Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-03-11

Mr.. Hitchcock Of Nebraska, Democrat,
offered the following amendment:
'That no money appropriated in this
bill for armor shall be used to pur-
chase armor not yet contracted for
turers who constitute in whole or in
part trust or trade conspiracy to con-
troll the price of steel products in vio-
lation of the laws of the United
States"
Now, that looks like a reasonable
proposition, one which the American
people will indorse. In support there
to be one of the best rough and tum-
BILE debaters in the house, said with
great force and cogency:
Mr.. Chairman. I have only few words
to say on this amendment. desire to call
the attention OF this house to the fact
that a tremendous change has come over
this country since the manufacture OF
modern arnor plate was begun in 1887.
That was by the Bethlehem company. At
that time the first armor plate contract
was let, Mr.. Whitney being then the Sec
rotary Of the navy. In 1890 the second
armor plate contract was let. at time
when Mr.. Tracy was secretary OF the
navy.
When Secretary Tracy let that second
armor plate contract, it was to the Car
negie company, in Pennsylvania, and he
distinctly stated at that time, and it was
notorious over the United States, that his
purpose in letting that contract to the
Carnegie company was to build up COM
petitor to the Bethlehem company, which
had had prior to that time monopoly Of
armor plate manufacture. The third con.
tract was let In 1898. At that time those
companies made identical bids. The fourth
contract was made In 1896. when again
the two companies made identical bids.
Thereupon congress, seeing that an
agreement existed between those two COM
panies to extort an agreed price from the
United States inserted provision In tho
law that the secretary of the navy should
not pay over 800 a ton for armor plate.
The result was that the fifth contract. in
by the navy department to those two
concerns at $500 ton. The seventh con.
tract was let in the year 1900 to the Beth
lehem and Carnegie companies. and at
that time the bids were again identical
and were for larger price.
Since that time the eighth contract, in
1903. and the ninth contract, In 1904, have
been let but not to companies even pre-.
tending to be competitors, but to these
two concerns, known to be banded to.
gether,. practically in the same combina.
ton, trade conspiracy. both outlaws
under the laws Of the United States. and
It is to prohibit dealings with that trade
conspiracy that this amendment Is offer.
ed. Those two concerns constitute com.
mercial outlaw, existing in defiance Of the
acts OF congress and will Of the people of
the United States. 1t ts to prevent those
conspirators from securing from the Unit.
ed States any further gigantic contracts
that this amendment is offered.
In closing, Mr.. Chairman, want to call
the attention OF this committee to the
fact that since 1887 the United States has
paid these two companies alone 81. 900. 900
of the peoples money. It certainly IL
about time II we cannot erect an armor
plate factory for the purpose Of compet-
ing with these concerns because the gen.
tleman from Pennsylvania objects, that
we should limit the price to be paid for
armor and decline to recognize by gov.
ernment contracts an outlaw Of the Unit
Cd States.
The average taxpayer will perhaps
conclude that Hitchcock's position was
sound. But just at that point Mr..
Mann, Republican representative from
Chicago, as aforesaid, concluded that
he saw an opportunity to have some
fun with Hitchcock and the other Dem
ocrats, SO he offered this amendment
10 Hitchcock's amendment: Insert
after the word manufacturers the
words who have been judicially de-
clared to-" On the Mann amendment
the vote stood, yeas 1875, nays 81,
Republicans favoring it, Democrats OPP
posing. Mann was radiant with Joy,
which was speedily turned to grief, for
the vote then came on Hitchcock's
amendment as amended by the Mann
amendment and stood, yeas 81, nays
III, Democrats voting for it and Re
publldnns against 1t. Tellers being call.
ed, the vote stood, yeas 81, nays 100.
The net Sesult of Brother Mann's at
tempt to put the Democrats In a hole
was that he had succeeded in putting
the Republicans in the hole by having
them vote that the government shall
buy arurUy plate from manufacturers
who have been judfcially determined
to- be trust! Mann was caught in
his own trap. His effort at strategy
had made record for his party In ia.
vor Of trusts, which 1t cannot explain
away and which ought to cost them a
1core Of seats In the house, to say moth.
~ u IN erect on the presidential
QsaA & MtS10 b in1sUlIg II
s. j y -