Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-04-17
56TH CONGRESS-.
House Looking Into the Armor
Plate Question.
Naval Bill Carries $l3, 100000 More
Than Any Previous Bill.
Senate Devotes the Entire Day to The Alaskan
Civil Code.

today, entered upon the CpnSld' ration
of the naval appropriation bill, with
the prospect of a severe struggle ahead
over the question of armor plate.
building ships in government yards
and the provision in the bill for the
coast and gcOdctiC survey. The bill
carries $l3.000,00o more than any pre-
vious naval bill. No Arrangement
could be reached to limit general de-
bate. Foss, the acting chairman of
the committee. mad" a general d"fensn
of the bill. which was defended also
by cummings, the ranking minority
member Of the committee The latter
declared himself in favor Of paying
S545 for krupp armur, at least until Ill
the ships authorized were built. ana
said that the committee had iuf4rma-
ton, the source Of which ne was not at
liberty t. reveal. showing that W.
could obtain krupp arlnnr Ak 4 price
lower than any other country in the
world. Kitchin. y. IL. one Of the NOM
hcrs who signed the minority report
criticised what NJ termed TIN general
cxtravaganco If the bill ana Advocated
the establishment Of a government
armor plate factory tn protect tn" gov
eminent against eXtoriinu HI. 3IeJ
advocated the building of war.Iiug In
government yards. Mr. Barber, Pa.
opposed the establishment Of govern
ment armor plate factory.
The House took up the naval appro-
piation bill Immediately after it con-
vened. Some difficulty arose in con-
nection with the attempts To secure an
agreement for closing general debate.
Foss, acting chairman Of the naval
committee, suggested seven hours on
side.
Underwood. Ala. and Wheeler. Ky.
thought there should 10 some general
debate on the live topics raised in the
bin when read for amendment. This
was especially true, MI. Underwood
thought regarding the question q arr
NOR plate. That question has been veX-
ing Congress for several years ana il
was important il should be settled ana
settled right.
MI efforts 70 secure nm agreement
failed ana the House Went into COM
mltt"e n the Who'll" GAync, A. n. In
the chalT). with m lndcfinit" period
for general debat" ahead. Foss made
general preliminary short speech.
IN opening Foss paid tribute to
Houtelle "f Maine. chairman Of the
committee. whose illness has prevented
him from attending the sessions II the
committee SINCE thc christmas non
""H
~" man III "I'NItSS' Salu ne. mas
"lI'F kh"WIeHS' upon IN" subject "i
NAVAL aEGllS IMAM NtiIltS Attt!l~Il n
i!"u''I'r' y" man ms "''h more &c
I'VE anu "'N'''u To inc t|Sh 81 puIid-
INK up navy lh'1 would insure CON
"''H'c III nome aho respect ahf'1"
IMAM MI. h"ul"II". II" Wa chairman
81 tur committee on naval aiiaIfS "f
'Ii' 'ISl' "tlH ana ''''h as wen as "i
inns '"hSr"SS. ana as ShCh, demon
~'rit'd ms great abiltE ana WE"
Siit'~lnahShlP IN bringing me navy u
tHAt r'lht Whor" It WIS dnI" i' S1t-
c'SSiuilN comtat the forces ot Spain
III our recent war. Too much mono"
ana rr'dit cannot ho given him. !
know that J voice the expression Of
hojh SIDES IF ms chamber when
SaY that Wc wish him speedy recovery
ana an early return.
IN" Pill Foss cNnlaincd. carried
total appropriation NJ Sfl..o .ooo. the
largest naval appropriation bill ever
reported 70 nm American Congress.
After explaining the various items III
the bill. FoSs said:
1--WE ara buiIlinn 4 navy fnr n.aca.
Ne ara building IL MT to nrnvol,a war.
but to conserve into international con
cord: Ne are building If in order that
tho nations NAV take warming that if
an honor is assailod American yoIor
will def nd That nation which is arm
ed and ready to fight is tho leae+ like
" tn he called unon to do Ga The
hest ncaco conference is , etroncr and
efficient navy W. aro buiIdina y navy
f. maintain our FOREIGN noIicv to de-
fpnd the NIonroo doctrine and IN Guard
the nronosnd Nicarapua canal which
trust will never he buiIt unIoss the
American navy has the ripb+ as if has
the ability to defend If in time Of var
While protection to ourselves was thn
watchword of the mast commerce win
be the watchword Of tha coming W.
will not only continue ia buiId orr
own ships Of American material fash