The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-15
BY A CLOSE VOTE THE SENATE RE-
JeGTS THE PROPOSITION.
A FlLIBUSTER is ORGANIZED
To Prevent a Vote on the Committees
Proposition Regarding Contracts for
Plates for the Battleships Now Build-
ing Senator Chandler's Sensational
speech, Charging Frauds Against
the Government I'm the Harveyized
steel Plates Contracts.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Washington, May 12.-By a close
vote the senate rejected the PROPOSE
tion to erect, without reference to the
price at which the government could
secure armor plate for its warships,
an armor plate factory. The vote
upon the direct proposition was % to
"a. and subsidiary amendments were
rejected by about the same vote.
When the committees proposition was
about to be voted upon, a filibuster
was organized, the quorum of the
senate was broken and the question is
still in the air.
During the debate today Senator
Chandler, of New Hampshire, deliv-
cred a sensational speech in which he
charged that the government had
been defrauded in the adoption of the
Harveyized armor He declared
similar fraud was proposed in the at
tempt to force the government to
adopt the Krupp armor.
Senator Spooner, of Wisconsin, and
Senator Hale, of Maine, made notable
speeches, deprecating the war talk
yesterday by Senator Lodge, of Mas
sachusetts. Neither senator was
fearful that we might become involv-
ed in difficulty with Germany on ac-
count of the Monroe doctrine, the lat
ter declaring that the United States
and Germany were bound together in
indissoluble ties, and the former that
our relations with the German en-
pire were never more cordial than
they are today.
Caoa for Hoar protested against the
"wretched imperialistic business" and
the talk that this nation had only re-
Gently become a world power" as
serting that we have been a world
power since the war of 1872.
Tie naval appropriation bill being
under consideration, Senator Chandler
declared that after the adoption of the
Harveyized armor by this government
Commander Folger resigned and
joined the Harvey company at SAL
airy of $1,000 with an addition of $20,-
600 of stock dn the company. He then
vert to Europe in the interests of the
company.
Senator Chandler said that at the
conclusion of Secretary of the Navy
Tracey's term he became Immediate
ly counsel for the Harvey Company in
defense of the Harvey patents.
Continuing Senator Chandler declar-
| ed: II believe and I am prepared to
show that the Harvey patent was a
| fraud and that it was imposed upon
| the patent office and upon the govern
ment by subterfuge If not by dishon-
>eSty. When the government refused
| to pay more than $309 a ton for Har-
| vey armor the combined armor manu-
| facturers of the world endeavored to
| obtain by subterfuge or by injustice
| another akmor. I do not believe that
the Krupp armor, which they offered
QYcpnt
| that it is hardened deeper than the
| Harveyized armor by the we'll known
| means of hardening steel by means
| of carbonization. There is no patent
| about it, and there is no secret about
| it that is worth a dollar in any
court
| Senator Spooner,of Wisconsin, chal-
| lenged the statement of Senator Lodge
| made yesterday that Germany was
| threatening the Monroe doctrine. He
| said he had it on the highest author
| ity that there was never a time when
| more cordial relations existed be-
tween the United States and Ger
| many than today.
In conclusion Senator Spooner ar
gued that in as much as the country
| is defenceless and at the mercy of
| two armor companies" the United
| States ought to erect its own armor
plant without delay. The present sit
uation. he declared, was intolerable.
In closing the debate, Senator Hale,
| in charge of the bill, after speaking
of the governments inability to COM
plete ships without armor said: II
| don't believe that a great need or ne
| cessity for an increase of the navy
| stalks before us, because of any ap-
| prehension Of hostilities, either now
| or in the future with the empire OF
| Germany. That great country is tied
| to us by indissoluble bonds in the
name of 100000 people of German
extraction. who today make some of
| our best citizens. / have no fear
any danger awaits us from German in
terAntion.''
| Then at O'Clock, by special order,
| debate ceased and the voting began
upon the armor question.
| The amendment offered by Senator
| Penrose to pay $545 for the armor for
the Maine, Ohio and Missouri was de-
| feated.
an amendment making 1T mandatory
upon the secretary OF the navy to
| erect an armor plate plant at once at
| a cost not to exceed $4,000, ,000 The
amendment was defeated-22 to "a.
Then Senator Tillman's amendment,
| striking out the committees PROPOSE
tion to pay $445 per ton for ar
L HUI, uAiuS the MAXIMUM price at $5UO
per ton except for armor for the bat
tleshfps missouri, Maine and Ohio, for
| which $545 was to be paid. and making
1t mandatory upon the secretary Of
the navy to construct an armor plant
| was defeated-22 to a. the vote in no
| respect differing from the vote on
Senator Pettus' amendment.
Senator Tlman offered his amend
ment three times, each time raising
1 slightly the limit OF the cost of the ar
NOR. Each time the amendment was
| defeated.
| Senator Chandler offered an amend
ment precisely similar to those pro-
| posed by Senator Tfllman. The vote
! on the amendment indicated the alb