The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-30
HOUSE REFUSED TO REcEDE.
SENATE ARMoR PLATE PROPOSE
TIoN NOT ACCEPTED.


House Adopted an Amendment Leav-
ing the Price of ArmOr Plate En-
tireIy with the Secretary of the
Navy-Provides for Government
PIant-The Bill viii Be Sent Back
to COnference-SeveraI senate
Amendments Disagreed to.
Washington. May 29.-The House, to-day,
by a vote of 107 to 124, refused to accept
the Senate amendment TO the naval appro
priation bill relating to armor plate and
adopted modified proposition leaving the
price of armor plate to the Secretary of
the Navy with power, in his discretion, to
! erect an arrnor plate factory if he cannot
purchase arnor at "a reasonable price The
, text of the proposition is as follows:
I That the Secretary of the Navy is here
by authorized to procure by contract ar
| NOR of the best quality for any or all YES
sells above referred TO- provided such con-
| tracts can be paid at price which in his
| judgment is reasonable and equitable; but
in case he is unable to make contracts for
armor under the above conditions. he is
| hereby authorized, in his discretion, TO
| procure site for and TO erect thereon
! factory for the manufacture of armor and
the sum of $4,0OO,00O is hereby appropriated
toward the erection of said factory"
With regard to the ocean and lake sur
veys the House refused any appropriation
for surveys by the navy and tied up the
conferees with instructions. 1t also re-
fused to concur in the Senate amend
ment to abolish the two years sea cruise
for naval cadets. With the above action,
the naval bill was sent back to confer
ence, the conference report on the other
| items having been agreed TO.
The conference report on the
postoffice appropriation bill, agreeing
on all items except the Senate
| pneumatic tube service was adopted
| and the House then concurred in the ex-
cepted amendment. The opponents of the
pneumatic tube service in the House recon
| ciled their concurrence in this action upon
the ground that the $225,0Oo was simply
| carrying out the existing contract The bill
| now goes to the President.
Pension Legislation.
| Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio from the Com
mittee on Rules, presented a special rule
ordering the previous question upon the
pensions bills, 1870 in number, favorably
acted upon in Committee of the Whole
| last Friday, the order not to interfere
with conference reports. Mr.. Grosvenor
| explained that the rule was made neces-
| sary by the obstructive tactics of the gen.
! tleman from South Carolina (Mr. Tai
berD last Friday This Mr.. Talbert de-
| MED He said that had quorum been
present the bills could have been passed.
The conference report on the naval APP
preparation bill was agreed 10 without
| division. The House then proceeded to
consider the items which had not been
| agreed to.
Mr.. Foss moved that the House recede
from its disagreement and agree with an
| amendment striking out all reference to
surveys, but increasing the appropria-
ton for charts. ETC., from $4,000 to $40, 900.
| This was agreed 20.
| Mr.. Foss also moved that the House
insist upon it's disagreement to the SEN
| ate amendment abolishing the two years
| course at sea for naval cadets and the
motion prevailed.
The Armor Plate Question.
Mr.. Foss moved that the House recede
1 from It's disagreement 10 the armor plate
amendment of the Senate and agree 10 it
with an amendment authorizing the Sec
rotary of the Navy to contract for armor
| plate at a price deemed reasonable by
| him, and if he cannot procure armor at
an equitable price, authorizing him, in
| his discretion, TO purchase a site for the
| erection of an armor plate factory to cost
not 10 exceed 100000.
| Mr.. Wheeler of Kentucky moved to
| recede and concur in the Senate amend
ment.
Mr.. Bixey of Virginia, a member of the
| Naval Committee, declared that the adop-
| ton of Mr.. Foss' notion giving the Sec
reatry of the Navy authority to contract
for armor at a reasonable price, would be
| tantamount to agreeing to the price charg-
ed by the arnlor plate factories. To show
the enormous profits of these concerns,
Mr.. Bixey had read from the advance
sheets of a report by Consul General Guen-
ther, at Frankfort, showing that the
Krupp Company secured over 81 100 for
certain class of guns from the German
| government until competition developed.
The company then reduced it's price to
| $452.
| MIR. Kitchiu of North Carolina and Mr..
| Underwood of Alabama also supported Mr.
| Wneeler's motion. Both favored the build
ing of an armor plate factory. After furth-
er discussion the vote was taken first
upon Mr.. Wheelers motion to recede and
| concur In the Senate amendment, which
| was lost 107 to 1874
| Mr.. Foss' motion was then carried with
out division. The bill was then sent TO
further conference.
After disposing of the postoffice bill the
House, a: p. m, adjourned.
|
| MARIS WILL START TODAY.