Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-10
56th CONGRESS-.
Senate Dealing with the Arm
or Plate Question.
Strong Arguments in Favor Of Govern
ment Building a Plant.
Probability OF Crawl 3D. DEM. North Caro-
lima. Losing Seat in House.

Washington, May 9.-Practically the
entire session Of the Senate, today, was
devoted to a discussion of the section
% the naval appropriation bill relating
to armor ana armament. The debate
largely hinged on the proposition that
the government should erect an armor
plant Of its own. Senator Tilman pre-
scented and amendment limiting the
price to be paid for armor To $500 q
ton ana providing also that the gov
eminent should erect a plant of its
own. Senator'S Tillman, Money and
Chandler advocated the erection Of a
plant, while Hale supported the com
mittcc amendment for plant in the
contingency that armor could not be
procured for $ii5 per ton. M action
was taken on the proposition, the bill
going over until tomorrow.
The Senate again discussed in secret
session the mysterious proiectilc with
which the navy department has been ex-
perimenting on armnr plate. tn" publi-
cation in this mornings papers 81 the de-
tails Of the secret session held. yesterday.
in the course Of which TiIlman. : G.,
laid before the Senate Information hc had
received at the navy department concern
ing the armor- piercing proj"ctilc that had
played such havoc with the best armor
tested at the government proving ground
at Indian Head. convinced many senator's
of the futiity of attempting by secret
sessions to keep information from the
public
However. while Mr.. Tilman WIS cx-
1. 3.
desired to accomplish by the secret scs-
sion. yesterday. another secret" session
was moved. the Scratc prcfcrrins t. hear
the senator explain behind closed doors.
After the galleries had been cleared TIL
man reiterated substantially the state
men; concerning the Indian Head test Of
4rmor plate which he made, yesterday.
After some brief discussion il was de-
cided. inu=much as the salient facts had
lccn published. thIt tIe Jrmor plate
matter might as wclI he considered III
open session. Later in the dJy 4 commu-
ialntiun Wa submitted 10 thc senate by
AIr. Hale from thu bureau y, ordnance pf
the navy department, III vhirh wa da-
scrincd minutcly the effect -uf thu" prl-
je.iti. !n question upon various kinds VII
armor.
XVI WI, c,n.1ueip, of r,l;tf,-n business
II, TN. senate rIa1s r3Ilad Iii tra naval
3Durorriatio1 Bill. III Il statement Eth
tn Senate Tx said that whom the bin
v.r iast under cGnsidrrati II. yesta~-
| INV. tia cauntn was In socret SESSION.
/ I'm view If the present conditions ere
| r..ijrc cyfI .ntly t. the publicotian. to-
| gay ~ tha results of til. secret ses-
! efo-i) l 1.4v. il to the senator from
South Carolina GTillwanl whether he
| deems il wise or 4 sirable t. proceed
with the measure in secret session"
"Rrmonberin.r what occurred in the
| Senate during the secret Sessi TIL
man r-rlfed. and what appeared in
The ntv-spapors. this morning. l am
oorrfctlv uersu?dcd il would be almost
! ;,,,,ee;hla ~ r~e,ant the novvene,,.,..
,.,,,, .-..ti.,e~ ,,,.. ir,e,-,,,+i,,, oltb M,
tbo,. IA ,,,h1isb ,ror. tt,r o,..,,rra, 7
H., tho S-ra+a md -"
Vet thi~l- tho senate would bet
,.. ,,., INT, s,,,.,+ e.s.=,,
,r.Ir,,,a, ! han. IN. so,,ato,. win nor
r,i. ~ I, ,-,,,,,l.tc nv ohs.r,-,tione
Vest-I make the motion for p secret
session. The senator's remarks arc
proving the accuracy Of the ncWSOa per
reports.
Chandler seconded Vests motion
| nnd Al 1920 P NJ. the Senate'5 doors
wcre closed.
All o'clock. the Senate resumed bus
inces III open session. consideration of
thu naval bill being resumed. The
pending question was upon the com
mittce amendment Ia the House bill
with respect 10 armor for war vessels.
Tillman. s. q. offered an amendment
IN effect limiting the price to be paid
for armor $500 DIR ton. ana. If it could
not he procured for that price. author
izing the secretary Of the navy to con
struct a government armor plant at d
cast not exceeding 81 1000. 900.
Hale. in charge of the bill. explained
the committee amendment He said
the committee had sought to relieve
the country from embarrassment that
was irksome to almost everybody.
fright i'm the midst of our remarkable
advance in the construction of naval
ships" said Hale, eve were arrested
Inv tbfc controversy over tho nrico nf