The Portland daily press., 1900-04-21
Claimed Full Price Can
Be Paid.
House Adjourns without Final
Action.

washipgton, April s0.-As Q result Of
o protracted struggle In the House today.
the provision CT the naval appropriation
bill to enable tho secretary Of the trsas-
ury to contract for armoG for the battle
ships Maias, Ohio and Missouri, BOW
awaiting their armor equipment ct e645
per ton, the price asked for Krupp armor,
10 out Of the bill, as 10 the prov isisn to
repeal the $500 Limitation placed upon
the price If armsr ny the current law.
The hight came ct the end sf
the confederation of this bill Although
the provision was obnoxious to the ruis,
all the minority members tf the oom-
mittss had agreed 10 Il. but today, whom
the majority declined to allow the dis
cussion Of proposition for the establish
ment of an arnor plate factory. they re-
against the two provisions above referred
to and they wsr ruled out. The exact
elect Of the action Of the House today
10 disputed. The appropriation Ct 81
900, 600 undsr the head Of 'Armor and
armament" remains In tbs bill ~ well ~
the language Of the previso authorising
the secretary OF the navy to contract
for srmor Of the best quality for the
Maine. Ohio and Missouri the words
stricken out bsing "At cost not to ex-
eesd s54b ton including royalties"
1t IL eontendsd BY some that this en-
powers the secretary to contract for the
armor without regard to cost. By others
a. ts .l~t,, IA that the praviston will ha
ineffective, until the Senate inserts the
price. So much bad feeling Was aroused
by the wrangle over the armor plate pro-
vision that Mr.. Underwood Of Alabama
began flibuster after the bill was re-
ported to the House and finally forced
an adjournment without final action on
the bill.
Before the armor plate question came
up two amendments to modify the provis-
ION for the increase OF the navy. which
authorizes two battleships and six cruis-
srs were defeated. une proposed
q provision for six gun boats and the
other to strike out the provision for the
The question of building
ships in government yards did not reach
a vote az the amsndmsnt offered to this
end was ruled out on . point OF order.
This WAS the day devoted under the
rules to the consideration OF war elaine
but the naval affairs committee desired
to 20 ahead with the nava appropriation
bill. Mr.. Foss acting chairman Of the
moved to proceed with its con-
but she motion was contested
by the committee on war claims and Q
roll call was forced. The naval commit
tee won 100 to 81, and the consideration
Of the naval appro priation bill was re-
sumsd.
As to the second resolution Mr.. Bacon
said hs dia not wish 10 DO understood a.
prefsrring charges Of sxtravsganoe
against either the administration CT the
army officers. He had no definite infor-
nation respecting expenditures Ct officsrs
in Porto Rico and Cuba, but preiudicial
rumors regarding these expenditures were
afioat.- Il had tesn said that more lavish
had been made ON the quar-
ters aud Furnishings for our officers In
Porto Rico and In Cuba and for the other
expenses than had been made for the
and convenience Of the former
Spanish governments Of those islands.
Both revolutions were objsotsd to and
went over Mr.. Hale presented the oon-
ference report On the additional urgent