The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-06-09
Sharp Debate in the senate.
special to the Philadelphia Ledger.

Special to the Philadelphia Ledger
WASHINGTON, June lin the Senate
today there was a lively eolloquy over the
disagreeing votes between the two Houses
on the Navy Appropriation bill, in which
Senator Hanna was the central figure.
Senator Hale, on behalf of the Senate
conferees, explained the points Of differ
ence between the representatives OF the
two Houses on the armor plate paragraphs.
The House couferees had insisted on main
tanning the action of the House, which
authorizes the purchase of armor at such
figures as may be deemed reasonable and
equitable by the Secretary Of the Navy,
while the Senate eontereeS had insisted on
fixing a maximum price. According to
the terms of the Senate amendment, Mr..
Hale declared he would never consent to
proposition that would place the power to
regulate the price Of armor in the hands OF
the Secretary of the Navy, which, in his
judgments would be a surrender to the
trusts. Mr.. Teller said he wonld rather
see the vessels of the navy rot than sur
render to the trusts, and demanded vote
TO ascertain the feeling of the Senate on
that proposition. Mr.. Chandler also op
posed giving the Secretary Of the Navy
discretion in fixing the price, and suggest
ed that the bin be reconsidered by the
Senate, and the ships authorized cut ont
until the Government could establish It's
own armOr plate plant.
SENATOR HANNA's APPEAL
The discussion was carried or by Messrs
Plat. of Connecticut; Tillman, Pcttisrew,
and others, when Mr.. Hanna took the
floor and delivered with much earnesiness
speech in favor Of building up the navy
and giving the Secretary discretionary pow
er to purchase armur plate. He spoke
from experience as manufacturer and NOT
from hearsay He kneN what fair price
for armor was, and declared the trouble
was that Congress had fixed a price at
whiee no manufacturer could make armor.
The Government could not build plant
within FIVE years, and when built 1t could
not make good plate at any price. The
delay in proceeding with the construction
Of vessels authorized was attributed 20
Senators ITllman and Chandler, who had
succeeded in preventing the purchase Of
armor at fair and reasonable prices
Mr. Hanna was reminded BY Mr.. Till
man that the Illinois Steel Company had
offered to furnish armor at 1925 per ton,
to which the former replied that the offer
was bluff, and made to influence the
stock market This shows, exclaimed
TTllman. what scoundrels men are when
they get 20 be milhonaires. They are not
only liars but thieves With some
warmth Mr. Hanna inquired whether the
South Carolina senator meant TO call any
man ON the floor a liar and thief, 20
which Tillman replied that he spoke IN
ferentially about millionaires.
Senator Allen next prodeed Hanna, aud
replying to bis declaration the Government
could not turn Out armor plate said it was
apparent that it could turn out political
plate for MIR. Hanna: II have found it
invulnerable, retoFted Hanna, which ex-
cited laughter. Mr. Hanna At some
length described the process of man
ufacturing armor plate, aud eoniended that
the interests of the Government would be
best served by making contracts with pri-
vate parties.
TELLER : SARCASM.
Mr.. Teller followed Hanna in a speech
marked with much sarcasm aud bitterness.
He declared that the Ohio Senator had
made an argument for the trusts and
against the people when the chief
representative Of the Republican party in
the Senate, said Mr.. Teller, defends
trusts. it Is plain that the trusts will be
levied upon for contributions for the Re
publican party in the coming campaign.
The debate was continued in this vein for
some time, the charge being made that
every bank would be called upon to con
tribute to the campaign fund Of the Re
publicans; that in the last campaign the
Bethlehem works had contributed four
hundred thousand to that fund, and that
the company had been rewarded with con
tracts at robber prices. Finally roll call
was ordered on a motion to insist on the
action of the Senate, which was adopted
unanimously.