The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-07
ARMOR PLATE UPSET PLANS.
TOOK SEVERAL CONFERENCES TO
REACH AGREEMENT.
PeDrose Proposition Adopted by the
senate, Was Finally Agreed 10,
but the Delay Prevented Adjourn
ment Yesterdny--It Leaves the
Price of Armor Plate TO the secre-
tary of the Nnvy--caused "a Harsh
Debate in the Senate.

Price OF Arn0r Plate TO the Secre-
tary of the Nnvy--Caused a Harsh
Debate I'm the Senate.
washington. June 6.-1na bility to reach
an agreement upon the naval appropria-
ton bill. forced the Senate to abandon
the adoption of the House resolution Tor
final adjournment to-day.
The arrnor plate question, which. for
Ave years has been thorn in the side of
Congress. upset the calculations OF the
Senate leaders, and their well laid plans
went awry.
II was a day OF strife and turmoil in
the Senate. Early the conferees on the
naval bill reported disagreement, and
the Senate was told plainly that the
House would not consent to the amend
ment, providing for an armor plate fac
tory to be operated by the government.
The discussion of the Penrose compro-
mise proposition, which was adopted de-
veloped an unusual bitterness of feeling,
and charges OF robbery and political cor
rnption were hurled about she chamber
with an abandon which, II they had not
fallen from the lips of grave senators,
would have been regarded as reckless.
Little worse ever was heard in the heat of
a political campaign.
Report ON the Naval BilI
When the Senate reconvened at 10 o.
clock this morning, two or three minor
bills were passed, and recess was then
taken to await Conference reports.
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.. Penrose offered the following
propositlon;
That the Secretary Of the Navy is
hereby authorized to procure by contract
arnlor of the best quality for any or all
vessels above referred to, provided such
contracts can be made at a price which.
II, his Judgment, is reasonable and equita-
Bile, but Ia case he Is unable TO make con-
tracts for arrnor under the above condl-
tiops, he Is hereby authorized and directed
to procure site for. and to erect thereon
q factory for the manufacture of armor,
and the sum of s4.oo0.00O Is hereby eppro-
priated toward the erection Of said fac
tory"
Mr.. Butler insisted that what he wanted
was government armor plant, and ne
would be willing 60 pay almost any price
for arnor that is needed now provided
that the construction OF an Arnlor plant
BY the gosernrnent we're made mandatory.
Was Attacked By TilIman.
Mr.. Tnlman attacked the amendment.
lHc IHdiiiiittil VI lIt lNdfdt AQmfDit~
tee" CHale), said he. has declared that
the government is being robbed. and thaf
the armor trust has knife at the gov
ernment's throat, and now II is proposed
to let them cut the governments throat.
We are face to face with a scandal as in
famous as any in our history, second not
even to the great Credit Mobil.er scan
dal"
Mr.. Penrose interjected with considera-
BILE feeling:
II resent the statement that there is any
suspicion Of scandal In this or any amend
ment which ] proposed"
II am making no personal illusions"
said Mr.. Tillman. II am simply stating
facts that are indisputable. The infu-
ences behind the House in this matter
are the ship-builders and the armor-man-
ufacturers.'
Mr.. Hale challenged the last statement,
saying he did not believe any such inhu-
ences we're behind either the House or
the Senate.
Mr.. Teller of Colorado denounced the
Penrose proposition and declared that no
scandal in our history will equal that
which VIII grow out Of "a surrender now
to this robber combine"
Mr.. Hanna of Ohio said the few men
determined to have a government armor
factory built were willing 90 sacrifice
everything else. and he wanted the armor
question taken out OF the legislative
branch Of the government In order to get
IL out of politics. Mr.. Hanna advocated
the Penrose proposition as fair COM
promise
Quaries OF Wisconsin pooh-poohed the
idea of a scandal in leaving the armor
purchase question to the Secretary Of the
Navy.
Daniel Keeps Up the Fight.
- IL
ate could not afford to abrogate its du-
ties to any one. and Mr.. Daniel of vir-
glnia urged the Senate 20 stand up 10
tho fight which had been on for FIVE
years.
Mr. Daniel said that under the present
circumstances We must buy our armor
plate from a notorious and universally
recognized combine or build our own
plant He had never heard that business
principles demanded that the buyer should
place himself entirely in the hands OF the
seller, or that a man should employ an
agent TO do 20 for him that which he
could do for himself.
why asked Mr. Daniel "did the ar
NOR plate manufacturers decline TO tell
the cost of the production Of armor plate
when asked by the Senate Committee?"
Mr. Penrose asked permission to reply
to this inquiry, and began by referring to
Mr. Daniels speech as reckless state
meut anu utfnbBOElC hppcdl.
Mr.. Daniel resented this characteriza-
ton and refused to yield further. Contin-
uing, he urged that there was no emer-
gency that should render II so necessary
10 hurry the construction Of the navy on
not to take time to do that which should
he done In the interest OF the public well
fare.
Amendment Was Adopted.
AT 2;.0 y. M, Mr., Hale asked for a
vote upon the pending proposition, but
Mr.. Butler addressed the Senate in orpo-
sition 20 q surrender by the Senate when
II was on the verge OF victory. The Pen
rose proposition was then voted upon and
agreed tc, 50 10 35, as follows:
Yeas: Allison, Baker. Carter. Clark, Cui-
iom, Davis. Deboe, Depew.r Atkins. Fair
banks, Foster, Frye, Gallinger, Hanna.
Hansbrough, Hawley. Hoar, Kean, Kyle,
Lodge. Mcbride. Mccomas, NcEnery, Nc
MILAN, Mason. Penrose. Platt OF New
York. P1att Of Connecticut, Pritcfard,
Proctor Quarles, Ross. Scott, Sewen,
shoup. Thurston, Warren. Wetmore, VOL
cott-39.
Navs. T3acon Rard Rate Perry po,,-