Evening journal., 1905-02-21
THE NAVAL BILL
PASSES HOUSE
1t Appropriates $oe,9I4559
and Provides for Two
Battleships
MORTON MAKES 4. STATEMENT

Washington. Fob. 21. - The house
after a seven-hour session passed the
naval appropriation bill, carrying
total OF 500. .914, ,S59 The provision for
two battloships, as reported by the
committee on naval affairs, was re-
tained Both the majority and minor
ity were badly divided over the propo-
sition, at least 40 members Of the lat
ter going over 10 the Republicans.
while about an equal number OF Re-
publicans voted in opposition. Several
Important changes in the bill were
made. The proposed increase Of 1900
men and officers for the Marine Corps
was stricken out as was also the pro-
vision authorizing the construction OF
a collier somewhere else than at the
Mare Island navy yard in California.
In order to do the work better an item
Of s175, 900 was inserted for the proper
equipment of the Mare Island yard.
Secretary Morton has transmitted to
the house a statement on the subject
of the cancellation OF the armor con-
tract with the Midvale Steel company
Of December 10, 1908, and Of the re-
lection Of the bid OF that company
February Z, 1905. in response 10 a re-
cent resolution Of that body, The state
ment is made up OF an explanation by
N. e. Mason. chief Of ordnance.
with reference to the cancellation
Of the contract. It is stated that the
navy department would have become
liable to ship contractors for claims
for delay if the action had not been
taken. The MidYale people were. con-
suited and expressed" a willingness
to accede to the bureaus tentative sug-
gestion." and thereupon the proper
steps we're taken relinquishing the
contract and to provide for the con-
struotion Of the armor by the Bethle-
hem company.
In letter from the Midvale COM
pany relinquishing the contract, the
statement Is made; And the company
In making this relinquishment does
not in any way recognize or admit its
inability to furnish the tonnage rehn-
quished in ample time for the require
ments Of the ship builders. But 1t
takes this action in the line of the
policy which It has always adopted in
its relations with the government. not
to permit any consideration of private
advantage to be considered by II that
might in any way embarrass the de-
partment or cause the department 10
become involved In unfortunate COM
plicstions with shipbuilders."
In addition to the question OF facili-
ties considered by the board in making
its recommendation, the bureau IN
vites attention to the inadvisability Of
awarding to the Midvale Steel company
a further contract for armor until that
company has demonstrated its ability
TO manufacture suitable armor under
its existing contract at the rate that is
required.
while the Midvale Steel company
has submitted trial plates that have
successfully withstood the required
ballistic tests. Il has not yet COM
menced the regular production Of ar
NOR in quantity, and the bureau does
not deem that the production of the
trial plates submitted is such guar
anty that the company can produce
suitable armor in the quantities re-
quired as would warrant the depart
ment at this time to award 10 that
company a'further contract for armor'