The evening times., 1900-06-01


sion held on the Aoo- Of the Senate dur
ing the present session took place today
when the fourth conference report on the
Naval Appropriation bill was presented
and again disagreed to. The report
brought up the armor plate question and
when the armor plate makers were saw
agely attacked by several Senators. Mr.
Hanna, in the longest speech in his
career as a Senator. defended the plate
manufacturers He was the central figure
in the three-aour debate and resented all
attacks made on the Administration
In the course Of the discussion Mr.. TIL
man inferred that Mr.. Hanna was "a liar
and a thivf," iu line with al millionaIres
who had made money by fraud
Mr.. Allen charged that Mr.. Hanna was
the agent Of the Armor Trust. Mr. Teller
assailed the Administration and rallied at
"the chief representative c. the Republi-
can party" who dared to get UP and de-
fend trusts that be might -he more easily
levy contributions in the coming cam
paign. lie also stated that II the people
knew the truth about the doings OF the
present Administration, they would over
turn IL in one hour.
Mr.. Pettigrew stated that Mr. Hanna was
trying TO pay back the S40e. coo collected
from the Bethlehem Steel Company in the
last campaign. by means OF contracts made
al robber prices.
When the conference report was present
ed Mr.. Hale moved that the House amend
ments be disagreed 10 and that the bill go
back into conference He spoke Of his
sorrow az the delay, but assured the Sen
ate that he would never surrender &c
proposition which would place the power
Of regulating the price Of armor plate in
the hands OF the Secretary OF the Navy
and which would be = complete surrender
to the Armor Trust.
Mr.. Teller said be would rather see every
ship il the Navy rot than have the Gov
ernment held by the throat by q trust He
said he would demand vote TO see wheth-
er or not the Senate would surrender TO
the trust
That's what I want" said Mr. Hale.
Mr. Platt Of Connecticut argued in favor
cf giving the Secretary Of the Navy the
power 10 regulate the price and 10 pay the
armor people what they wanted, 50 that the
naval vessels could be completed.
SIR. Foraker said ne, had been against q
reduction before, but was now il favor OF
reducing the price from S545 per ton 70 Si00
per ton, and OF at once building z Govern
ment armor Plate factory
Messrs- Tillmsn, Butler, and Teller ar
gued in favor OF the Government arnOr
plate factory.
Mr.. Chandler opposed giving the Secre-
tary OF the Navy unlimited power He
would probably pay $Seo per ton said he.
If the trust demanded IL and he wanted
70 complete his ships 1t would be the
most foolish thing We could do Let Us
get the ball back in the Senate and reduce
the Eumber 0f ships or cut all OF the ships
out until We can get our own plant"
How do you know that the price is ex-
tortionste? ?" asked Mr.. Scott
Because l have studied this subject
for six years" said Mr.. Chandler, and
the Senator from West Virginia hasn't
studied IL five minutes
We can't fool with this much longer"
continued NJ. Chandler. IF the Congress
OF the United States is too cowardly 20 tx
the price Of armOr, / want to wash my
hands Of the whole matter
II am willing 10 vote for a Government
arrnor plant said Mr.. Lodge. but l want
our ships to be built while We are building
the plant"
Mr.. Hale then explained that the confer
ees could not agree on the question Of
ocean surveys and that this should be at
tended to.
Mr. Scott praised the armor plate people,
saying they were not as black as they were
painted.
Mr.. Tillman said that the arrnor people
were a set of rascaIs and no man could
very well say a good thing for them
rhey have sold US blow holes" he said.
and put the knife into US, and yet some
Senators stand up and try 10 uphold
them"
Mr. Hanna then arose and made a speech
in defence Of the armor plate manu-
faeturers.
Il have listened to this discussion for
a long time" said he, and l know what
ested in manufacturing and am not speak
ing from hearsay.
Now, / want 10 say that the wrongdo-
ers in the Senate are the Senator from
South Carolina, and those who are holding
our ships back because Of animus"
Here Mr.. Hanna forcibly banged his desk
and glared al Mr.. Tillman.
Il know what a fair price for arunor is, -
ne continued "and the price we have set
is tco low for any maker to think of TAX
ing the contract. 1t may be that 5000
would be a fair price, but 1t is not a big
price"
THE Illinois Steel Company offered to
make armor for $225 per ton said Mr..
Wellington
That was a bluff. a pure bluff. and
nothing but bluff" said Mr. Hanna Il
happened to be interested in that deal my
self Now how dare any man question
the integrity OF the Secretary OF the Navy.
He ought to be trusted in this matter as
he was during the war with Spain. We
should let him make the price
Il want to tell you right here that you
can't build a Government armor plant
within five years. And when you get Il
built you never could turn out good armor
plate at any price"
How is it that the Illinois Steel Com
pany shut down for want Of work, il their
offer was only bluff,'' said Mr.. Tillman.
Because the owners wanted to influence
the Stock Market" answered Mr. Hanna
Then this shows what scoundrels men
are when they get 10 be millionaires," said
Mr.. Tillman. They are not only liars
but thieves"
Does the Senator mean TO call any man
on this floor a liar and a thief?'' asked
Mr. Hanna.
Il am inferring what miIlionaires are"
said Mr. Tillman.
why couldn't the Government build an
armor plate factory" asked Mr.. Allen.
Because it couldn't get the men ner the
material said Mr. Hanna.
''It seems to turn out political armor for
the Senator from Ohio said Mr. Allen.
Yes, and l want to say that / have
Quick service to Chicago yin II. a O.
n, a a. O nex train leaving Wasbingto, a.