Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-29
ed to consider the items which had not

tt 10 CoHSlueT the lteHiS hdu hOS
been agreed to.
from its disagreement and agree with an
amendment striking out all reference to
surveys, but increasing the appropriation
for charts. &c. from $4,000 to $4,000.
This was agreed to.
Mr.. Foss also moved that the House In
sist upon its disagreement to the Senate
amendment abolishing the two years
course at sea for naval cadets and the
motion prevailed.
Mr.. Foss moved that the House recede
from its disagreement to the armor-plate
amendment of the Senate and agree to
il, with an amendment authorizing the
Secretary of the Navy to contract for
armor plate at a price deemed reasonable
by him. and if he cannot procure armor at
an equitable price. authorizing him, in his
discretion, to purchase site for the cree
ton of an armor plate factory, to cost not
to exceed S40OO,00O.
Mr.. Wheeler CKy) moved to recede and
concur in the Senate amendment.
This motion took preference over that of
Mr.. Foss. 1t was arranged that there
should be an hours debate side. and
Mr. Dayton CIV. Va took the floor in sup
port of Mr.. Foss' motion.
He contended that this armor plate ques-
ton had already retarded the building up
of THE navy to such an extent that unless
1t was settled now once for all our navy
would suffer.
Mr.. Dayton said he was informed by the
StUdtoT pennsylvania lfldl IL was
utterly out of the question for the govern
ment to expect to obtain armor at the
price fixed in the Senate amendment (S445),
and that, therefore, the country was con-
fronted with the alternative of buying
armor at the price charged by the factories
or else embark upon the building of a gov
eminent armor plate factory.
Mr.. Rixey Wa). member of the naval
committee. declared that the adoption of
Mr.. Foss' motion. giving the Secretary of
the Navy authority to contract for armor
at a reasonable price. would be tantamount
to agreeing to the price charged by the ar
NOR plate factories. We know the Secre-
tary is willing to agree to any terms the
factories ask" said he.
What evidence have you for that state
ment?" asked Mr.. Foss.
Il cannot cite the gentleman to the evil
dence.'' replied Mr.. Rixey, but that is my
in preston l think it would be a great
mistake not to place limit upon the price.
We never secured Harveyized armor for
less than SllI ton until we limited the
price. Admiral O'Neil says that the gov
eminent can make armor for Ssh a ton.
and that the Krupp process is not patented.
If we can produce it for $344. why should
We pay S54J? l consider that to pay over
500 would give the manufacturers exorbi-
tant profits"
To show the enormous profits of these
concerns Mr. RiXey had read from the ad-
vance sheets of a report by Consul General
Guenther at Frankfort showing that the
krupp company secured over 81 100 for a
certain class of guns from the German
government until competition developed
The company then reduced its price to S452.
Want n Government Plant.
Mr.. Kitchen CN.C) and Mr. Underwood
(Ala-) also supported Mr.. Wheeler's mo-
ton. Both favored the building of an ar
NOR plate factory. Mr.. Underwood argued
that a plain business proposition it would
BE to the advantage Of the government 10
make its own armor. He produced the fig
ures of the armor manufacturers to show
that the total cost of material in a ton Of
amor was Sob; coal, etc, $56.75. and
labor SAB, or a total cost of about sos, IN
Guiding interest. taxes and insurance.
Mr.. Cummings tN.Y), one of the con-
ferees. said he was in favor of anything
which would build the ships authorized IN
the speediest manner possible. If the
House adopts the motion of Mr.. Foss. he
said he had little hope that the Senate
would agree to the amendment.
Mr.. Wheeler concluded the debate in
favor of his motion to recede and concur in
the Senate amendment. He was opposed to
the establishment of an armor plate fac
tory. but. the government must he pro-
tected against eXtortion and wholesale rob-
berry