with a point of
order pending against a provision fix
ing the price of armor plate at S545 per
i ton. The provision in the bill went out
on point of order on the ground that
1t was not limited to the armor to be
purchased with the appropriation in the
bill, whereupon it was modified to meet
this objection against it and the point
of order pending at adjournment was
raised. Two important provisions in
the paragraph providing for the con-
struction of new ships went out on
points of order. One provided that no
more than two battleships, two ar
mored and two protected cruisers
should be built at any one yard and the
other provided that no bid for the con-
Structlon of ships should be entertained
from any firm or company which had
not at the time of bidding an adequate
plant
Mr.. Henderson (Rep. Ia), chairman
Of the committee on judiciary, which
investigated the right of General
Wheeler of Alabama, Mr.. Robbins of
Pennsylvania, Mr.. CoisOn of Kentucky
and Mr.. Campbell of Illinois, who held
bers who served on several commits
sions to continue to hold their seats in
the house, formally presented the re-
port of the committee, which was in
favor of the view that the four mem
bers who accepted military commits
sions thereby vacated their seats in the
house. The report went upon the cal
endar and Messrs. De Almond Dem.
MOI, and Parker (Rep. n. j., were
given leave to file a minority report, in
which they will contend that the same
rule should govern members who ac-
cepted civil commissions.
Mr.. Henderson did not give notice of
the time when he would call up the re-
port, but as it is a question of privilege
II can be called up at any time.
A bill was passed to grant the Gulf
&c Northern railroad company a right
of Way through Oklahoma territory,
and the house then resumed considera-
ton OF the naval appropriation bill.
The pending question was on the
amendment of Mr. Mudd to appropriate
Si2e6D0 Tor the completion Of the build
ing authorized to be constructed at the
naval academy by the last naval ap-
preparation bill and after a short de-
late the amendment adopted, IS to So
When the paragraph for the increase
OF the navy was reached, Mr.. Dockery
dem MOI, made a point of order
against the language providing that no
proposals for any of the vessels author
lied in the bill should be considered
unless the bidder was already in possess /
sion of an adequate plant.
Mr.. Hopkins (Rep. Iu), raised a
point of order against the language
providing that not more than two of
the b3ttleShipS, two armored cruisers
and two protected cruisers should be
built in one yard or by one contracting
power
Mr.. Dockery maintained that the Ian
guage which he took exception to was
designed to limit competition, create /
and was sinister legislation.
Mr.. Boutelie argued that the language |
did not change existing law. Besides. |
he insisted that no concern should be |
allowed to bid for a great battleship |
unless II had ample facilities for doing |
the work. The object was to secure the |
prompt construction of the ships.
Mr.. sherman (Rep. n. " who was
in the chair, sustained Mr.. Dockery's !
point of order. The chair also sustain
I'd Mr.. Hopkins point of order.
Mr.. Grosvenor (Rep. o., upon behalf |
Of his colleague, Mr.. Cromwell, offered
an amendment to name one of the ships
in the bill, the American
Boy and to apply upon its cost all
which might be received.
The amendment went out on a point of
order.
Mr.. Hopkins reserved point of order
against the following provision at
ached to the appropriation of 81. 000. 900
or armor plate. In all future CON
racts for armor the secretary of the
navy is hereby authorized to procure
lrmor of the best obtainable quality at
IN average cost not exceeding $545 a
on, including royalties"
Mr.. Lewis (Dem. Wash.) declared that
he provision was cunningly drawn,
hat it would be construed to mean
he best armor obtainable at S545 alone,
md not the best armor obtainable"
The chair held that the privision was
obnoxious to the rule, but indicated
hat it would be in order if limited to
he appropriation in this bill and not
made general. Accordingly Mr. Bou-
ellie offered an amendment so limiting
he provision.
To this Mr.. Hopkins raised another
Joint of order, contending that it also
vas a change of existing law Under
he current law $500 was fixed as the
maximum price for armor plate This
proposition increased it to S545 Pend
ng decision upon this point of order
he committee arose.
An emergency bill appropriating $780,
90 to meet the existing smallpox situa-
ion in the District of Columbia was
assed.
a bill was passed to amend the act :
elating to settlers in Greer county,
oklahoma.
A. s.0- - -, 49, ho,,eo q, lio,,,..s