The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-05
SENATE.

AeDdtt To-Day was cduStlc and as warm
as the weather out doors. At times the
exchanges between senator's bordered
on personalities. Much of the discus
sion was of a political nature, although
IN themselves the questions involved
were not essentially political.
Soon after the senate convened A
memorial was presented from the peo-
pie Of California, asking that the gov
eminent provide some relief for the
starving people of India.
Senator Hale, of Maine, with this as
a text severely arraigned Great Bri-
tain for expanding hundreds of mil
lions Of dollars in crushing liberty and
freedom in South Africa instead of
caring for the helpless and dying peo-
pie Of England's chief colony.
Senator AIdrich, of Rhode Island.
charged Senator Hale with making
political speeches on irrelevant mat
tiers, and a little later when Senator
Hale reported a further agreement
on the naval appropriation bill, an ex-
citing discussion arose over the armor
plate question. A sharp political twist
was given to the debate by a speech
which Senate Hanna, of Ohio, deliv-
cred in favor of leaving the whole mat
ter in the hands of the senate con-
ferees, and of comforting discretion
airy power pom the secretary of the
navy in accordance with the house
proposition He became involved in a
controversy with Senator Tillman, of
South Carolina, and Senate Allen, of
Nebraska, over the governments abil-
ity to manufacture armor satisfacto-
rily, in the course of which the sparks
flew to the intense interest of the aud
itnrc Sanntnrc TNaI1nr Af T0Jn~ola
Allen and Mr.. Pettigrew, of South Da-
kota, replied to Senator Hanna, all
speaking in a political vein. The bill
finally was returned to conference.
Seventy-nine private pension bills
were passed and also the military
academy appropriation bill. The mill
tary academy bill carries amendment
making General Miles and all future
commanders of the army lieutenant
generals, and General Corbin a major
general.
Consideration of the last of the ap-
preparation bills, the general deficien-
cy, was begun, but was not completed.
For the conferees on the naval appro-
priatipn bill, Senator Hale reported am
other disagreement upon the subjects
of armOr plate, ocean surveys and
course of study at the naval academy.
He said there was an absolute dead
lock between the cOnferees of the two
ACOSC C"AA IN - 0NotA NA-SS
the senators state their views freely
in order that the mate confess might
have the benefit of their opinions and
suggestions.
senator Hanna, a mi of the
committee on naval affairs, said that
since his advent into the senate he had
devoted considerable time 10 a study
of the armor. plate question. He was
in favor of the construction Of a for
midable navy as rapidly as possible
and was satisfied hat the delay in the
navy's building now was due to a great
extent 20 the opposition. OF the sena-
tors from South Carolina (Tillman)
and New HAMPSHIRE ~tCh2nGieT1 TO the
OF a reasonable price for ar
NOR. The responsibility for this de-
lay" he said, rests upon those two
senators for placing the price of ar
NOR below hat which it could be man
~ufactured for by any concern in the
country, and the senator from South
Carolina has given you the anfmus OF
his opposition when he said that he
would rather see the bill fail than to
see any concessions made to the M
companies" On his responsibility as a
senator he was satisfied to say that
$445 per ton was not only a reasonable.
but a low price for armor.
Further along Senator Hanna argued
that il would be part of wisdom to
place the matter within the discretion
of the secretary of the navy and said
no armor plant could be constructed
under five years that could supply the
government with suitable armor and
then it would cost perhaps 80 per cent.
more than it could be procured
from a private concern. To get the
necessary presses would require two
years"
How Ices it happen" inquired
Tillman. that several steel
mills have recently shut down. II that
be trua?"
The same man who said he could
manufacture steel armor plate al
$500 per ton" retorted Senator Hanna,
CLOSED down the steel mills to infiu-
-ence the stock market"
That is the way with men When
they become millionaires through the
medium of trusts" returned senator
TiIIman, s~arcaStically. They all De-
come liars and thieves.
senator Hanna was here proceeding
with his discussion OF the
ture of armor plate carrying ms aSsa
ScriptiOn from the ore mines 10 the
completed ships. Answering queries
of Senator Allen of Nebraska, Senator
Hanna aid he had never been inter
ested in armor plate manufacture.
Nor political armor plate?" asked
Senator Allen.
None but political armor plate
1oIOTLcu CAAoNO AAoAAAlof
~suuarely to Senator Allen, and 1 have
found that pretty Vulnerable" Gap
plause and laughter.)
Senator Hanna was willing to trust
the whole subject to the senate con-
ferees who had behind them an I'M
doubted majority of he senate.
Senator Elkins commended that the
proper way to dispose Of the matter
was to leave it to the secretary. The
secretary should be trusted. but it
might be we'll to fix a limit OF price.
Senator Allen said discussion had
bro,gbt ont the fact that the friends
of the trusts were in the saddle Nc
previous discussion a been sufh-
Gent to bring Senator Hanna or sen
ator Elkins to the front, but the mo
ment that we attack n or tnese
trusts that are preparing to rob ths
country of millions of dollars they ap.
pear here as advocates OF this srea'
octopus and undertake TO pursuaot
the senate that the government snoulI
not manufacture armor plate, pu
that it should stand up and allow II
self to be rifled."
Senator Teller said that when tn'