The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-19
JINCO SPEECH
SENSATIONAL AND EXPLANATORY
TALK BY SENATOR MASON.
Spaniards Charged with Treachery
and Our Navy Department. Ac-
cused of DiIatoriness.
BOLD I'm HIS UTTERANCES
BUT UNWILLING TO RISK HIS LIFE
By GOING TO HAVANA.
His Speech BASED ON IA Demand for
Congressional Investigation of
the sinking of the Maine.
-
STRONG, ELOQUENT REPLIES
NOTABLE DEFENSE OF THE NAVY By
WoLCOTT AND LODGE.
A
Resolution Adopted by Both Houses
Appropriating 100000 for Saw
ing the Ships Outfit.
STRONG, ELOQUENT REPLIES
NOTABLE DEFENSE OF THE NAVY BY
woLCOTT AND LODGE.
Resolution Adopted by Both Houses
Appropriating 100000 for Saw
ing the Ships Outfit.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.


heaved a sigh of relief this afternoon when
the hands of the big clock that hangs under
the diplomatic gallery pointed to the hour
of o'clock. Under the rules the embar-
RAISING debate on the Allen resolution for
a congressional investigation into the Maine
explosion and on the Mason substitute
could not be carried any further, and the
matter went over for day. Then later the
Senate adjourned until Monday, thus Sc
curing a postponement of a vote for three
days. Opposition to an independent investi-
cation by Congress is based on the argu-
ment that such an inquiry might interfere
with the one instituted by the secretary of
the navy, an idea which, while of acknowl-
edged force, did not appear to be received
with marks of favor until Senator Wolcott
fortified it by coming to the defense of the
American navy in response to the ill-timed
remarks of Senator Mason. The Wolcott
eulogy of the navy, and the dramatic way
in which he made it, proved to be the sem
sation Of the day. Under the spell of his
burning words and the glowing sentences
of Senator Lodge the Senate hesitated to
vote for an investigation, fearing that by
SO doing it might appear to be voting for
a resolution of lack of confidence in the
President and the Navy Department. The
Senate did rot wish to appear to be opposed
to an investigation by Congress, and it did
not wish to go on record as indorsing an
attack on the Nevy Department, and it
was therefore with relief that the members
welcomed the arrival of the hour of
o'clock and the opening of an avenue of
escape from a complication that had de-
veloped troublesome features.
The charge made by Senator Mason that
thp NaVv DaDarfnnant was GunnraSci,nr
facts about the disaster, while utterly un-
founded, is nevertheless being taken up to-
night by the enemies of the administration,
and the changes are rung on the accusation
from the housetops. Attention is being
called to the alleged contradictory attitude
of members of the administration, who ask
the public to suspend judgment until the
facts can be ascertained, and, it is claimed
prejudice the case themselves by giving out
semi-official and official speculations that
the explosion was an accident. This they
charge is a deliberate attempt to prejudice
an affair concerning which the public is
appealed to for suspension of Judgment
and comment. This method Of at
tack is irritating to the administra-
ton officials from the President down,
and they do not attempt to
conceal the fact. Officials are extremely
sensitive to criticism just now. They ap-
preciate the strain that the people are un-
der, and they feel that it is unpatriotic and
wrong to introduce disturbing suggestions
into the situation. They are in dread of
trouble breeders and busybodies.
Attention is drawn to a fact tonight
which the supporters of the theory that the
Maine was blown up by an explosion from
the inside may have trouble in explaining
From statements of several persons it ap-
pears that large chunk of cement from
the Maine fell on the deck of the steamer
City of Washington, and that another
chunk of the same material struck and in
jured Lieutenant Blandn. Now cement
was in only two places in the battle ship
in the keel and under the boilers. Nat
urally it eXcites wonder how cement To-
Gated in either of these localities could be
thrown to great height and distance by
an explosion occurring from within the YES
sci. 1t would look like an impossibiity.
Grave fears are entertained that divers
and wreckers may not be able to ascer-
tain the facts in relation to the explosion
on, account of the mud in which the wreck
of the Maine is imbedded This mud is
nearly twenty feet deep, and is described as
filthy ooze, contact with which would be
death. This mud is impregnated> yell
low fever, cholera and smallpox germs, the
sewage and filth of the city and it's hospi-
tails having poured into it for a hundred
years and settled there. The captain of a
West India merchantmen says: Germs
enough to kill a thousand men cling TO an
anchor, and when ships are forced to drop
their anchor in that horrible mess they are
never taken on board again until they have
been dragged through clean sea water for
a long time. 1t would be sending men TO
death to compel divers to plow around in
the mud that envelops the sunken hull of
the Maine" If conditions are as bad as
they appear the investigation of the wreck
may drag along for weeks and then end in
a confession of failure to arrive at satisfac-
tory results.