New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-15
FIGHTOVER ARMOR ENDED
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL
PASSED BY THE SENATE.
IF PLATES CANNOT BE OBTAINED FOR $ii5
A TON A GOVERNMENT ARMOR
FACTORY TO BE BUILT.
[BY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE

Washington May 1.-THE fight made by Sen
ators Chandler and Tillman against further pur-
chases of armor plate except at prices below the
Naval Committees minimum rate of $40 ton
ended this afternoon, when the last of the sub
stitutes offered-that fixing the price at S425
ton-was defeated by 81 votes to %. The Naval
Committee had held its strength from Sat
urday without a break and Mr.. Chandler and
Mr.. Tillman were forced to abandon further at
tacks hopeless. At Senator Hoars suggestion
the Secretary OF the Navy was instructed, in
case the construction Of a Government armor
plant was not made obligatory by failure during
the year to purchase armor $4i5 ton. to sub
NIT estimates OF the cost of Government plant
and of the time necessary to put it in complete
working order With this added concession to
the interests in the Senate which have stood out
SO stoutly for Government manufacture of armor
without regard to the prices offered by private
bidders the committees amendment was adopt
ed by a vote of 81 to 10. Messrs. Chandler.
Spooner and Wellington We're the only Repub-
licans who voted with the minority against this
settlenent-for a year at least-of the VeXed
question Of armor manufacture and purchase.
BY the terms of the bill as it now stands
the Secretary Of the Navy is authorized to pro-
cure ar1nor at an average of $445 ton for all
ships constructed under the Naval bills of 1898.
1896 1897, 1895 1899 and 1900 But If armor
is not to be obtained at this rate, the Navy De-
partment is to contract for plate for the Maine,
the Ohio and the Missouri at $545 a ton and to
begin the erection and operation Of a Govern
ment plant to furnish for the remaining
vessels
The bill, as finally amended. was passed with
out division.
BY another amendment the Secretary Of the
Navy Is directed to purchase five Holland tor
pedo boats at price not exceeding $4,000
each. The Gathmann gun amendment to the
House bill withdrawn by the committee the
Navy Department having declared against 1t.
MR. DANIELS REPLIES TO MR.. LODGE.
In the debate to-day, audng to the speech
delivered last Friday by Mr.. Lodge with
spect to possible challenge of the Monroe Doc
trine by Germany. Mr.. Daniel. of Virginia, said
That speech has had its echo throughout the
world. and is reverberating the Con-
tinent of Europe. Germany's war lord. who al
ways has his ear set for rumors of war. is now re-
fecting upon and commenting upon the idea that
ned dG not SesVs it, e wa o hs
of Germany is hight in stimulating the military
Of ms his RefP hs But that the WaF ord
Of Germany or the chief ruler of any other ma
ton is projecting preparing building up
navy with the idea Of some day testing the Monroe
We ought Always to Keep INV in view our OBJ
jective in the construction of Navy If the idea
England Ga great empire) has great navy. or be-
cause Germany "a progressive nation has an eye
a Navy capable Of going on the seas and meeting
Britain. then we going into big undertaking
and one which is not in accordance with the ra-
The object which leads me to vote for liberal ap-
propria tons for the Navy is simply that we may
We may have vast Navy which shall about
the world seeking whom we may devour
Mr.. Hale. for the committee offered amend
ment. which was adopted. providing in effect for
the removal Of the naval station at Port Royal.
S. c., to Charleston. s. c. The bill authorizes
the expenditure of $412 900 at the Port Royal
station. but the amendment offered by Mr.. Hale
leaves the expenditure Of this money to the dis
erection of the Secretary of the Navy. who is
authorized to examine into the expediency of
changing the station to Charleston, S. c., If he
deems ii expedient, to expend the money in
tended for Port Royal on the station and
purchase of a site. The amendment provides
that there must be depth of water over the
sill OF the dock at the station of at least
thirty feet at mean high tide
TALK ABOUT THE SHIPPING BILL.
Mr.. Chandler offered an amendment reducing
the number OF armored cruisers provided for in
the bill from three to two and the number of
protected cruisers from three to two. saying he
did ito direct attention to the fact that We
expanding too much money for Navy
and too little for the development of our mer-
chant marine. There is bill before this
Senate providing for the development Of our
merchant marine which calls for larger ap-
ton of two first class vessels. / hope that
Congress will not adjourn until ii has brought
this Shipping bill to a vote"
Il have not the slightest idea" said Mr.. Teller
that the Shipping bill will be taken up until
after the campaign. and neither has the Sen
ator.'
I'm not great party leader" replied Mr..
Chandler. sarcastiCally, but there is need
that we should rush away from here before
pass this great bill for the advancement OF our
merchant marine"
Mr. Hale expressed the hope that vote might
be had the Naval bill. and that 1t would not
be delayed further by the injection into the dis
cussion Of extraneous subjects. He believed that
he and the Senator from New Hampshire would
be older men than they now were before the
Subsidy bill was disposed of.
Mr.. Chandler withdrew the amendment.
Mr.. Teller, referring the Subsidy BILL said:
THAT bill Is not here The Senator (Mr. Chard-
ler) knows that his party does not dare to bring
II here. IT is to be shunted-to go until the
next session of Congress. Then, | suppose, we
shall have the Subsidy bill. the bill to increase
the army a hundred thousan nd men and such
other measures cannot be considered now in |
view OF the Presidential campaign"