Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-10-30
ARMOR PLATE TRUST.
Able Defense of the Steal by
West Virginians.
Congressman Dayton and senator Ell.
kins Help TO Plumber the Treasury
They Favor the Trust Against the
People-Dayton wants the Matter Of
Price Left to Secretary Long.

They Favor the Trust Against the
People-Dayton wants the Matter Of
Price Left to Secretary Long.
On Friday October Goth the Wash
ington Star stauneh Republican
newspaper, published the following as
a news item:
1.-THE adjustment of the eontrover-
sy between the Navy Department and
the armor plate companies will prob
ably go over until after the election
Secretary Long who has been over
whelmed with business since his re-
turn from West Virginia leaves for the
West tomorrow aud there is no pros
pect of his being able to dispose of
the matter before his departure. AS
his western trip will probably COM
sumo ten days and upon his return he
will 60 to Massachusetts to vote there
is no likelihood of any action in the
matter until he returns TO the Depart
ment after the election
Secretary eff the Navy Long has just
returned from West Virginia and will
not let the contract for the thirty six
thousand tons of armor plate which
he is authorized to fix the price and
contract for, till after the election.
During the recent session of Con-
gress, an effort was made to maintain
the then existing limit of $500 ton,
and the records Of that body bear out
the statement that had 1t not been for
the untiring opposition Of Congress
man A. G. Dayton, of the Second
West Virginia District in the House
and Of Senators Elkins and Hanna in
the Senate this would have succeeded
but by concerted action Of these
gentlemen, in behalf of the armor
plate trust the fixing the price and
the whole question Of purchasing ar
NOR plate was placed in the hands Of
Secretary Long who has just returned
from West Virginia and will not let
the contract till after the election.
AS evidence OF the stand taken by
Mr.. Elkins on this proposition these
utterances are found in bis speech Of
May II, 1900, Cong. Record rage SIG.
"The English Government intrusts
all expenditures for its Navy to the
head Of the Naval Department. 1t
leaves all details as to price and every
thing else to that Department.
"That is the way the English Par
lament legislates: but it is proposed
to say to the Secretary Of the Navy
you shall pay SO much a ton for
steel. That would handicap him.
Are we not willing to trust to him and
his trusted officers, and ADVISERS,
those who have made life long study
of all such questions?'
s"That is the way the English Par
lament legislates,n says Mr.. Elkins.
''lt is English, you know"
Mr.. Dayton not to be outdone BY
Mr.. Elkins in his devotion TO the in
terests of the armor plate trusts on
May 20, Cong. Record page $3.50 has
this to say:
at seems to me there ought to be
no question about allowing the Secre-
| tary of the Navy the discretion TO fix
this price. Let it be ascertained and
fixed and take this question of the
armor plate out of the hands OF Con-
gress. Put it in the hands of re-
SpOuStDie parry lie VA ~ VI a - Avn
THE QUESTION"
| "Put it in the hands of response
BILE party. He can manage the ques-
tion" says Mr.. Dayton.
Yes, Mr.. Dayton, Mr.. Long has
been in West Virginia and He cin
manage the question and is SO manag-
ing it that the contract will not be
let till after the election, and no
doubt he will so manage it that the
price of armor plate will be fixed at
just what the armor plate trust will
agree upon, which price will, no doubt
be commensurate with the contribu-
tion made by this trust in attempting
to have their devoted friends Elkins
and Dayton returned TO their seats in
Congress.