The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-21

Of locating an armor plate plant and appro- .
priating 81 600. 0o0 TO begin the work when Z
the report Of the board shall be approved d
by the Secretary.
II was now nearly 4 o'clock. and the /
managers Of the bill and many members. I
especially on the Republican side, greatly I
desired to dispose Of the bill. Efforts were 4
made by members OF the Committee Oh t
Naval Affairs to secure an agreement 10 ,
limit the discussion on the armor plate F
plant paragraph to twenty minutes on 4
each side. with a point Of order Withheld .
by Mr.. Dayton. But to such an agreement
the Democrats refused to accede.
Mr.. Dayton then offered 10 hold the point .
OF order fifty minutes. when Mr.. Mahon
renewed it, Some wrangling ensued, and
Mr.. Mahon offered to withdraw the point.
If an agreement was reached 70 vote on the D
passage Of the bill at o'clock But this
was not reached.
Mr.. Underwood an advocate OF the prop
ositiOn to build Government armor plate 2
plant got the floor and said the sugges-
ton TO debate the matter fifty minutes was
to say that the House was TO be led like
bull with a ring in its nose TO the bar and
made to vote for the bill without knowl-
edge.
Mr.. Dayton-In view of that statement,
Mr. Chairman | renew the point Of order.
Mr.. Underwood endeavored then TO Sc
cure an unlimited recognition to discdss
the point OF order. telling the Chair that
he had no right to restrict a member in
the discussion of a point of order.
The Chairman-The determination Of
point of order is entirely within the con
troll OF the Chair. II the gentleman desires
to talk for ten minutes on the point OF
order. the Chair will hear him.
Mr. Underwood-The matter cannot prop
erly be presented in that time. and
appeal from the decision OF the Chair.
The Chairman-The gentleman appeals
from a decision of the Chair regarding
recognition; the appeal is not entertained.
The point Of order was then sustained.
as being new legislation. From the de-
cision Mr.. Underwood appealed. and pro-
ceeded at some length to argue the appeal.
He was several times called 10 order by
Mr. Hepburn. and finally. amid some ex-
element, was required by the Chair under
the rule invoked by Mr.. Hepburn to take
his seat. In the mean time, Mr.. Bartlett
moved that Mr. Underwood be permitted to
proceed under the rules. When ne had
taken his seat, however. Mr. Hepburn NOV
ed to lay the appeal on the table, which
was ruled out OF order.
Mr.. Dalzell moved that debate be closed.
An uproar ensued, which finally ended by
Chairman Payne putting Mr.. Bartletts
motion TO the committee and 1t was car
rfed by a vote Of 81 to 10 and Mr.. Under
wood resumed.
In a few moments he was again called to
order. and taking his seat, Mr. Dalzell
again moved that debate be closed. It was
agreed TO this time by a vote Of 90 to 81.
Mr. Nandiver made a point OF order
against the price proposed in the bill to
be paid for armor-s545 ton-that it was
change Of existing law. which fixed the
price at $500 and therefore out Of order.
After long discussion Of the point Of
order Chairman Payne ruled that the pro-
vision in the Naval bill OF 1899, restrict
ing the cost of armor plate to $500 ton,
was not merely a limitation upon that ap-
preparation but declara ton by Congress
Of it's intent that armor plate should be
bought at no greater price than $500 a
ton. The provision in the pending bill,
increasing the cost to s545 a ton, Mr.
Payne said was therefore change OF ex-
listing law.
Regarding this matter Mr. Wheeler Of
Kentucky. a member Of the Committee on
Naval Affairs. stated the position Of his
colleagues on the committee and the
minority on the floor. They would agree
to pay $545 a ton for armor rather than
1 that the vessels now on the stocks should
rot there for want of armor, not willingly,
but only as an alternative. He had stated
/ II reasonable time were permitted for de-
bate on the armor plate provision, so that
| the question of building a Government
l plant might be brought before the House,
4 no point Of order would be made against
that provision OF the bill But the minor
ity. believing it had been unfairly dealt
with. felt compelled to act as it had done.
They wanted, as representatives OF the peo-
DIE. an opportunity 70 vote on the question
NIL
On a point OF order made by Mr.. Van
} diver. the next paragraph went out Of the
bill This was to repeal the restriction
carried in the bill for the current year
against contracting for the construction Of
the hull Of any vessel until a contract had
been made for the armOr.
The bill was then reported to the House
and Mr.. Underwood who had led the oppO-
sition during the afternoon. manifested his
intention to delay. if not to prevent. the
passage Of the bill yesterday. He demanded
a separate vote on each of the various
amendments made by the committee. and
on the first vote made a point OF no
quorum. The Speaker counted ia members
in the House-"not a quorum
Mr.. Underworld move that the House
adjourn.
Republican cries, in opposition were
heard and Mr. FOss made the point that
the motion was dilatOry.
Speaker HendersOn-The Chair is not en-
tirely clear as to the dilatory character Of
the motion. but will submit il TO the House.
Mr. Underwood took his seat with a
satisfied smile. There was a large volume
OF sound against the motion to adjourn, and
Mr.. Underwood demanded the yeas and
NAYS The vote resulted: Yeas 81. nays
10J. present IS.
A second vote on the first amendment re-
suited: Yeas Jos. nays y. And again Mr..
Underwood made the point that no quorum
was present over Republican protests and
assertions that the point was made for
diIatory purposes. the Speaker again
counted. observing:
Although the rollcall showed more than
a quorum present members are very likely
TO leave at this hour, and quorum may
have disappeared.
The count showed but 164 members pres
ent. and then realizing the hopelessness of
keeping up the contest, Mr.. Foss moved
that the House adjourn until today. and il
was agreed to at $50 o'clock
PORTO RICAN LEGISLATION.
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