The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-08
TX E L o E B,
 JeWeIer.
NAVAL BILL IS PASSED
SENATE TAKES UP THE ARMY
 MEASURE.
Paterson of Colorado Attempts ts Provide for the Erection of an p Armor Plate Plant by
 the Government.

Washington March 1.-The Senate to- day passed the naval appropriation bill. which has been before 1t for the past four or live days, and then took up the army bill. The principal question in connec- 1 ton with the naval bill related to the price and method of supplying armor plate for battleships, and 1t grew out of an amendment suggested by MT. Pater- son providing for a Government arInor plant. He ultimately withdrew the | amendment. but offered several others, l all of which were laid on the table. The reading of the army appropriation | bill had not been concluded when the l Senate adjourned. In the Senate today bills were passed authorizing bail in certain criminal cases on appeal in the Indian Territory and validating certain conveyances of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. MT. Foraker presented the credentials of Senator-elect Charles Dick of Ohio to succeed the late Senate Hanna, both for the unexpired term ending March 4 next and for the full term of six years | beginning at the latter date. The creden- tials were read Mir. Dick was not present | to take the oath.
 The naval appropriation bill was then taken up. An amendment proposed by MT. Hale was agreed to, increasing the
 
 | s. C., from $646.500 to $S44,50O.
 MT. Patterson offered an armor plate amendment against which MT. Hale said | he should make a point of order after | MT. Patterson had discussed the amend ment. The amendment provided that if I the Secretary of the Navy cannot procure | armor for the vessels authorized at prices which, in his judgment, are reasonable, he is authorized and directed to expeni so much of the s12. 2.0O0, 900 appropriated for l armor as may be necessary to erect a | factory for the manufacture of armor. | Mir. Patterson added that since 1893 the Government has been letting it's ar. nor contract to a combination that has | fixed the price and determined the bid ding. He reviewed the armor plate con- troversy, declaring the Carnegie and Bethleham companies to be in league with members of the steel trust.
 The entrance of tine Midvale Company into the competition. he believed, mighi prove only temporary; they. too, nigh be induced to join the combination.
 MT. Platt (Conn.) asked how long would 1t take to complete such factory, anG
 Mir. Hale replied that it would take from
 three to five years to equip such a fac
 tory for work.
 In speaking of the continued growth o the navy Mir. Patterson said the compile | tion Of the naval program would place the United States ahead of Germany and Russia in actual tonnage and ahead o France and next to Great Britain ip of fective fighting tonnage, "and my 5udg ment," he continued, lis that American sentiment will not permit the United States at any time in the future to fall behind in naval power any nation that il has passed. American sentiment not only will justify but it will require the United States to continue second to Great Bri- tain"
 Mir. Patterson said that while he diC not believe in holding the Philippines, he was of the opinion that the majority of the people was against him and that the day was far distant when the people oi that archipelago would be given theil | freedom.
 MT. Teller said the United States should have a navy adequate to the protection of our interests, but he failed to see the urgent need for extensive additions and expressed the opinion that no mere ships should be ordered until we complet- ed those now In progress of construction.
 MT. Bacon did not accept the view oi Mir. Patterson as to the retention of the Philippines, saying he hoped the con- science of the American people would be | aroused over the injustice of the present l situation. Speaking to the armor plate question, Mir Bacon said this government had surrendered absolutely and abjectly to the armor makers, leaving them to