The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-10
IARIll0R Plat
WAS DISCUSSED.
During Almost the Entire Session Of
the Senate Yesterday.
NO DECISION WAS REACHED e 4.
The Debate Was Largelyon the Erec
ton of a Government Plant.
The Pearson awford Con-
test Before the House.

der consideration The debate largely
hinged on the proposition that the gov
eminent should erect an armor plate
plant of it's own.
No action was taken on the proposition,
the bill going over until tomorrow.
Mr.. Hale, Of Maine, evidently referring
to the publication of yesterdays secret
session proceedings, said he left it to Mr..
Tillman whether it was wise or desirable
to proceed with the measure in secret ses-
sion.
AR. Tillman replied that ne was per-
suaded sit would be almost impossible 10
prevent the newspapers from getting the
information, although they did publish more
than occurred in the Senate and
Mr.. Vest: II think the Senate would
better go into secret session. =
MIR. Tillman: 81 hope the Senator will
permit me TO complete my observations.
Mr. Vest: 81 make the motion for
secret session. The Senator's remarks are
proving the accuracy Of the newspaper re-
ports
Mr. Chandler, of New Hampshire, sec
onded Mr.. Vests motion. and at 12:55 z.
NJ the Senate's doors were closed
OPEN SESSION.
At 1 o'clock the Senate resumed consld-
era ton of the bill in open session The
pending question was upon the committee
amendment to the House bill with respect
to armor for war vessels.
Mr. Tllman offered an amendment IN
effect limiting the price to be paid for ar
NOR to $500 per. ton, and if it could not be
procured for that price, authorizing the
Secretary of the Navy to construct a gov
eminent armor plant at a cost OF not ex-
ceeding 100000.
Mr.. Hale said the committee had sought
to relieve the country from the embarrass-
ment that was irksome to almost every
body.
Il believe the armor plants put their
heads together and put up prices OF
armor. OF course this created resent
ment, and ] am not surprised at the
action and feeling Of the Senator from
South Carolina.
Under this bill, if the companies de-
clined to accept S445 per ton, a Govern
ment plant for the manufacture OF armor
was to be constructed -
He believed the manufacturers thus
would accept.
Mr.. Tilman said the prices asked by
the manufacturers would cost the Gov
eminent S17,G00,O0l, while his proposed
price would cost but about SS,G0O00O. His
proposition was to build an armor plant
Mr.. Tillman was not convinced that
the new process armor was any better
than the old kind A nine-inch new
process plate had been easily penetrated,
and who could say that a fourteen
inch plate would not suffer Similarity
WILL PIERCE ANYTHING.
Mr.. Hale interrupted to state that the
only significance of recent experiments
was to show that the best projectiles
will pierce anything, but that the new
process armor has an impenetrability of
% per cent. greater than any other. The
cap projectiles went through the nine
inch and even the eleven-inch plates as
though they were pine boards.
Mr.. Hale presented a memorandum from
Rear-Admiral O'Neil, giving the latest
available information or the subject. The
memorandum stated in part:
mo armor that exists to-day, regardless
of its thickness or quality, Cen resist the
power of the modren gun a short range.
Therefore, the fact that armor can readily
be perforated at short range must not be
considered an indication that it is of in
ferior quality"
A few days ago at Indian Head, a six
inch capped shell was easily driven through
1i-inches of Harveyized armor. and the
same has been done through inches of
krupp armor.
Mr.. Money made a speech in which he
said he would support the proposition for
a government armor plate plant.
Mr.. Chandler, of New Hampshire, who
is ex-Secretary of the Navy, said that if
the United States We're to become a world
power and build ships for the next twenty
years. it would be far cheaper to make
armor at the governments own plant.
At SIS the Senate adjourned.
III the House.
WASHINGTON, May 9-The House to-
day entered upon the consideration of the
contested election case of Pearson vs..
Crawford, from the Ninth North Carolina
district.
The report of the majority in the Pear
son-Crawford case was against the sitting
member, a Democrat on the general
ground tist Mr.. Pearsons election was
prevented by fraud, intimidation, bribery
and bloodshed The minority deny all the
allegations of the minority, pointing out that
the district is normally Democratic. The
debate to-day was on party lines.
Mr.. Roberts, of Massachusetts,, in charge
of the case, on behalf OF the majority,
made a proposition to vote Immediately
after the reading Of the journal tomorrow.
Mr. Miers, of Indiana, for the minority,
rejected the proposition, which, he de-
clared. indicated thatxthe majority had al
He said four hours on side was the least
he would accept. This. in turn, was re-
iected. and Mr.. Roberts entered upon his
argument without any agreement having
been reached as to the time for closing the
debate.
Mr.. Crawford. the sitting member, a
Democrat, had 2ss plurality on the face
the returns Mr.. Roberts figured out
a true plurality for Nlr. Pearson of 31s.
In the course Of his remarks. Mr..
Roberts denounced the constitutional
amendments and the new election law
in North Carolina, which he said We're
designated to eliminate the negro VOTE
Mr, Niers, Of Indiana, presented the
case of the minority. He called atten-
ton to the fact that the district was
normally Democratic, and that the cleo
ton of 1886 was conducted under an cleo
ton law passed by the Fusonists, which
gave the contestants political friends
control of the election machinery.
Mr.. Kitchin concluded the debate. re-
viewing the service of both Mr.. Craw-
ford and Mr.. Pearson.
The House, at 5:15, adjourned.
ORDINANCE. COMMITTEE.