The Portland daily press., 1900-05-10
Debate Hinged on ArmOr Plant
Proposition.
Price Proposed 70 Pay
For Armor.
No Action Taken and Bill Goes
Over Until Today.

washir gtor, May p.-PTasticsliy the
entire session OF the sestion OF the Sen-
ate today was devoted to q discussion OF
the section Of the naval appropriation blu
relating to armor and armament. The
debate largely biuged on the proposition
that the government should erect an
amor plant Of its own. Senator Tilt
man presented an amendment limiting
ths price to be paid for armor to $500 u
ton and providing also that the govern :
ment should erect plant OF Its own.
Sentor Tiiimsn, Money and Chandler ad'
yocated the erection OF plant, while
Mr. Hale supported the committss amend
ment providing for . plant In the con-
tingency thas armor could not be pro-
cured for $446 per ton. No action was
taken on the proposition. the bill going
over until tomorrow.
At / O'Clock the Senate resumed busi-
mesa in open session, confederation OF the
naval bill being resumed. The pending
question was upon ths committee amend
ments to the Honss bill with respect 70
amor for war vessels.
Mr.. Tillman of South Carolina offered
an aruendmept In effect limiting the
price to b. paid for srmor to $500 ger t7n
and, II 1t could net be procured for that
price, authorizing the secretary OF the
navy to construct a government ermor
plant at cost not exceeding $iOOo, COO.
MIR. Hale, In charge OF the bill. explained
the comm mittse amendments. He said
the committee had sought to relieve the
country ffom the smbarrassmsn mt that
was irksome to AIN, ,st everybody.
"Right In the midst Of our remarkable
advance In the construction Of naval
ships," said Mr.. Hale, "we were arrest
ed by this controversy over shs price Of
armor plate.
81 believe the sr.nor plants put thsii
heads together and put up the prices oi
armor. OF course, this created resent
ment and l am not surprised ut the 40
sion and feeling of the Senator from
South Carolina (Mr. Tiil,nan) who II
acting entirely consoisntiously In the
matter"
Mr.. Hale then explained the prices thai
had been paid BY the government fol
armor. An Investigation covering 9
Period Of several years showed the aver
age prioe was about $3.50 per ton. Fol
the srmor OF 1897. s4i2 per ton was paid.
"As 1t was seen." continued Mr..
Hale, "that we had ships which needles
armor, the companies again raised theiI
price to S545 psr ton. This action
aroused considerable feeling aud las
year Congress fixed o price Of $500 pei
ton. The navy department could no
get the armor at that price.
''In the present bill We authorized q
govsrnment armor plant to be CONSTRUCTS
ed under certain conditions.
Mr.. Hale said, however. that 1t was the
opinion Of the committee that the govern
ment could get better armor from privnt'
concerns than 1t could make itssif ant
avoid any OF the attendant scandals.
At the same time, he added, he realized
that something had to be done. In thi
bill, 1t was proposed to pay s44S per tor
for arnor. but II the companies deoiines
TO accept that price, q government plan
for the manufacture OF armor was to b
constructed. He believed that when tn
manufacturers found that the govern
msrt was in earnest as to the plant
they would accept the price offered. d.
deemed 1t best not to build an armo
plant II Its construction could be avoid
cd, because the government would nc
be able TO produos pound OF armor un
der three years and it might reQuife fiv
years to get we'll started. Meantini
serious delay would occur in the build
ing of authorised ships,
"In q few words." he concluded, "ou
Project is TO pay s445 per ton:for armo
or construct government plant. 1t
intended TO solve this vexed qusstio
and I think 1t will"
shave the armor manufacturers take
advantage of the governments" IN
quirsd MIR. Stewart.
.'Undoubssdly they have" rsspon de
MIR. Hale. ''As soon as they get upo
their feer financially they begin to pr
the knife to us.''
"Thsn," declared Mr.. Stewart, "p
make q good deal of q sacrifice to teac
them q lesson."
Mr. Tillman followed Mr.. Hale wit
an extended speech In support Of b
proposition. II the prices asked by u
manufacturers were paii, be said.
would cost the government SIT. COO. "
while at the prioe he proposed the nece
sary armor would cost only about sS. 900