The Washington times., 1904-02-27
HARD FIGHT OVER
THE NAVAL BILL
Democrats Sought to Cut
Down the Amount.
CARRIES ABOUT S97,OOO,ooO
Opposed Building Program, Torpedo
Boats, and Erection of Armor
Plate Plant.

After a hard fight the House yester-
day passed the naval appropriation bill
which carries an expenditure Of APP
proximately s97,0OO.O0O, the largest
amount by many millions in the history
OF the naval establishment
The measure as reported from the
committee was amended in only three
important particulars, two of these
carrying appropriations which increased
the budget by more than $4,000. One
amendment offered by Mr.. Legare
Dem. S. c. increased the appropria-
tion for the Charleston yard by $3.50, 600,
and one offered by Mr.. Hill (Rep..
Comm made a conditional increase of
$25O.O00 in the amount available for the
purchase of submarine torpedo boats.
ArnOr Plate Case.
The other amendment agreed to was
offered by Mr.. DalzeH directing the Sec
rotary of the Navy to purchase armor
plate at a price lin his judgment
just and reasonable" This amendment
was added after the provision in the
bill authorizing the Secretary of the
Navy to spend 100000 in building a
Government armor plate plant IL he can
not get such plate at a fair price, had
been ruled out of the bill on a point of
order made by AR Dalzell, who comes
from Pittsburg. the home of the Car
negie Company, which manufactures
large quantities of armor plate for the
Government
The majority of Democrats, aided now
and then by mere handful of Repub-
leans. fought every inch Of the build
ing program which appropriates S2S.-
100000 for new ships, and sought 10 have
the amount decreased and the appro-
priation cut down. Their efforts were
unsuccessful. They also lined I'D quite
generally with Mr.. Roberts CRep.. Mass }
for more submarine boats, but the best
they could do in this connection was 10
accept MIR. HIS amendment which
makes it discretionary with the secre-
tary Of the Navy TO spend not to ex-
coed $S50,oOO. instead Of $500. 900, for sub
marines, after competition.
Thinks Provision Nil.
Mr.. Loudenslager Rep.. N. j. con-
tended, however. that the provision
was nullified by the fact that there were
only two types of submarine boats. and
as one would not enter into a competi-
ton with the other. the Secretary would
be powerless TO avail himself of the
provisions Of the amendment 1t was.
however, adopted.
The Democrats also made a fight to
keep the cost Of armor plate down Il
1898 a ton. the price paid to the Mic
vale Company, which Is So a ton less
than is paid to the armor plate trust
composed Of the Carnegie and Bethle-
hem companies. They tried to attach
a provision prohibiting the payment OF
any money under the bill to an armor
plate concern in a trust. but were un-
successful. Repeated efforts were also
made to insert a clause limiting to eight
hours days labor on Government shiI
contracts. All were unsuccessful. as
was also their attempt 10 strike out the
provision for naval station at Olonga,
20, 7. l., and insert only a provision
for a cOaing station.
When every attempt 70 amend the bill
In these particulars had failed the Dem.
ocrats sought to have il recommittec
TO the Naval Committee with instruc.
tons to report a bill with these pro.
visions This motion was lost by a strict
party vote.