The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-21
Clause Relating to Purchase Of Armor
at S545 Ton and the Section
Repeating the $500 Limit.
RETALIATION By MINORITY
WHICH WANTED TO DISCUSS THE
PROPOSED PLATE FACTORY.
Action of the House Has Left n PuzzI,
for SenatOrs-Hawaiian Bill De-
bated in Upper Branch.

protracted struggle in the House to-day
the provision of the naval appropriation
bill to enable the secretary of the navy
to contract for armor for the battleships
Maine, Ohio and Missouri now awaiting
their armor equipment at $5i5 per ton, the
price asked for Krupp armor, is out OF the
bill, as is the provision TO repeal the $500
limitation placed on the price of armor by
| the current law. The fight came at the
| end of consideration of the bill. Although
the provision was obnoxious TO them all
| the minority members of the committee
| had agreed to il; but to-day, when the
| majority declined to allow the discussion
| of a proposition for the establishment of
| an armor plate factory, they retaliated by
| raising a point of order against the two
provisions above referred to, and they
| were ruled out.
The exact effect of the action of the
House to-day is disputed. The appropria-
| ton of $4,000, 900 under the head of "armor
and armament remains in the BILL as well
| as the language of the proviso authorizing
| the secretary Of the navy to contract for
armor of the best quality for the Maine,
| Ohio and Missouri the words stricken out
being lat a cost not to exceed $545 ton
| some that this empowers the secretary TO
| contract for the armor without regard to
| cost BY others it is claimed that the pro-
| vision will be ineffective unless the Senate
| inserts the price So much bad feeling was
| aroused by the wrangle over the armor
| plate provision that Mr.. Underwood. of
| Alabama, began filibuster after the Dill
| was reported to the House and finally
/ forced an adjournment without final action
| on the bill.
| Before the armor plate question came up
| two amendments to modify the provision
| COR the increase of the navy, which au-
| thorizes two battleships and six cruisers
| were defeated. One proposed to add pro-
| vision for six gunbOatS and the other to
| strike out the provision for the battleships
| The question of building ships in govern
| ment yards did not reach vote as the
| amendment offered to this end was ruled
| out on a point of order
THE NAVAL ACADEMY.
Mr.. Cannon. chairman of the appropria-
| tions committee. asked unanimous consent
| for modification of the language of the
/ amendment adopted yesterday relative to
the Naval Academy. The proposed modifica-
| ton made only one substantial change in
| the amendment, authorizing the secretary
| of the navy, after the plans have been ap-
| proved, to contract for all or part of the
| improvements at Annapolis, within the
| s6.O00OOO limit. The amendment was
| agreed to.
Mr. Dinsmore, of Arkansas. made point
of order against the section to increase the
| active list of surgeons to fifty-five and of
| assistant surgeons to 10 and providing
! that assistant surgeons, who served in
| the war with Spain. who are now in the
navy, might be given permanent commits
| sions without limitation as to age. 1t also
| provided that assistant surgeons in the
navy should rank with assistant surgeons
| of the army. Mr.. Dinsmore criticised the
| latter provision, which, he said would
raise the old difficulty between the line
and staff II was an attempt to have one
| corps creep along at the expense of others.
Mr.. Meyer, of Louisiana, a member of
the committee. replied that young surgeons
| would not enter the service at the reduced
| rank.
Mr.. Dinsmore finally withdrew the point
| of order.
Mr. Vandiver, a member of the commit
tee, offered an amendment to appropriate
| s200O,0O0 for the erection of a government
| armor plate factory. and for the appoint
ment of three officers of the navy to select
| site for such factory.
| Mr.. Dayton made a point of order
| against the amendment, and insisted upon
| 1t, despite the protest of Mr.. Underwood.
| of Alabama, who said it was outrageous
that proposition involving the whole
question of armor plate which had been
| agitated for five years should be strangled.
| He said the fifty minutes offered by the
| other side was manifestly inadequate and
| in effect was a decision that the House
was to be led like a bull by ring to the
bar of the House and made to vote.
UNDERWOOD CAUSES EXCITEMENT.
The chair sustained the point of order,
from which decision Mr.. Underwood
promptly appealed Mr.. Underwood, re-
viewing the history of the armor-pate
controversy, proceeded to show the situa-
ton which confronted the country Under
existing law Congress could not buy armor
except at $500 per ton, and the provision in
the bill to pay s545 for the armor of the
Maine. Wisconsin and Missouri, he claimed,
was change of existing law. and there
fore out of order. He was called to order
several times by Mr. Hepburn for not
speaking TO the appeal and finally, amid
increasing excitement and confusion Mr.
Hepburn made the point that when called
to order Mr. Underwood must take his
seat Finally debate was closed-96 to 81
and the chair was sustained-97 to So.
Mr.. Vandiver then made the point of or
der that the provision TO pay $545 ton for
armor of the Maine, Ohio and Missouri
was a change of existing law and there
fore out of order. The act of March g.
1899. he said, limited the of armor
plate 10 $500 ton. The act of the previous
year limited the cost to $500 a ton. The
point OF order was debated at length and
nnally was sustained by the chair. The
Democrats greeted the decision with APP
plause.
Mr.. Bingham. of Pennsylvania. speaking
TO a pro forma amendment, denied, on the
authority of Mr.. Cramp. of the Cramp
Ship-building Company, that there ever
had been proposition for a combination
between his firm and the Carnegie COM
pany on the subject of armor plate.
| Mr.. Wheeler, of Kentucky said the
minority had not desired to defeat the pro-
vision TO pay S5i5 for the Maine, Ohio and
Missouri. but they were driven TO raise
the point Of order by the refusal of the
majority TO allow test of the sentiment
of the House on the question of establish
ing of an armor-plate factory.
| The provision for the repeal of the re-
striction of $500 a ton in the current law
went out on point of order.
| An amendment offered by Mr.. Roberts
| OF Massachusetts, TO authorize the con-
struction of a metal workers shop at the
Boston yard and appropriating 100000
therefor was adopted.
| Without further amendment the bill was
reported TO the House. Mr.. Underwood
demanded separate vote on each amend
ment, and on the first roll call made the
point OF no quorum. The speaker was I'M
able TO count a quorum. whereupon Mr..
Underwood moved an adjournment. The
motion was lost. but the quorum failed on
the next vote and at 6:25. without finally
disposing OF the bill. the House adjourned.
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