Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-20
SENATE STANDS
BY ARMOR PLANT
Penrose Predicts Government
Will Never Garry Through
Measures Provisions

Washington. July 2o.-For the sec
ond time this session the Senate yes
terday voted to establish government
armorplate plant at a cost of Sill 000.-
600. AS before. Senators oliver and
Penrose led the fight against the pro-
posal
Senator divers motion to strike from
the naval appropriation bill the pro-
vision for the armor plant was defeat
ed 81 to II. Sixteen Republicans voted
with the Democrats and Senator Tag
gart, of Indiana, voted with the Re-
publicans. The oliver amendment to
defer erection OF the plant until an
investigation into the cost OF manu-
facture of armor by the Federal Trade
Commission and to have the commits
sion fix fair and reasonable price" was
defeated. 4s to 16. Senator Newlands,
of Nevada, voted with the Republicans
on this, but Senator Taggart Joined the
Democrats. The Republican Senators
voting for the government plant were
Borah, Clapp. Cummins, Gronna. Jones,
Kenyon, La Toilette, Norris PoindeXtsr,
stirling and Works.
This second vote on the bill became
necessary when the House Naval AZ
fairs Committee incorporated it as i
part of the naval appropriation bill.
The government plant now has been
authorized by both houses.
Senator Penrose at the close of his
speech predicted that the government
plant will never be erected.
Il have one consolation" he sa i'd.
IT hope to be able to show when the
revenue bill comes up that the Treas
ury of the United States is virtually
bankrupt; that an enormous deficit will
exist Notwithstanding the passage of
the pending revenue bill, with all its
a.
tion and oppressive upon the people.
say, without fear of contradiction, that
there is not an officer of the American
navy who approves this project. l say,
there is not a military aryetaoishrdluata
without fear of contradiction, that
there is not a military authority in any
civilized nation in the world who would
not stand aghast at this proposition to
establish this government armor plant,
which must inevitably result in putting
out OF business every one of these three
concerns.
Gould there be a fairer offer? Has
there ever been an offer made to the
American government in its history of
lao years similar to the proposition
now made by the armor plate manu-
facturers? First, after furnishing ar
NOR for many years at a lower rate
than that of any other country nj the
$40 a ton, and that not having been
favorably considered either by the Sec
retary of the Navy or by the Naval At
fairs Committee, they now appear and
offer to submit their books to any
inspection of accountants and to ac-
cept a price for a term of years for the
amount of this whole preparedness
proposition that may be fixed by the
Federal Trade Commission. l know
of no other concern in the long his
tory of the government furnishing mu-
nitions or anything else which has made
an offer so candid and open and so fair
as this is"
The impression prevails, even among
Democrats who voted for the govern
ment armor plant, that the Administra- a.
tion would never attempt to build a
government factory. AS viewed by
hese men, 1t is proposed to hold the
authority OF build such a plant over
the armor makers as a club, with which
Il possible, to force another reduction
in the price of armor plate.