Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1900-05-18
THE ARMOR PLATE FIGHT
THE SENATE FAvORs BTILDIEG
AR1eR FACTORY.
After Discussing the Measure Four
Days the Proposition is Agreed to
by the Sena'e-To Purchase Five
Holland Torpedo BOats-The Free

Washington, May 14--After a discus
sion lasting five full days, the Senate
to-day passed the Naval Appropriation
bill. Practically four days were devoted
to the considera t. on of the armor plate
proposition. which was agreed to final
1y as reported by the committee, with
the exception that the Secretary of the
Navy Is authorized to make contracts
only for such armor as may be needed
from time 70 time. BY the committees
amendment to the House bill the Secre-
tary Of the Navy Is authorized to pro-
cure armor Of the best quality at $445
per ton; but If he be unable to OBJ
tain it at that price, he Is then au-
thorized to pay s545 per ton for the
armor for the battleships Maine, Ohio
and Missouri and proceed to erect an
armor factory to cost net to exceed s4,.
100000, one-half of which amount Is
made Immediately availa BILE.
To-day, after the rejection of the
pending amendment offered by Mr..
Chandler, the committees proposition
was agreed to by a vote of 80 to 10.
The Secretary of the Navy is directed
to purchase five Holland torpedo boats
at price not exceeding $4,000 each.
The free homes" bill was passed
without a word Of debate.
An act to provide for sittings of the
Circuit and District Courts Of the
United States of the Southern District
Of Florida, at Ocala, Fla, was passed.
A bill providing for the appointment
of a collector of customs, at $4,000 per
year, for the customs district of
Hawaii and for such deputies as neces-
sary, was passed.
The Naval bill was then called up.
Mr.. Chanders amendment, the pend
ing question, substituting in Mr.. Till
mans amendment $425 for $500 as the
price for armOr, was rejected, 25 to 27.
Mr.. Hoar offered an amendment pro-
viding that if under the committees
proposition no government armOr plate
mandatory is built the Secretary Of
the Navy shall submit to the next
Congress q detailed report with esti-
mates IS to cost of equipment Of such
a government plant and time when the
best plate could be delivered thereby.
The Senate agreed to this amendment
and the committees proposition as
amended was agreed to, 80 to 19.
The next committee proposition was
for the purchase Of five Holland sub
marine torpedo boats at $1,000 each.
Mr.. Stewart offered an amendment in
creasing the number from five to ten.
Mr.. Daniel thought the Holland boat
presented the solution of harbor de-
fense. IF it be true" said Mr.. Dan
iel, land I may say I do not share in
the belief, that some foreign nation
has its eye on US and proposes, as has
been feared by some Senators, to test
the Monroe doctrine, then this boat is
the thing we desire for the defense
of our harbors and our coasts. He
would, he added, vote for twenty of the
Holland boats to be built to allay the
sensitiveness and apprehension Of our
seacoast cities. and he would there
fore support the amendment Of Mr..
Stewart"
Mr.. Hale of Missouri, proposed that
the committees proposition should be
SO changed as to make the purchase
of five of the Holland boats manda-
tory instead of discretionary with the
Secretary of the Navy.
Mr.. Stewart accepted this and with
drew his amendment. The committees
proposition was then adopted
The committee amendment to the
House bill apprOprating $780, 900 for
the purchase of Gatnmann guns and
ammunition therefor was withdrawn.
Mr. Tillman offered an amendment
| providing that no armor should be con-
| tracted for in advance of it's acual
requirement by vessels in construction.
| 1t was agreed to. The bill was passed
| without division.
A blu was also passed apprOpriating
| $3.50 600 to erect a public building at
| Portsmouth, Va.
At S:45 D. m. the Senate adjourned