The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-27
WARM DISCUSSION IN
 HOUSE ON ARMOR PLATE

said that whatever might be said on the eight-hour labor law, he could not stand fer any proposition proposing repudiation cf contracts made by the United States.
 The point of order was overruled by the chair, but on a rising vote the amend inent was lost-62 to 110-two republicans voting for 1t and about dozen democrats against 1t.
 MT. Foss moved that the committee re- port the bill, but a number of members on the minority side were on their feet clam bring for recognition, each holding aloft an amendment. Mir. Rixey of Virginia, was recognized and proposed an amend ment authorizing the secretary of the navy to contract for armor at a price not to exceed ss9s ton, and being unable to contract at that price, to construct government armor plate factory.
 MT. Dalzel raised a point of order against this amendment.
 MT. Underwood of Alabama, contended for the amendment. but the point of order was sustained.
 Fixing the Maximum.
 MT. Rixed next proposed another amend- ment fixing the maximum to be paid for armor ta s39S He said the Midvale com pany was given contract for 6OOO tons at that price, whereas the Carnegie and Bethlehem companies were awarded con- tracts for 5000 tons each at s453 a ton.
 MT. Hitchcock charged that the Car negie and Bethlehem companies were in combination in violation of the Sherman antitrust laws and characterized them
 MT. Dayton of West Virginia raised a point of order.
 Mfr. Williams, the minority leader, con- tended for the amendment. MT. Mann, republican, of Illinois, offered an amend ment making MT. Hitchcock.s amend ment applicable only to concerns judi cially declared illegal concerns.
 MT. Payne cut off further debare mov- ing to recommit the bill to the commit tee. on naval affairs and then he and his republican associates defeated the mo- tion-13s to 99.
 The bill then was passed without op- position, and the house at 6:10 p. m. ad- journed.
 THE SENATE.
 Washington, February 26.--The senate today considered at some length the bill requiring the use of American ships in carrying government supplies but without action adjourned for want of quorum. The bill was criticized by democratic sen ators as being in the nature of a subsidy, but MT. Hale who was in charge of the measure, defended 1t against this attack and championed it in the interest of American shipping.
 When the senate met MT. Scott from the committee on public buildings pre- scented report on the conditions of the old government printing office, saying that the walls were in such a okndition that 1t was a menace to lives of hundreds of government employees and recommends ed that the building be torn down. The presentation of the report gave rise to heated debate in which Senators Hoar, Gallingsr, Scott and Allison participated.
 No Action Taken.
 No action was taken on the report. MT. Fairbanks made an effort to get up an act authorizing the construction of building to be used by the department of state. the department of justice and the department of commerce. but cockrell objected on ac- count of the absence of MT. German, who he said, was greatly interested in the matter. A general exchange of views fol- lowed and the senate agreed to make the bill the order of business for next Mon- day.
 The calendar for general business was then taken up and the following bills passed:
 Providing for the confirmation of entries under the homestead law when made out side the land district In which the land Is situated.
 Authorizing the Mobile and West Ala bama company to construct bridge across the Black Warrior river in Tusca- loosa county, Alabama.
 There was considerable discussion of the bill requiring the employment of American vessels in the shipment of government stores. MT. Berry said that in effect the bill grants a subsidy to vessels owned in the United States and he quoted a letter from the secretary of war expressing the opinion that the enactment of the bill would result in a threefold increase of the freight rate MT. Hale defended the meas ure and said the bill only puts In prac- tice the systems of other countries
 Issue Is Dead.
 MT. Hale said incidentally that for this session, at least, the issue of a general ship subsidy was dead Other senators participating in the discussion were Messrs. Daniel. Patterson, Lodge, Bacon, Perkins, Teller, Hoar Hopkins and Car mack.
 The bill was amended at the instance of McCumber so as to provide that carriers under this bill should not make greater charges against the United States than against other customers, then at the suggestion of Mir. Allison. so as not to prohibit the use of transports owned by the government.
 Before a vote could be secured on the amendment Mir. Carmack of Tennessee moved to recommit the bill to the com mittee on commerce. The vote resulted 12 to 30--no quorum.
 Without further action the senate at 4:1S p. m adjourned until tomorrow.