The age-herald., 1899-02-22
THE HOUSE

THE HOUSE
 Washington, February A.-The house reached the last page of the naval bill to- day and adjourned with point of order pending against a provision fixing the price of armor plate at $5f5 per ton. The pro- vision in the bill went out on a point of order on the ground that it was not limited to the armor to be purchased with the ap- propriation in the bill, whereupon it was modified to meet this objection and against it the pointlof order pending at adjourn 'ment was reached.
 Much of the time today was occupied in debating the amendment offered by MT. Mudd (Rep) of Maryland, appropriating $72o 900 to complete the three building au- thorized to be erected at the naval acade- my at Annapolis
 The naval committee, with the exception of MT. Cummings, strenuously opposed pro- ceeeding with the work of rehabilitating the naval academy until comprehensive plans had been decided upon, but the house over ruled the committee and adopted the amendment
 Two Provisi Killed
 Two complete provisions in the paragraph providing for the construction of new ships went out on points of order One provided that no more than two battleships, two or mored and two protected cruisers should be built at any one yard and the other pro- vided that no bid for the construction of ships should be entertained from any firm or company which had not at the tune or bidding an adequate plant.
 The pending question was on the amend ment of MT. Mudd to appropriate $2OOOO for the completion of the buildings authorized to be constructed at the naval academy by the last naval appropriation bill. and after a short debate the amendment was auopt- ed, 75 to 5.
 MT Todd Dem.) of Michigan. offered an amendment to appropriate 5000 for the erection of granite monument to the memory of the late Captain Charles vernon Gridley, captain of Dewey's fla gship, Olym- pia< It was ruled out upon point or o'oer raised by MT. Boutelle.
 When the paragraph for the increase or the navy was reached MT Cookery (Dem-1, of Missouri, made a point of order against the language providing that no proposals for any of the vessels authorized In the piii should be considered unless the bidder was already in possession of an adequate plant.
 Hopkins Point of Order
 MT. Hopkins (rep.. of Illinois,, raised point of order against the language provid- ing that not more than two Of the oattie- ships, two armored cruisers and two pro- tected cruisers should be built in one yard or by one contracting power.
 MT. Cookery maintained that the lan- guage which he took exception to was de- signed to limit competition, create monop- olieS and was sinister legislation. sqsG9s
 MT. Boutelle argued that the language did not change existing law. Besides, he insisted that no concern should be allowed to bid for great battleship unless 1t had ample facilities for doing the work The object was to secure the prompt construc- ton of the ships.
 MT. Sherman (rep.. New York;, who was in the chair, sustained MT. Dockery's point of order. %F
 The chair also sustained MT. Hopkins point of order ass-
 MT. Hopkins reserved point of order against the following provisions attached to the appropriation of $4,00O,0O0 for armor plate: t4sz.4a-
 'In all future contracts for armor the secretary of the navy is hereby authorized to procure armor of the best obtainable quality at an average cost of not exceeding $545 a ton including royalties" 4lN5es
 The chair held that the provision was ob- noxious to the rule, but indicated that 1t would be in order if limited to the appro- priation in this bill and not made then. Accordingly MT. Boutelle offered : an amendment so limiting the provision.
 To this MT. Hopkins raised another point of order, contending that it also was change of existing laws. Under the cur rency law s4OO was fixed the minimum price for armor plate. This proposition in- creased it to s545. Pending decision on this point of order the committee rose and the house adjourned.