The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-27
NAVAL, B Bill II. |.
IS ? ASSED:..
Effort to Limit Price, for Arinor
Plate Is Defeated BY Re
publicans.
MANY PARTY CONTESTS ]|,
!. az! Associated 1,ress.)


"A s,yAsHlNGTO d. e., Feb 26.-.The
House passed the naval appropriation
bill to-day, after having had 1t unuer
consideration for II week.
&8 There was "a party contest on y hu' l
Der of propositions during the Guy. ts-
peclnlly on i'm effort OF different minor.
,sitys members to secure an anendmcht 70
fix the price or armor plate ut the liz !.
urc bid by the Midrnle Steel company
several amendments were ruled out on
points OF order, and the Repu94 eau iehu1
ers. BY skilful parliamentary tactics, left
Tho ,nutter OF armor plate lii the discre-
ton or the Secretary of the Navy. An
intellectual attempt was made to have
tho elght-houri law applied to all snip
construction. 1.-The contest over sub1na-
@rine boats was quito exciting, and an
amendment finally was adopted witch
leaves the question MS to the tSps 81
boat open. but increases the amount OF
tho appropriation for such boats. Tie
minority, under Mr.. Meyers leadership,
failed to secure n record vote on the
proposition to recommit with INSTRUCTIONS,
the proposed instructions being derll-ed
out OF order. III
H Mr.. Roberts Massachusetts advocated
an increase in the number Of torpedo
boats from two to five. quoting Admiral
8Dcwcyin favor OF his proposal, and ufS-
ing trial OF boats of a certain type. W.
w. Titchin (Sorth CarolinD spoke 1or3
tho Roberts amendment, which was II
4nally voted down. Nj.
To Limit Price.
MIR. Rixcy (Yirginia) proposed an amend.
ment@ authorizing the Secretary Of ise
Navy to contract for armor2 al the price
not to exceed s39S q ton, and being una
hlo 10 contract at that price. to con-
8struct nm arlnor plate factory on ground
owned nv tho government, si,00O,0OO belhs
appropriated for that purpose.
Mr.. Dalzel raised q point OF orucr
against this amendment, and tha point OF
order was sustained. .
4 Mr. Iixeyg proposed another amen lciilf5
fixing tho maximum to be paid 10Y ar
NOR at $39S, and In support OF th ms /, X
Cited Ethc award for tarnor "'1clc ~
Aridvale Company was given q contracs
Tor 6,ono tons at that price, and the car
negie and the Bethlehem 5000 tons each at
Sass a. ton. IL
". ". Kitchen (North Cnrolina), cit
ing tho recent award of Hrmor contracts
Ia Carnegie and Bethlehem companies
Z al a., advance of $50 per ton over the BID
of the Midvale Company. SAID the esc
rotary OF the Navy had exercised ms
discretion unwisely IT. not giving me
contract for all the arnor to the MID
vale Company. He snid me secr s,'ar
was incnpalle Of meeting the question.
II Mr. Dalzcll offered a substitute amend
mont, providing that the secretary pc
authorized to procure contracts for armor
lat d price which, in his Judgment =; IS
aus, and reasonable. BY a party d'vi-
sion OF 133 to 1o1 tho amendmeht was
adopted. displacing the amendment Oh.
4 farcd by Mr.. Rxcy. fixing the INIT OF
( cost ri arnlor
Mr. Hitchcock (Nevada) tried to secure
an amendment prohibiting the payment
T,r money for armort ptatt to any trust or
trade conspiracy. but his amendment
Mas defeated by practically n party vote.
The House, after passing the bill. al
ioumed until Tomorrow.