The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-12

and other naval officers in praise of the
| Holland submarine boat as device for
| harbor defence; and he spoke slightingly
| of battleships as armored ships. saying
that they had cut little or no figure in
the late war. Ii was certain. he said,
that the gun, not the ship, dominated the
ocean. AS to the armor plate companies,
he warned them that two could play at
their game, and that when the United
States undertook to play game it intend
ed to win il. He would ''let the trust
know that we are not helpless and are not
submissive"
1T is Just as base" he continued, TO
surrender to an enemy within doors as TO
surrender to an enemy outdoors. The
national honor the national interest, and
the pride and dignity of the American
Government require that at this spot we
fight
Mr.. PenrOse's Proposition.
Mr.. Penrose offered an amendment au
thorizing the payment of S5l5 a ton for
armor for the battleships Maine. Ohio. and
Missouri. and entered upon a defence OF
the armor plate companies as having been
the pioneers of the iron and steel industry
of the United States and being composed
of honorable men. Such charges as had
been made against them should not, he
said. be tolerated or borne in silence, and
he protested against them as unsubstan-
tiated by facts.
He read a number of statistical tables
showing the cost of making armor plate
and the great expense of tools for this
purpose.
What are you reading from" asked Mr..
TilImap
Senate Document No TO- said Mr..
Penrose.
We'll. Senate Document No. 10 is
nothing more than lawyers brief in
defence of the armor trust" said Mr.. TILL
man.
Mr.. Penrose argued that an armor plant
without a steel making plant would be
useless.
Mr. Elkins spoke in favor of the com
mittee amendment. 81 am willing to trust
the President" said he-"leave the whole
matter TO him
Does the President know any more
about this matter than you do" asked
Mr.. Tillman.
NO, he does not" replied Mr. Elsins
II thought not said Mr. Tillman.
but he knows more about 1t than Mr.
Tillman," said Mr.. Ellsins. The Senator
from South Carolina doesn't know any
thing"
There was some confusion in the cham
Der as Mr.. Tillman began to answer Mr..
Elkins MIR. Hale was given the floor
THE Senator from West Virginia is act
ing like a cat following its tall" said Mr.
Tillman We are tired of it."
I'VE are all ignorant Of the armor plate
business" said MI. Eikins.
Not all of u.s." stated Mr.. Penrose.
Mr.. Teller spoke in favor of constructing
MI In tn
statement by Mr.. Hale 10 the effect that
the boards OF ordnance and construction
had advised against the Government plant
Mr. Teller stated that he never saw
more useless crowd than the officials in
the Ordnance Department. THE ignorance
displayed by these people is actually pitt
full" said he. They have demonstrated
their inability to do things for years. ]
hope that by the time we get our armor
plant VIII have the entire board
changed"
Mr. Allison expressed opposition to the
establishment of a Government armor
plate factory: but said that he would vote
for the amendment reported by the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs He was convinced
that instead OF armor plate costing $500 Ia
a Government factory. il would cost al
least double that amount. Still he would
vote for Government factory If the
plate companies should refuse to make a
contract for $i45 a ton. but he ventured
the prediction that 1t would be four years
before a plate of Krupp armor would be
furnished by the Government factory
After further discussion an agreement
vas reached. By unanimous consent. that
all debate on the armor plate proposition.
shall cease al 3 O'Clock today and
that then the vote shall be taken on the
nending amendments. The Senate then a,
$40 O'Clock adjourned until today.