The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-24
A Triumph for Obstruction.

The passage OF the naval appropria-
ton bill with the armor plate provision
eliminated may have the result of de-
laying the programme for the strength
ening of the navy for another year. II
also gives the Democrats in congress
their first substantial victory for the
present session. For once their policy
of obstruction has been successful. and
they have achieved the result, crafty
ing from their standpoint. of working
a substantial injury to the best inter-
ests of the country by preventing the
carrying out of Republican plans for
an increase in the navy; plans, by the
way, which the same Democrats have
never dared to antagonize directly.
The failure of the armor plate pro
ence of the house rule designed to do
away with the Objectionable practice
of placing general legislation as riders
on appropriation bills. This rule. nee
essarily general in terms. was invoked
by the Democratic members of the
house to strike from the naval appro-
priation bin the provision authorizing
the purchase of armor at price sum-
GENTLY high to insure that II could be
obtained, and also the provision repeal
ing the law limiting the price to be
paid for armor plate to $500 ton. As
result. while the full appropriation Is
theoretically made for the purchase of
the armor plate required, and also for
whether any portion Of these appropria-
lions can be utilized until further legis-
lation is had repeating the existing lin
itation on the price to be paid for ar
NOR.
There is. of course, a chance that the
provision may again be inserted by the
senate. and that 1t will pass conference
and become again part Of the appro-
priation bill. If II does not, the naval
programme will be stopped right here
Already armor plate Is needed for the
new battleships now under contract and
nearing completion. The contractors
cannot, even if the provision is again
inserted in the bill. receive the armor
plate when it is needed. and they viii
have heavy claim for damages against
the country for the manner in which
their work is delayed. II no provision
al all Is made at the present session
there will be still further delay: and
the damages to which the contractors
will be entitled by reason of the failure
OF the government to observe its con-
tract with them will steadily grow
larger.
In the meantime no steps can be taken
to let the contracts for the six armored
vessels. the construction of which was
These. had II not been for the armor
plate Limitation, would now have been
nearly ready to add to the effective force
OF the navy. Neither is It likely that
contracts will be let for the armored
vessels authorized by the present law
until congress makes provision for the
purchase OF the armor plate for them.
1t is always within the bounds of
possibility for foreign complications to
arise The suddenness with which the
war came with Spain is an illustration,
II any such issues do arise within the
next two years. It will be very serious
matter TO this country that II has not
the ships which II Intended 20 have
added to the naval force before the
expiration Of that time. All this. how
ever. counts as nothing against the OPP
portunity to score partisan poip; ia
delaying successfully the completion Of
portion OF the Republican legislative
programme. The honor. safety nor wei
fare Of the country has any weight. APP
parentiy. with the opposition in con-
gress
The sultan seems 20 have come To