The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-03-24
provides For Armor-Plate Factory
AT Cost Not to Exceed S11,OOO,-
600.
GOES TO THE HOUSE
"'!l had Solid Democratic Support
And Also Votes of Nine Progress
i've Republicans.

an armor-plate factory at a cost NOT
to exceed $11,OOO,0OO was passed bv
the Senate late to-day by vote of
5S TO 23. The House naval commit.
tee has set aside tomorrow for con
sideration of the measure with q
view of reporting it to the House
promptly.
democratic senators supported the
bill solidly, regarding it as one of
the important measures included in
the National Preparedness program
now being fastened to completion
Nine Progressive Republicans ioined
with the majority in voting for the
bill. They were Senators Borah.
Clapp. Cummins, Gronna. Kenyon.
Norris Poindexter. Sterling and
Works.
Passage of the measure in the
House is regarded as assured. Ad
leaders are planning to
bring it up soon after passage of the
army reorganization and immigra
ton bills.
The bill. which has the approval
Of the Administration and Secretary
Daniels. was bitterly opposed by sew
eral Republican Senators. At com
mittee hearings on the measure Off
GERS of the Bethlehem and Midvale
steel Companies, two OF the three
concerns which furnish armor to the
Government. appeared and the threat
was made that their plants would
have to be dismantled as soon as the
Government entered upon the bust
ness, leaving no source of supply for
the Navy's immediate needs. The on
position in the Senate was led by
Senators Penrose, Oliver. Lippitt and
Lodge
Senator Swanson. in supporting the
bill. delared that threats of private
armor-plate makers to advance their
price $500 ton If the measure pass
ed furnished a strong argument in
its favor.
III these companies are able to
enforce this eXaction now" he said
they will be able in the future. un-
less this bill passes, to make any de-
mands their greed and self-interest
dictates. We are now in a situation
where the more urgent our needs for
the greater the price ex-
acted by private concerns"
Senator Swanson said former Ad-
were responsible for
the absence of competition among
the three private companies.
From 1907 to 1913. the Bethlehem
received contracts for %
5SS tons. the Carnegie 23.641 and
the Midvale 21,571 tons, he said.
'All competition has absolutely
ceased" he added, what is more
during all these years
the Government did all it could to
prevent competition between these
concerns and to encourage them to
enter combination.
while pretending to assail mono
poly in the courts and legislative
halls. those in charge of the Gov
eminent were eXerting their influ-
ence to suppress competition. The
loss the Government sustained on
this account was astounding"
Senator Weeks. of Massachusetts,,
a substitute which would
have authorized the Secretary of
the Navy to enter into five-year
with the Bethlehem, Mid
vale and Carnegie companies to sup
ply all the armor-plate needed at n
price six per cent. in excess of cost
maintenance, depreciation. The sub
stitute. after considerable debate.
was rejected 60 to rs. Numerous
other amendments were proposed and
rejected.
Senators Oliver and Penrose in
sisted that the proposed action of tho
Government was confiscatory and
hat 1t would force the private plat,
manufacturers out Of business at
time when they are most needed by
he Government.
Senator Tillman declared the meas
ure was not designed 10 run the pri-
vate manufa cturers out of business