Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-05-21

Washington, May 12.-By a close
vote the senate rejected the proposition
to erect, without reference to the price
at which the government could secure
armor plate for it's warships, an armOr
plate factory. The vote upon the di-
rect proposition was % to "a, the sub
sidiary amendments being rejected by
about the same vote. When the COM
mittee's proposition was about to be
voted upon filibuster was organized.
the quorum Of the senate was broken,
and the question was still in air. Dur
ing the debate Senator Chandler IN.
H.) delivered a sensational speech, in
which he said the government had
been defrauded in the adoption of Har-
veyized armor. Senator Spooner
(Wis.) and Hazel (Maine) made notable
speeches deprecating the war talk yes.
terday by Senator Lodge (Mass.), and
Senator Hoar (Mass.) protested against
the "wretched imperialistic business"
Senator Chandler took sharp issue with
the statement made by Senator Ali
son (rep., Iowa. that it would be
four years before the government
could get a plate of armor from its
own factory if it built one He de-
clared: Il believe and l am prepared
to show that the Harvey patent was a
fraud, and that it was imposed upon
thn no tont ofioo opd ,1nop tbo ,r01yor,,
ment by subterfuge if not by dishon-
esty. When the government refused
to pay more than $500 ton for mar
vey armOr the combined armor man
ufacturers of the world endeavored to
obtain, by subterfuge or injustice, an
other armor. don't believe the Krupp
armor which they offered us has any
merit whatever, except that it is hard
ened deeper than Harveyized armor,
by well known means of hardening
steel by means of carbonization. There
is no patent about it, and there is no
secret about it that's worth dollar in
any court" He believed the proposed
government plant ought to be con-
structed.
Senator Spooner did not approve Of
limiting the price or armor to $500 per
ton, and said he regarded it as very
humiliating to the United States that
our ships should stand in the stocks
awaiting armor. He wanted our ships
to be completed, and was willing to
vote for the committees proposition to
pay $445 per ton, or even $545 per ton,
for the armor now necessary.
Washington. May 14.-After dis
cussion lasting five full days, the SEN
ate passed the naval appropriation
bill. Practically four days were de-
voted to the consideration of the ar
NOR plate proposition which was
agreed to finally as reported by the
committee, with the exception .nat
the secretary of the navy is authorized
to make contracts only for such armor
as may be needed from time to time
The secretary of the navy is authorized
to procure armor of the best quality at
$445 per ton; but if he shall be unable
to obtain it at that price, he is author
lied to pay $545 per ton for armor for
the battleships Maine. Ohio and Mis-
souri, and proceed to erect an armor
factory to cost not to exceed $4,000, 900,
one half the amount made Immediate
ly available. The committees PROPOSE
ton was carried by vote of 80 to 49,
The secretary of the navy is directed
to purchase five Holland torpedo boats
at a price not exceeding $4,000 each
Just before adjournment, Senator Mel
son (Minn.) called up the ''free homes"
bill and it was passed without word
of debate.
Washington. May 14.-The house
passed the general deficiency bill and
military academy bill. The deficiency
bill which carried $3.50 ,O21 was passed
!.