New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-07
PLANS FOR ADJOURNMENT
4S.NA SHED.
THE HOUSE REPUDIATES THE AGREE
MENT OF ITS CONFERREES on
THE NAVAL BILL-B BITTER
FIGHT OVER SURVEYS
[nY rrLEeRApH TO TIE rRIRrxE.l ]


went TO smash at 10 O'Clock this evening when
the House of Representatives. under Mr.. Can
mons leadership, repudiated the agreement on
the Naval Appropriation bill signed by its con-
ferrees. and relieved them OF further service
its legislative agents. This unusual action
the elimination Of bitter rivalry OF long
standing between the committees on Naval Al
fairs and Appropriations, which have clashed
time and again over the point at issue-the ex-
tension OF the Naval Hydrographic Bureaus
functions yielded TO the Senate by the Naval
committee conferrees representing the popular
branch. Mr. Cannon. with the backing OF the
Committee on Appropriations, had secured a
vote OF instructions. committing the conferrees
10 insstence the demand OF the House tnat
ocean surveys be intrusted exclusively hereafter
TO the Coast and Geodetic Survey Of the Treas
ury Department. When the three agents OF the
House-Messrs. Foss. Dayton and Cumming
in return for important concessions made by the
Senate yielded the point so earnestly contended
for by N1r Cannon, that indignant leader started
a parliamentary warfare which. after a heated
and excited deba-e. led 70 the rejection OF the
conferrees's work and the transfer OF further
control of the dispute with the Senate from the
Naval Committee TO the Committee on Appro-
priations.
After the decisive rebuke administered 20 the
Naval Committee leaders. their further services
as conferrees were an tnpOssibility. and the
Speaker, following parliamentary custom IN
such cases appointed Mr. Cannon himself MI
Moody and Mr.. Shafroth, OF Colorado. 70 take
charge OF the interests OF the House in further
negotiations This sudden change OF agents on
~ part OF the House made final agreement
too distant 70 warrant either branch remaining
in session any longer tonight. and on Mr
Pavnes motion the House at once ordered a re-
cess till Tomorrow at 10 o'clock II is not al all
certain that in the present state OF feeling IN
the House an agreement on the Naval olll can
be reached within the next twenty-four hours
but the more sanguine managers az the Capitol
still expect 10 adjourn the session before mid
night Of June 4
SENATE YIELDS ON ARMOR PLATE
The unset in the House came at the close or
a long days struggle 70 harmonic the dlrrer-
ences of the two branches over the Naval Ap-
preparation bill. and at q time when an ADJUST
ment seemed practically in sight The VlIaI
question az issue was the surrender or retention
OF the price limit on arrnor plate set BY tle SEN
ate. and on this point the House, BY judicious
persistence. won decisive victory That the
Senate would yield its demand that the Govern
rnent uay a maximum price OF S445 a ton was
indeed foreshadowed BY the very conditions OF
the deadlock
So determined was the purpose OF the popular
branch that the development OF the Navy should
not be checked by squabbles over the cost per ton
of urgently needed arrnor, and so narrow was
the margin in the Senate by which positive
price limit had been inserted and maintained IN
the Appropriation bill, that a compromise con-
ferring on the Secretary Of the Navy a reason
able latitude in the execution OF the necessary
arrnor contracts was the only logical outcome
of the contest in conference The advocates or
a Government arrnor plant were not prepared
10 yield without a protest, and usual their
opposition was prolonged and violent. Debate
on the expediency OF yielding ran for several
hours without any sign the oppositiOn's part
of submitting gracefully 10 the inevitable To
enable the Senate 10 put itself on record as
favoring a grant OF discretionary power 10 the
Secretary Of the Navy. Mr. Penrose. of Penn
sylvania. had offered this resolution:
That the Secretary Of the Navy is hereby au-
thorized 10 procure by contract armOr o. the best
quality for any or all vessels above referred TO.
provided such contracts can De made at g price
which. n MS judgment, IS reasonable and
equitable. but in case he is unable 10 make con-
tracts for arrnOr under the above conditions he
IS hereby authorized and directed 70 procure
q site for and 10 erect thereon 4 factory for the
manufacture OF arrnor. and the Of 81 1000.
600 is hereby appropriated toward the erection
OF said factory
From 1890 j. m until nearly 5 2. m. the ele-
rrents in the Senate which have opposed any
further arnor purchases except at prices which
had repelled and would probably continue 10
repel all bidders continued their efforts 10 hold
the upper house firm 10 the limitation previously
put on the power OF the Secretary 70 enter into
arrnor contracts When test vote was finally
permitted. about o'clock Mr.. Penrose's propo-
sition was adopted by vote OF 80 70 So. and
the Senate conferrees We're frankly authorized
TO yield the cost limit which had been the vital
obstacle 10 any earlier agreement
CANNON IN FIGHTING GARB
With the Senate making this sweeping conces-
sion. il was only natural 10 expect the repre-
sentatIves OF the House 10 yield the other minor
points IN dispute. and was surprised
when the conferrees reported an agreement
which involved an acceptance by the House or
the Senate's ocean survey and raval cadetship
amendments The hitch came, however in the
House which under the stimulus OF Mr Can
mons stirring oratory refused 10 see the equity
Of the bargain struck in conference The Ili-
nois statesman took on his collar and necktie
and in his characteristic manner challenged the
conferrees 10 sustain what he denominated their
unjustihed surrender. Much sympathy was felt
with Mr.. Foss who. with his parliamentary
inexperience was called on 10 meet the assaults
OF a tighter like the veteran chairman OF the
Appropriations Committee. and all the
bers OF that powerful committee and the great
majority OF the Democrats in the House stood
by Mr. Cannon the result OF the collision was
never doubtful Mr.. Cannon Won by majortties
of from forty to afty on standing counts. and
thus assumed himself the fun responsibility OF
conducting the cause or the House in further
conferences A disagreement on al the amend
nents still in dispute therefore ordered and
the new trio OF conferrees We're left with
breathing spell till tomorrow morning 10 pre-