The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-24
AMENDMENTS TO NAVAL BILL DEFEAT
ED ON POINTS OF ORDER.
MUCH BAD FEELING AROUSED
In the Wrangle on the Armor Plate
Question Amendments TO Increase
n Number of warship~ Provided
For Defeated A Successful Demo
cratic acknowledgements Called
For as 10 Army Officers on Detail In
Porto Rico Receiving Extra Pay.
SENATE.

NA~ = -
tative from Ohio, and the senate adop-
ted resolutions expressive of its sor-
row.
Senator Bacon, of Georgia, offered
two resolutions. one inQuiring OF the
secretary of war, whether army officers
had received or were receiving salaries
| for the performance of civil duties in
| addition TO their regular pay; and the
other inquiring about the expenditures
made for rent for officers quarters,
| e~quipases and all similar expenses.
| The first follows Mr.. Chambers chal-
| lenge OF yesterday. The second was
| based on prejudicial rumors regarding
those expenditures in Porto Rico and
I Cuba. Both resolutions were objected
to and Went over
Senator Hale presented the confer
| ence report upon the additional urgent
deficiency bill and it was agreed TO.
Senator Gallinger offered a substitute
| for the resolution he ~ntroducte yes
terday asking for information as to the
revenue derived from stamp taxes.
The substitute directs the secretary
| of the treasury to furnish a statement
of the sum derived from the war reve-
nue. act, the items regarding each sub
| ject OF taxation to be stated separately.
The resolution was agreed to.
Senator Culom called up the confer
ence report on the Hawaiian govern
ment bill and made a general eXplana-
ton of the work of the confereeS.
A long discussion took place over a
provision requiring the payment by
residents of Hawaii of a poll tax of
S. before voters could be registered.
The provision was opposed by Senators
Tillman, Teller, Jones, of Arkansas,
L au~or onl ofbar Cn~oto~ C,,l1nno
in charge of the report, said that if it
were sent back to conference he would
" the elimination of the poll pro-
vision.
The report was postponed until to-
morrow, when senator Cullom said
he hoped to be able to dispose of it.
Consideration of the Alaskan Civil
Code bill was then resumed.
Senator Bate, a member OF the COM
mittee on territories, addressed the
senate in opposition to the Hansbrough
amendment, maintaining that the law
should remain as it was when the lOca-
| tors rights were acquired.
AT 4:40 o'cOck p. m. the senate ad-
! journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
AS & result of a protracted struggle
in the house today the provision Of the
naval appropriation bill to enable the
! seer AIRY of the treasury to contract
: for armor for the battleships Maine,
Ohio and Missouri, now awaiting their
armor equipment, at $545 per ton, the
price asked for krupp armOr, is out
Of the bill, as is the provision to re-
peal the $500 limitation placed Dol
the price of armor by the current law.
The fight came at the end of the con-
sideration of the bill. Although the pro-
vision was obnoxious to the rule, all the
minority members of the committee
had agreed to it, but today when the
: majority declined to allow the discus
sion of a proposition for the establish
ment of an armor plate factory they re-
taliated by raising a point of order
against the two provisions above re-
ferred to and they were ruled out.
The exact effect of the action of the
house today is disputed. The appro-
priation of 81, 000, 600 under the head of
"armor inc armament remains in
the bill, as we'll as the language of the
proviso authorizing the secretary of the
navy to contract for armor of the best
quality for the Maine, h and Mis-
souri,, the words stricken out being "at
a cost not to exceed $545 a ton including
royalties" 1t is contended by some
that this empowers the secretary tc
contract for the armOr without regard
to cost. By others it is claimed tina
the provision will be ineffective un-
less the senate inserts the price.
30 IlucH Ddu- leelllS was dIOuSCo Wy
the wrangle owe the armor plate pro
vision that Mr.. Underwood, of Ala
bama. began a filibuSter after the bill
was reported to the house and forced
an adjournment without final actor
on the bill.
Before the armor plate question came
up two amendments to modify the pro
; vision for the increase Of the navy
which authorizes two ba~ttleships ant
six cruisers, were defeated. One pro
posed to d. provisions for six gun
boats and the other to strike out tn
provision for the battleships. The
question OF building ships in govern
ment yards did not reach a vote a
the amendment offered to this end wa
!, ruled out On a point of order.
1t was the regular war claims da!
!. but the naval committee, by a vote o
100 to 81, won its point to proceed witt
!, the bill.
Dir. Cannon, chairman Of the appro
!, priatiOnS committee, asked unanimou
!, consent for a modification of the Ian
guage of the amendment adopted yes
terday elative to the naval academy
The proposed modification made onl.
one substantial change in the amend
ment, authorizing the secretary of tn
navy after the plans have been ap
proved to contract for all or part o
the Improvements at Annapolis within
e the Sc, 600 900 limits. The amendmen
was agreed to.
Ar amendment was agreed to, pro
viding that the chief of the bureau o
> ordnance should not be below the ranl
!, of lieutenant commander.
Mr.. Fitzgerald, of New York, offere
, an to build four Of tn
ships authorized by the bill in govern
ment yards.
. Mr.. FoSs raised a point Of orde
q against the amendment, which, afte
prolonged debate, was sustained.
. Mr.. Fitzgerald h appealed from
? the decision and the chair was gus
tanned 80 to "a.
Without further amendment the bil
was reported to the house.
Mr.. Underwood, democrat, Of Ala
s bama, demanded a seperate vote o
each amendment, and on the first mad
n the point of no quorum. The speake
t "a unable to u a quorum, where
Y upon Mr.. Underwood moved an ad
journment- The motion was lost, bu
. the quorum failed on the next vote an
d , at 6:25 o'clock, without finally dispos