The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-17

not also enjoy it?
American navy has the right, as it has
the ability. to defend it in time OF war
While protection to ourselves was the
watchword Of the past century, commerce
will he the watchword of the coming We
will not only continue to build our own
ships of American material fashioned by
American hands. but at the same time
we will build, as we have been building
recently, ships for Japan and Russia. and
in time, by reason of the decreased sup
ply of iron and steel in other countries,
we will be building the navies of Eng
land, OF France, of Germany, and the
other great naval powers"
ARNiCR PLATE.
Mr.. Toss said that regarding arrnor for
all the ships, except the Maine. Wiscon-
sin and Missouri the committee had con-
Guided to leave the whole question to the
House. lie said the committee deemed
it unwisc to recommend the establish
ment OF a government arunor-plate factory.
He quoted A imiral O'Nali's opinion that
SUCH an establishment would cost s4.S72,-
O0o, and that he did not believe the gov
eminent should manufacture its ,>rnlor
plate.
Mr.. floss said the committee had been
largely moved in deciding against the
the opinion of Secretary Long, that it
would cost to build them in government
yards twice as much as in private yards.
Mr. Cummings of New York, the rank
ing minority member Of tie committee
followed Mr. Foss. He delivered a glow.
ing eulogy on the rlories Of The Anleri-
can navy and its vital necessity to thu
country. And what was being done? he
asked Three battleslli.>s were on the
stocks without armor. Three were au-
tllorized with a string attached. They
were not even to be contracted for, until
the ar1nor could be procured for $500
ton. This bin reconlIne nded two more.
Was string to he alta ched to that? 1t
would be like voting for a declaration Of
war and then refusing to provide am1nu-
milton.
why not make our own armor plate?'
persisted Mr.. Ridley.
The same old story re-Slied Mr.. Cum
min-s. Authorize and then instead of
building them go to work and build an
ar,nor plate factory that would delay the
ships from five to eight yearS?
But you said the ar.mor we boI-tlt
was rotten
.fNot the Kruu2 ar-ro-. The Krurp ar.
NOR has seven treatments and is tested
by our own experts. If our experts do
their duty we will have done our duty
by the men behind the guns.
KEEP ARMY IN PHILIPPINES.
Continuing Mr. Cummings raised
burst of applause by stating that he be-
lived in keeping the army and navy in
the Philippines as long as q. single in
surgent deiied the authority of The United
States. But when we have conquered
ITEM he added, Il am in favor of treat
ing them as we propose to treat Cuba.
He advocated sheatlled Ships and attri-
buted' the loss of the Charleston to lack
of sheathing.
Later Mr.. Cummings, revertdng to tine
question of arrlor plate, made this state
1nent:
'It was demonstrated uron the com
mittee. in q way that cannot be revealed
here, that in paving S545 for Nrupp ar
NOR we are paving less than any nation
in Europe or Asia England is paying
saS7 for the same amor; Russia, 500;
France sGO5. and Japan. $780, Until the
ships already authorized are SUPPLIED I
am On favor of using Krupp arnor5 a
s5i5 When we even UP am willing to
talk about an ar1nor plate. factory
Mr. Kitchin, a member of the ccn1rl.it-
tee who signed the minority re.,ort. ar.
gt1ed in favor of the establishment of an
armor plate factory. Until the govern
,nerlt was in possession of its own fac
tory. he continued the steel companies
could hold-up the government in ia fu-
ture as they had in the past. He said
that Krupp arnor. in his ouinion. could
be manufactured as eheaply as Harvey
lied ar!nor could be five years ago.
II am in possession of informa ton"
interrupted Mr.. Wheeler. of Kentucky,
1.-THE source of which am not at liberty
to disclose. which shows that Krupp ar
NOR can be manufactured 500 chea per
than Harveyized plate.
THE Secretary of the Navy says that
is Impossible" observed Mr.. Barber, of,
PENNSYLVANIA.
The Secretary of the Navy replied
Mr. Wheeler. knows, no more about it
than the man in the moon.
Mr. Kitchin said the minority did not
desire to enter into the government pro-
duction of ar1,or plate did they not be-
lieve it was the only method of protect
ing the government from extortion.
The House at 5 o'clock adjourned. 1!