The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-09

SECRECY IN THE SENATE
INVENTION so IMPORTANT 1T WILL
NOT BE- DISCUSSED OPENLY.
Armor Plate Clause of the Naval Bill
to he Debated Behind Closed
Doors To-Day.

WASHINGION,
most startling in their Importance were
laid before the Senate to-day in secret
session, at the conclusion OF the regular
open session. They related, 1t is understood,
to the invention of a shell by prominent
officer of the United States navy, smell
superior in every essential quality to any
now in use either by this or any other gov
ernment. The quality Of penetration pos
sessed by the shell is said to be so great
that no armor now manufactured In the
United States or abroad has sufficient re-
sistance to withstand 1t. The facts. which
were in possession of only few senator's
were deemed so important that the Senate
decided to consider them In secret session.
To-day after the naval bill had been laid
aside for the day, Mr.. Tillman asked for
secret session in order that he might ex-
plain to the Senate why he desired the
armor-plate matter to be discussed in Sc
cret When the doors were closed, he ex-
planned that, several days ago. he had Of
fered a. resolution calling on the secretary
of the navy to send to the Senate, for its
| Information, the details of tests made by
| the departments officials Of armor plate
at Indian Head. No answer to that inquiry
| had been received and in all human prob
ability none will be received.
| 1t seems that Mr.. Tillman called at the
Navy Department and was informed that
| IT would be unwise, at this time, to make
| public the details of the tests he had asked
| for, as it would place in the hands. not
only of the Senate but Of representatives
of foreign governments, information that
properly belonged exclusively to the United
States. He was informed that Admiral
O'Neil chief of the Bureau of Ordnance.
had been conducting, for several months.
a series of armor tests at Indian Head, the
results of which were very remarkable. A
prominent official of the Navy Department
said it is understood that tests of all sorts
of armor, including the Krupp armor, had
been made with a view Of ascertaining
| their effectiveness against new shell that
| had been invented by an officer of the
navy. No piece of armor submitted to the
| test, 1t is understood, was able to with
stand the test. The shell, fired from high
| power guns penetrated the armor almost
| as bullets fired from a Krag-Jorgensen
| rifle would penetrate green wood, the diff
| ference being that the armor plates split
| from the point of impact. 1t was said this
| was true of the Krupp armor as well as of
| the other armor tested. The shell which
was so effective was not described; indeed,
| the Navy Department is guarding jealous
| ly all details concerning its construction.
| The argument of Mr.. Tillman is that
| with such a projectile in the possession of
| the government, the details of which,
| sooner or later, will become known to other
| governments, 1t would not be the part of
| wisdom for the Congress to enter into con-
| tracts to purchase the high-priced armor
| unless 1t could be so improved as to resist
projectiles of the kind used at Indian Head.
| Feeling that more or less of the matter
| concerning the tests recently made by the
| government would be used In the debate
| upon the armor question, Mr.. Tillman sug-
| gested that it would be desirable to con-
| slider the subject in secret. The Senate
| agreed with him, and tomorrow the ar
NOR plate matter will be discussed behind
| closed doors.
| The officials of the War Department
| claim that Judge Lochren's recent decision
| relative 70 the Constitution in Porto Rico
| will not require any change Of policy on
| their part. Had Judge Lochren released
| Ortiz, whose case brought forth the judges
| opinion respecting the extension of the
| Constitution to Porto Rico, the authorities
| undoubtedly would have taken immediate
| steps to appeal the case to a superior trib-
unal. But, as il Is, the judges statements
| relative to Porto Rico regarded by
! them as mere obiter dictu, and, conse-
| quently. not binding in any manner on the
| administration.
The judiciary committee of the House to-
| day adopted resolutions on the death of
Judge Culberson of Texas, who for several
| terms was chairman of the committee, and
| one of the most influential members of the
House. The members pay tribute to the
great ability OF Judge Cuberson as
statesman and jurist and to the important
| part he took In shaping national legisla-
| ton.
Herbert w. Bowen. United States minis
ter and consul general at Teheran, Persia,
| has had conferred upon him by the Shah
| of Persia the decoration of 1.-THE Grand
Gordon OF the Lion and the Sum-"
XXX
General Henry W. Lawton a pension of $50
per month was to-day favorabiy reported
| 10 the Senate by the committee on pen
sions.
The detailed statement sent to the Sem
ate Yesterday OF the cost OF the Paris Ex-
position Commission from the date OF its
organization 10 December 81, 1899, shows
that the total amount paid for salaries was
sl67. .76S, and for travelling expenses, $3,3e7.
There are a number of items charged in
lump, as for instance. furniture and Office
incidentals. $4,000: newspapers. press clip
pings photographs. messenger service. cab.
-
porary services of draymen. $l0.477 The