The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-17
AN ARM0R PLATE DISCUSSION.
NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL TAX
EN UP IN THE HOUSE.

VIII Cause Severe StruGGIe-Carrie
$13,OOO.OOO More Than Any PrevI-
Gus Naval BiII-ArGument in Favor
of and Against Government ArmOr
Plate PIant-We Can Get Krupp
ArmOr Plate Cheaper Thnn other
Nations.
Washington, April lathe House to-day
entered upon the consideration of the ma
val appropriation bill, with the prospect
of a severe struggle ahead over the ques-
ton of armor plate. building ships in
government yards and the provision in the
bill for the coast and geodetic survey.
The bill carries 5000 600 more than any
previous naval bill. No arrangements
could be reached to limit general debate,
To-day Mr.. Foss, the acting chairman
of the committee made a general defense
of the bill, which also was defended by
Mr.. Cummings, the ranking minority
member of the committee. The Latter
declared that the committee had informa-
ton chat we could obtain Krupp armor at
a price lower than any other country in
the world.
When the House went into Committee
of the Whole to consider the bill Mr.
Foss explained the total amount of SOL
100000 was the largest ever carried by a
naval appropriation bin in our history. He
continued:
The Best Peace Conference.
"The best peace conference is a strong
and efficient navy. Sea power is recog-
nized the world over as the strength of
great nation. We are building a navy to
maintain our foreign policy; to defend the
Monroe doctrine and TO guard the propos-
ed Nicaragua canal. which 1 trust will
never be built unless the American navy
has the right, as ii has the ability, to 1e-
fend it in time of war. While protection TO
ourselves was the watchword of the past
century, commerce will be the watchword
of the coming. We will not only continue
TO build our own ships of American mate
rial, fashioned by American hands, but at
the same time we will build as we have
been building recently, ships for japan
and Russia, and in time, by reason of the
decreased supply of iron and steel in other
countries, we will be building the navies
of England of France, of Germany, and
MIR. Foss said that regarding armor for
all the ships, except the Maine, Wisconsin
and Missouri the committee had conclud-
ed to leave the whole question to the
House. He said the committee deemed it
unwise to recommend the establishment of
a gov eminent armor plate factory. He
quoted Admiral O'NeilPs opinion that
such an establishment would cost
&,S72000, and that he did not believe the
government should manufacture its ar
NOR plate.
Mr.. Foss said the committee had been
largely moved in deciding against the
building of ships in government yards by
the opinion of Secretary Long that it
would cost to build them In government
yards twice as much as in private yards.
Necessity for Navy.
Mr.. Cummings of New York, the rank
ing minority member of the committee,
followed Mr.. Foss. He delivered a glow
ing eulogy on the glories of the American
navy and it's vital necessity to the coun-
try. And what was being done? he asked.
Three battleships were on the stocks with
out armor Three were authorized with
string attached. They were not even
to be contracted for unless the armo-
could be procured for $500 a ton. This bill
recommended two more. Was a string 10
be attached to that? 1t would be like vot-
ing for a declaration of war and then re-
fusing to provide ammunition.
'Why not make our own armor platter"
persisted Mr. Rdgely.
THE same old story replied MIR. Cum
mings. authorize ships and. then instead
of building them go to work 10 build an
armor plate factory. That would delay the
ships from five to eight years.
But you said the armor we bought was
rotten"
mot the Krupp armor The Krupp
armor has seven treatments and is tested
by our own experts. If our experts do
their duty we win have done our duty
by the men behind the guns
Continuing, Mr.. Cummings raised a
burst of applause by stating that he be-
lieved in keeping the army and navy in
the Philippines as long as a single rebel
defied the authority of the United States.
But when we have conquered them"
he added, II am in favor of treating them
as we propose to treat Cuba"
He advocated sheathed ships and at
tributed the loss of the Charleston to lack
of sheathing.
krupp Armor at $J45.
Later on Mr.. Cummings, revering to
the question of armor plate, made this
statement:
at was demonstrated to the committee
In a way that cannot be revealed here
that in paying $545 for Krupp armor we
are paying less than any nation in Europe
or Asia. England is paying $5S7 for the
same armor, Russia $685. France $605 and
Japan 800 Until the ships already au-
thorized are supplied / am in favor Of
buying Krupp armor az $545. When we
are even up will be willing to talk about
an armor plate factory"
Mr.. Kitchin of North Carolina, a MEM
Der of the committee. who signed the mi
noriy report, argued in favor of the es-
tablishment Of an armor plate factory.
Unless the government was in possession
of its own factory, he contended the steel
companies could hold up the government
in the future as they had in the past.
He said that Krupp armor In his opinion
could be manufactured as cheaply as
Harveylzed armor could five years ago.
Wheeler's Inside Information.
Il am in possession of Information" in
terrupted Mr.. Wheeler of Kentucky, "the
source of which l am not at liberty to dis