The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-06-07
END OF CONGRESS.
Closing Scenes In the Senate
and House.
Senators Warmly Discuss the
Armor Plate Question.
Representatives at Odds over a
Single Item In the SUM-
dry Civil Bill.

WASHINGTON, June 6.-The mem
bers of both branches of congress looked
tired and wan as they reassembled this
morning after their arduous work of yes
terduy, the house meeting at : o'clock
and the senate at 10. While the sessions
lasted practically all night, the exciting
scenes and incidents of former days were
missing.
The senate held n short executive ses-
sion at II 40. after which conference
reports on the sundry civil appropriation,
the Naval academy and the general def
cheney bills were presented and adopted.
The sundry civil bill was complete
agreement except one item relating to
Nevada claims. The naval conferees
were deadlocked on the armor plate pro-
vision. There was a complete agreement
on the deficiency bill. The Military
academy bill was passed and sent to the
president. At 2:30 this morning the SEN
ate went into executive session, after
which a recess was taken until 10
o'clock.
Seven hours after the close of last
nights session. at 10 a. m. today, the SEN
ate reconvened to prepare for final ad
journment. a score of senators only were
present, but the chamber rapidly filled.
The naval and sundry civil appropria-
tion bills remained in conference, all 9TH
ers having been agreed to.
The usual routine business of the SEN
ate practically was abandoned today.
Only two or three new bills and resolu-
tions were presented. One of the latter
was introduced by Mr.. Gallinger On. H.
and directed the committee on civil serv-
Ice to investigate the charges made
against the administration of the apprais
er's office at the port Of New York. 1t
was agreed to without objection.
Mr.. Carter secured the passage OF a
bill providing for the increase to S3I5,-
600 of the limit OF cost for the public
building at Helena, Mon.
ARMOR PLATE CONTROVERSY.
Mr. Hale presented a conference report
on the naval appropriation bill. 1t was
a disagreement upon all questions that
have been in dispute for three or four
days. Mr.. Hale explained that the arm
or plate question was the great STUN
bling block to agreement. He explained
that the house conferees refused to ac-
cede to the senate proposition, and the
senate was confronted therefore, with
the same question substantially as had
been presented in the beginning. No
price had been agreed upon by the con-
ferees because the house conferees be-
lieved the price should be left to the dis
cretion of the secretary of the navy. The
house conferees insisted that their prop
osition should be passed upon by vote
of the senate.
Mr.. Hale thought there was force in
this demand. He said Mr.. Penrose had
q proposition to offer which he would be
clad to have the senate pass upon. Mr..
Penrose then offered the following prop
Csition:
That the secretary Of the navy is
hereby authorized to procure by contract
armor of the best quality for any or all
vessels above referred to, provided such
contracts can be made at price which,
in his judgment, is reasonable and equt-
able, but in case he is unable to make
contracts for armor under the above
conditions he is hereby authorized and
directed TO procure a site for and to erect
thereon a factory for the manufacture of
armor and the sum of S4,O00,000 is here
by appropriated toward the erection Of
said factory"
Mr. Butler insisted that what he want
ed was a government armor plant, and
he would be willing to pay almost any
vided that the construction of an armor
plant by the government were made man
datory.
Mr.. Chandler objected to leaving the
matter to the discretion Of the secretary
of the navy. Congress ought not he
maintained, shift the responsibility to
the shoulders of the secretary of the
navy. That would be n cowardly thing
to do. Congress alone should adjust this
question.
Mr.. Platt Comm favored the PROPOSE
tion offered by Mr.. Pcnrosc. 1t was in
his belief a question whether congress at
this session should pass Il naval appro-
priatiOn bill or not. He maintained that
the house was quite as powerful body In
this matter as the senate 1t had quite
as much right to its opinion as had the
senate.
TILLMAN ATTACKS PENROSE.
The matter had to be settled ''now
and here" said he, and, while the senate
might regard the house as obstinate, il
was not possible for either branch to be
coerced by the other. Under the propo-
sition of Mr.. Penrose he was satisfied
the government would get its armor for
S445 per ton.
Mr. Tillman attacked the amendment
offered by Mr.. Penrose.
"rhe chairman OF the naval commit
tee" (Hale), said he, "has declared that
the government is being robbed and that
the armor trust has a knife at the gov
ernment's throat And now it is pro-
posed to let them cut the government s
throat. We are face to face with n
scandal as infamous as any in our his
tory, second not even to the great Credit
Mobilier scandal"
II resent that statement" interjected
Mr.. Penrose vehemenuy and with evil
dent feeling. Il resent the statement
that there is any suspicion of scandal
in this or any amendment which | pro-
pose. ! consider my notion of the proper
way for the government to transact its
business to be on as high standard as
any set up by the senator from South
Carolina"
Il am making no personal illusions, "
replied Mr. Tilman. IL am simply stat.
ing facts that are indisputable. The in.
fluences behind the house in this matter
are the shipbuilders and the armor man
ufacturers."
Mr.. Teller denounced the amendment
of Mr. Ponrose as n "disgraceful promo.