Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-06

In a colloquy with Mr.. Allison. Mr.. Till
man said he would rather have the orisi-
nal House provision for armor plate than
that of Mr.. Penrose and he would accept
the original House proposition even now.
Denounced by Mr. Teller.
Mr. Teller denounced the amendment OF
Mr. Penrose as a "diseraCeful proposition.
As the senator from New Hampshire said,
continued Mr. Teller. lit would be coward
~ and craven on the part of Congress to
surrender legislative authority and pre-
rogative to the executive branch OF me
government. 1t seems to me there may be
in it tinge of corruption. This Is time
for plain talk. The American people be-
lieve and / believe that there Is great
political combine behind this proposition to
surrender authority.
81 do not believe" said Mr.. Teller. that
any scandal in history will equal That
which will grow out of surrender now
10 this robbcr combine. The cuban scan
dal and populations would be 4 minor mat
ter as COMPARED with those which would
occur under the influence of these monop-
olistic armor plate robbers
He protested against the adoption of the
proposition Of Mr.. Penrose, and declared
that it should not he adopted without
thorough understanding by the American
people that they were being robbed
Mr.. Hnnna's Views.
1.-The bitterness of the senator from Colo
rado.'' said Mr.. Hanna, in reply to Mr..
Teller, ''excites only my sympathy. 1t
Is simply a rehash of the charges and ar
guments which we have had here for five
years. The basis for all the arguments
the animus of the matter-is a determine
ton on the part of few men to have a
government arnor factory built. To this
end everything else is to be sacrificed.
Within the past few days a senator de-
ciared on this floor that he would rather
the pending bill fail than that the
proposition for a government armor plant
should be surrendered.
In response to Il suggestion Mr.. Hanna
said: Il want to see this armor question
taken out of the legislative branch of the
government. because / want to see it taken
out of politics. 1t is pure and simple bus
irsss proposition and it ought to be dis
p ed of in accordance with business prin-
cp.es. II is net a political question. In
advocating this disposition of the matter
resent the charge of the senator from Col
orddo that anybody has been or will be
irfiuenced by motives lower than those by
which the senator says he is actuated."
Mr. Hanna said if we could save money
by delaying the purchase of armor plate the
same saving could be made by the Secre-
tary if he had discretion to act He also
argued that the Secretary should have OPP
portunily to at any time take advantage of
favorable conditions and act in any emer-
gercy when Congress is not in session. As
for Mr. Teller's assertion that the republic
can party was taking long chances when
they put themselves in the attitude OF de-
Tending what he styles the armor plate
trust, he was sure the republican party
would not shrink from the responsibility of
doing business on soGnu business prin-
cipes. The party did not propose to be
driven into the manufacture of armor plate
simply to please its critics. He was sure
that all these opposition speeches were for
mere political effect. and he wanted 1t UNI
derstood that the opposing senators had no
patent on integrity and honesty
In conclusion Mr.. Hanna advocated the
Penrose proposition as fair compromise.
MIR. Eikins Replies Briefly.
Mr.. Elkins CIV. Va replied briefly to
Mr.. Teller saying that harsh words We're
not argument and that ne would not be
driven from his position either in the Sem
ate or out of it by reckless charges. AS
for himself he knew nothing about the de-
niands ~ any combine, but he wanted the
question settled upon business principles
He WAS satisfied that the only wise course
to pursue was TO leave the whole question
of the purchase of armor plate to the Sec
rotary of the Navy.
Mr.. Quarles (Wis.) poohpoohed the idea
of a scandal in leaving the purchase of
armor plate to the discretion of the Secre-
tary of the Navy and declared that the
criticisms of this proposed course WHICH
are heard in the Senate were nothing but
dyspcptic echoes. The proposition of the
Senate was TO let Inc Dill Idll II IL cOuiu
not have its own way about armor plate
and he could not reconcile himself to the
first alternative.
Mr.. Tillman said that If the bill should
fail the responsibility would be on the
House of Representatives.
we have heard that seventeen hundred
and fifty times said Mr.. Quarles.
And, retorted Mr.. Tillman. cit makes
no impression 1t takes diamond drill to
make an Impression on some people
Gen. Hawley Protests.
Mr. Hawley entered protest against the
criticism of public men characterizing 1t
as Unreasonable" and as ''villainous pessi-
mism." He advocated the Penrose COM
promise. being entirely willing to leave the
entire question to the Secretary
Mr.. Money advocated the construction of
a government plant. The Senate, he said.
could not afford to abrogate its duties in
favor Of the Secretary of the Navy or any
one else.
Mr.. Thurston said that while he had al
ways advocated an armor plate factory
this was not the question now. The ques-
ton now was the passage OF this bill and
the increase of our navy. An emergency
might we'll arise when another Oregon
would be needed He considered 1t impos-
sibe to secure legislation for = plant. and,
therefore. felt that the Senate should COM
promise in the present situation He felt
confident that if the matter was left to
the Secretary we should either secure
armor al reasonable rate a govern
Inent plant.
Mr. Daniel opposed the Penrose amend
ment and urged the Senate to stand up
to the fight which had been on for five
years.
He said under the present circumstances
We must buy armor plate from r.oto-
rious and universally recognized Combine
or build our plant. Mr.. Hanna and
Mr. Elkins he said. had demanded with
tiresome iteration that me business should
b. conducted or. business principles but
he had never heard that business prn-
ciples demInded that the buyer should
place b'mself entirely in the hands of the
si:D~r. that Il man should employ an
agent to do for him that which he could do
for himself.
Why" asked Mr.. Daniel did the armor
plate manufacturers decline to tell the cost
Of the production of armor plate when
asked by the Senate committee"
Mr. Pcnrose asked permission to reply 10
this inquiry. and began by referring to Mr..
Daniels speech reckless statement
and GemaGOgic appeal"
Resented by Mr.. Daniel.
Mr. Daniel resented this characteriZatio ton,
and refused to yield farther. Such Ian
euage he considered unbecoming to the
senator and 10 the senate.
u