The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-05

the conference committee HAeu Tue price
of armor for the ships authorized by this
bill at $500 a ton, no contract for the
hulls to be made until contracts had
been made for the armor. The num-
Der of battleships, armored cruisers and
protected cruisers are as fixed i'll the
House bill. The Secretary of the Navy
is authorized to contract for armor for
the ships provided for in the Naval
Appropriation Bill of 1888 at S400 a
ton.
That" said Mr.. Hale, sis the meat
of the whole proposition. The report
of agreement leaves out the provision
for an armor plant because we could get
no recognition now from the House for
such a proposition. | am frank to say
that the result of the conference does
not suit anybody very well. 1t does not
suit me, but, Mr.. President it is the
best we could do
Mr.. Butler: Will we conclude any
contracts for new war vessls under the
pending bill if it becomes a law?'
Mr.. Hale: NO. | think not. / be-
lieve we shall do no more than get
out the plans and specifications for the
authorized ships and decide about tur-
rets and the like. OF course, the Sen
ate conferees had to yield something" :"
Mr.. Tillman: But we seem to have
yielded everything and the House moth
ing
Mr.. Hale: 1.-The Senate conferees
cannot settle this controversy alone.''
Mr. Tillman: But the Senate can. We
can place on the House the responsible
ty for an extra session. | was never
so strongly tempted in my life to say:
This bill shall not pass and become
a law, but | have had assurances from
gentlemen on this side of the chamber.
waving his hand toward the Republican
side, that they will help us out at the
next session and ! am willing to accept
those assurances"
Mr.. Butler denounced the proposition
for the construction of protected cruisers,
saying they were of little or no account
in war.
After some further discussion. the
conference report was agreed to without
division.
This was the last of the conference
agreements on the appropriation bills
to be acted upon by the Senate, and its
acceptance caused general sigh Of
relief. The action did not, however,
harmony which had been expected
as result of the disposal of the sup
ply measures.
til 1890, which Mr.. Mason Qlls), an
tagoniZed.
Mr.. Mason desired to secure the print
ing of the testimony taken in the inves-
tigation of the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing, and when Mr.. Pettus insisted
upon his motion intimated that there
was some motive to suppress the testi-
mony He called for the ayes and noes
on the motion and it looked at one time
as if a quorum would not be secured.
The Senators, however, struggled in one
by one from the committee rooms and
at last the requisite number was Sc
cured and the recess ordered by a vote
of 20 to 21.
When the Senate reconvened at 1880
Mr.. Mason renewed his motion for
printing the testimony taken IN the in.
Iyestigation of the Bureau of Engraving
land Printing. The motion prevailed.
Mr. Fairbanks moved the considera-
tion of the bill extending the immigra-
tion laws to the Hawaiian Islands. Mr.
Pettus objected on behalf of his collea-
que, Mr. Morgan. The bill was, how
ever, taken up and Mr.. Pcttigrew spoke
upon It,
Mr. Morgan had entered the cham
ber at this juncture and moved an
executive session. The motion prevailed
81 to 30.
At 11:45 the doors of the Senate were
opened, and the Senate began its last
legislative session of the present Con-
gress.
Mr.. Hoar offered resolution TO ap-
point committe of two Senators to
join a similar committee of the House
to wait upon the President to inform
him that the Senate was ready to ad-
iourn and to inquire whether or not
he had any further communication to
offer. The resolution was adopted and
Senators Hoar and German were named
as the committee.
Mr.. Hoar reported that the commit
tee had waited upon the President Of
the United States and had been instruct
ed by him to say that he had disposed
of the public business which lad been
laid before him by the two house;
and that he had no further commInica-
tions to make; that the two houses have
reached the end of a very aborious
and important session and that he wish
ed the members safe return 10 their
homes.
Mr.. Cockrell presented the usual feso-
luton of thanks to the Vice-PfeSidcnt
and Mr.. Vest that to Senator Frye,
President pro tempore for the very
able, courteous and impartial manner
n which they had presided over the de-
4. II N Il 81.
tions were unanimously adopted. Vice
President Hobart then briefly addressed
the Senate, speaking of the immense
amount of work done by Congress and
thanked the members of the Senate for