The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-04-26
BUILDING OF WARSHIPS.
SECOND DAYS DEBATE on NAVAL
APPROPRIATIONS ELL.
Nj. Day ton Opposes the Constr uetion
of Vessels OF War I'm Government
Yards and the Establish nent Oft
Governmen Mt ArmOr Plate Factory
House Rule Severely trltfcised.

Washington, April 17.-The second
days debate upon the Naval APP
preparation bill in the House to-day
was confined closely to the subject
matter Of the bill and was, as a rule,
devoid of interesting features. The
questions of armor plate and the build
ing Of warships in government yards,
as on yesterday, attracted most atten-
ton. The speakers to-day were Messrs.
Dayton, of West Virginia; Loudens-
lager, of New Jersey; Adams, of Penn
sylvania; Vandiver, of Missouri; Ell
lott, of South Carolina; Rixey. of Vir-
ginia; Fitzgerald, of New York, and
Wheeler, of Kentucky. General debate
was closed to-day and tomorrow the
bill will be read for amendment under
the five minute rule.
Mr.. Dayton, of West Virginia,
member of the Naval Committee, the
first speaker, contended that the naval
programme outlined in the bill was not
an eXtraVagant one. He predicted that
larger appropriations would be required
in the future. He opposed the building
Of Warsnips in government yards ana
the establishment of a government ar
NOR plate factory.
MI " VI oShCu IA
there was not lobby here to defeat
the proposition to build ships in gov
eminent yards.
Il never heard of such a lobby" re-
piled Mr.. Dayton. The only lobby I
have seen was the lobby OF naval con-
structors, if it could be called a lobby,
arguing in favor of the proposition, l
oppose
One of the strong reasons urged by
: ,x,,,f
embarking in the manufacture of ar
NOR was the possibility that in a few
years the whole scheme of defending
ships might change. Already a naval
expert had suggested compressed cot
ton as a substitute for armOr.
Mr.. Elliott Of South Carolina, made
an extended argument in favor of com
pleting the inland waterways along the
Atlantic coast both for defense and as
an artery of commerce in time of war.
Mr.. Rixey, OF Virginia, criticised the
extravaganza in the bill. He favored
the consolidation Of some of the bu-
reaUS. He also advocated government
built and government made armor and
ships.
Mr.. Wheeler. of Kentucky, of the
Commerce Committee, criticised severe
ly the rule OF the House which pro-
hibited members from making public
on the moor what was zone ana Sdlu
behind committee doors and declared
himself in favor Of compelling commit
tees to open the doors to the press. The
most vicious Legislation was Matched
behind closed doors. He also opposed.
he said, the appointment of men with
special interests to serve on commit
tees Their desire to serve their cOnStlt-
uentS he said, Out-Weighed their duty
to their country. Upon conviction, Mr..
Wheeler said he was opposed to gov
eminent plate factory and the building
Of ships in government yards. But
when it came to surrenderlng some OF
his convictions Or submitting to high
way robbery he would let some of the
former go. He was convinced, from
what he haG been able to learn, that
| the profit on armor plate was from 15O
to 200 per cent. Mr.. Wheeler created
something of sensation by expressing
| the opinion that IAN officer in the uni
| form of the United States" was respon-
sible for the ar1nor plate trust. He did
not name the officer and was not ques-
toned as to who he meant.
General debate was then closed.
At 500 y. m. the House adjourned