The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-29
NATIONS GRATITUDE.
Senate Acts on Resolutions
Of Reward for Naval
and Revenue Ma
rine Officers.

WASHINGTON, June 20, 1S9S.-In ac-
cordance with the recommendations of the
President the Senate at the beginning OF
its session today took action in recogni-
tion of the distinguished services rendered
recently by officers and men of the navy
and revenue cutter service.
Mr.. Frye (Me.) reported from the Cons
mittee on Commerce a joint resolution
recognizing the gallantry of Frank Hs
Newcomb, commanding the revenue cut
ter Hudson, and of his officers and mens
also retiring Captain Daniel B. Hodgsdon
of the revenue cutter service for efficient
and meritorious services in command Of
the cutter Hugh McCulloch at Manila.
The resolution extends the thanks Of
Congress to Lieutenant Newcomb for his
heroic gallantry in the action at Carr
denas when he and his crew rescued the
Winslow and such of her crew as had not
been disabled or killed, and provides for
suitable medal of gold for Newcomb.
silver medals for his officers and bronze
medals for the members Of his crew. II
also places Captain Hodgsdon of the Me-
Culloch on permanent waiting orders at
full duty pay.
The resolution was adopted without de-
bate.
Mr.. Hale (Me.) of the Naval Committee
then reported favorably resolution tens
dering the thanks of Congress to Naval
Constructor Hobson, who, with his crew
of seven men, sunk the collier Merrimao
across the entrance to the harbor of SAM
tiago de Cuba, and providing for the
transfer of Mr.. Hobson from the con-
struction corps of the navy to the line.
The resolution was also adopted.
After the resolution had been adopted
Mr.. Hoar, addressing himself to the action
just taken by the Senate, said:-"An we
do and all we have done for Naval Con-
structor Hobson in recognition Of
his distinguished bravery, is to extend
to him by name the thanks of Con-
gress But in this case where deed Of
special heroism was performed it seems
to me that we ought to recognize the
men who volunteered to accompany him
on his perilous undertaking. All were
undergoing the same risk and the names
of the entire seven ought to be men
toned in the resolution. would be glad
to see this chamber filled with such he
roes as those men are
Mr.. Hoar said that such recognition by.
Congress was one of the greatest marks
of honor that could be conferred upon
any man or men.
Five hundred years hence, the descen-
dants of these men would know and
would be proud to tell of the remarkable
feat they had performed. He hoped there
fore that Mr.. Hale would consent to have
the resolution reconsidered and the names
of all the heroes of the Merrimac inserted
in the resolution.
Mr.. Perkins (Cala.) said that he had in
mind the same suggestion and had OBJ
tanned from the Navy Department an ac-
curate list of the names of the Merrimac
volunteers
lr. Hale said the President, always
ke4nly alive to the proprieties, had sug-
gested the form of the resolution in his
message to Congress- but he was certain
that the suggested amendment would
meet his approval. He threfore moved
the reconsideration of the resolution, that
the names of the crew might be incor-
porated.
Mr.. Sewell IN. J.) delivered an euology
of the American soldiers and sailors. FL,
declared they We're all heroes. No deed
of daring could be suggested that would
not command instantly the services of
scores of volunteers.
Heretofore 1t has been the custom of
Congress to grant the special favor Of
thanks only to men who wore shoulder
straps, but he thought that al this time
when our army was lying before the for
tifications of Santiago it would be well to
recognize the private soldier and the COM
mon sailor who by their gailantry turned
the tide of battles and made commissioned
officers great.
Mr.. Nelson eMinn.) hoped that the
names of the men who accompanied
Lieut.. Hobson in his perilous undertak-
ing would be Incorporated in the resolu-
tion. Not to recognize thus their gall
lantry was to his mind hostile to the
spirit of American institutions.
Mr. Perkins said that naming the man
specifically in the resolutions would be
the establishment of precedent that this
country could well afford to establish
He drew a vivid word picture Of the
deed performed by the Merrimac's gallant
crew
The resolution was so amended as to in
clude the names of the crew who accom-
panied Lieut.. Hobson and adopted.
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