The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-04-21
MENT
At the Mercy OF the Armour
Plate Trust.

WASHINGTON, APRIL q-As
SUI; Of brotracted struggle IN tho
mouse today The provision of the naval
appropriation bill TO enable the score
tary OF the treasury to contract for ar
NOR Tor the bat teships Maine, Ohio and
MISSOURI, now awaiting their arrnor
equipment, at S545 per ton. the nrice
asked for the Krupp armor Is out Of the
Diii as Is the provision TO repeal the SeoO
limitation placed upon the price OF arrnor
Dy the current law. The Eighth come al,
the end Of the consideration Of the btf,
Although the provision was obBoxiope ia
the rule all the minority members had
agreed TO IL but today when the major
ity declined TO allow the discussion OF n
proposition for the establishment of an
armor plate factory they retaiiated pv
raising point Of order against the two
provisions ABOVE referred to and they
were ruled out. The exact effect OF the
action OF the house today IS disputed. The
appropriation OF 100000 under the nd ,d
of Amor and Armament, remain in the
bill as well as the languageo OF the rroviso
authorizing the secretary Of the navy 70
contract FOR armor OF the best quality
for the Maine, Ohio and Missouri the
words stricken out being "at "a cost not
TO exceed S545 ton including royalties
IL Is contended by some that this en-
powers the secretary to contract for the
armor without regard to cost BY otn-
ers It is claimed that the provision viii
be Ineffective unless the senate inserts
the price. SO much bad feeling was
aroused by the wrangle over the armor
lnf atmfa.
Alabama, began filbuster after the bill
was reported to the house and finally
forced an adjournment without final ac-
tion on the bin.
Before the armor plate question came
up two amendments 10 modify the provf-
sion for the Increase OF the navy. which
authorizes two battleships and six cruis-
ers. were defeated. One proposed 10 ado
provision for six gun boats and the 9TH
er to strike OHt the provision for the bat
tleships. The question OF building ships
in government yards did not reach a
vote. as the amendment offered 10 this
end was ruled out on a point Of order.
Mr.. Vandiver. charged that the agree
ment made earlier in the debate was IN
effect that there should be an hour on a
side for the discussion OF the armor plate
question and the agreement was being
violated To throw out this ameadment,
he said, would be TO place the governs
ment again at the mercy of the armor
plate trust The chair sustained the
point Of order from which direction Mr.
Underwood promptly appealed.
AR Underwood reviewing the history
Of the armor plate proce ded to show the
situation which then confronted the
country Under existing law, congress
could not bus armor except at $500 per
ton ana the provision IN the bin to pay
S5G for the armor Of the Maine, Ohio ara
Missouri, he claimed was a charge Of
existing law and therefore out of order.
He was called to order several times by
Mr. Hepburn for not speaking to the ap-
peal and finally amid increasing excite
meut and confusion Mr. Hepburn said
that when called to order. Mr.. Under
wood must take his seat. Finally debate
was closed 90 to SO, aod the chair was
sustained 81 TO SO,
Mr.. Vandiver then made the point or
order that the provision TO pay $G59 after
for armor for the Maine, Ohio ana Mis-
souri, was change Of existing law ana
therefore out Of order.
The act Of March Q, 1899, he said limit
ed the cost Of arp1or plate to $500 ton.
The act OF the previous year limited the
cost TO 500 a ton The point Of order
was debated at length and finalIv was
sustained by the chair.
The democrats greeted this decision
with applause
Mr. Bingham penn ), speaking TO a
proforma amendment deniel the author
ity OF Mr.. Cramp, OF the Cramo ship
Building Company that there over had
been proposition for a combinatio' be-
tween his firm and the Carnegie com
pany on the subject OF armor plat"
Mr.. wheeler CKentucky), said tAe ni
nority had not desired TO defeat the pro-
vision TO pay s5f5 for the Maine. Ohio and
Missouri, but they were driven to raise
the point OF order by the refusal on the
majority 70 allow Of the sentiment Of the
house. by establishing an armor pate
factory The provision for the repeal d
the restriction OF $500 a ton I'm the current
law went ont on point OF order
The speaker was unable TO count
quorum. whereupon MT Underwood
NOV an adiournmnt The motion was
lost but the quorum failed on the neN'
vote and AZ e;25 p. M. without hna'y dis
posing of the bin the house adjourned
OKLAHOMA CITY, APRIL %, tspe'
81