Evening star., 1898-02-18
TO RAISE THE MAINE
Both HousesAppropriate
100000.
REQUESTED BrSEcRET ETARf LONG
Remains of Men and Officers to Be
Brought Home.
PROPOSED CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY
Unusually Exciting Scene in the
PROPOSED CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY
Unusually Exciting Scene in the
Senate.
MASON'S VIGOROUS REMARKS

In his invocation at the opening of the
Senate session today the chaplain again re-
ferred with deep feeling to the catastrophe
10 the Maine. While the hatIon shuddered
with horror at the awful disaster in the
harbor of Havana, a deeper and tenderer
sense OF humanity had grown up through
out the country and tender sense of the
brave sailors who lost their lives in the
performance of their duty. Reference was
made to the expressions of sympathy AMI
coincidence which have come to this govern
ment from the Christian nations of the
world.
MI Nelson (Minn.) entered motion to
reconsider the vote by which the resolution
relating to the Kansas Pacific was adopted
yesterday No action was taken.
On motion of Mr.. Quay 1t was decided
that when the Senate adjourn TODAY it be.
Enti Monday next.
MT Hale, chairman OF the naval affairs
eolmlttee then offered the following reso-
luton relative to raising the Maine:
ihdt the secretary of the Navy be. and
ne Is hereby, authorized to engage the ser-
vices OF a wrecking company or companies
having proper facilities for the prornnt and
eHlcient performance Of submarine work
Tor the purpose of recovering the remains
OF the officers and men lost Oh the J,nited
States steamer Maine and of saving The
Nessei or such paris thereof, and so much
oi her stores, guns, material, equipment
htuhsA and appurtenances as may be prac-
ucaDie' and for this purpose the sum of
s2p'VO or so much thereof as NAV he
necessary is hereby appropriated and made
Immediately available"
Ihe resolution was prepared at the Navy
no r frlA
OF Secretary Long. who, in forwarding IT
10 MIR. Hale, also. sent a letter explafnin.
BIS purpose He says in this letter that lit
Is deemed proper and important that stems
should be taken Immediately to recover the
remains of the officers and men lost on the
occasion of this most deplorable catas
fIophe, TO raise the vessel or to save sucb
parts of her armament and eauipment as
may be practicable"
To this the Secretary adds: "Tne mea1er
information received respecting the nature
and extent Of the injury sustained by the
huii or the Maine renders 1t difficult to de-
termlne at this time whether there Is rea-
sen to hope that the vessel herself may be
raised: but 1t seems probable, as she lies
within the protection of harbor. and is
rot wholly submerged, that much valuable
pioperty may be recovered if the necessary
fction is taken without delay The vessel.
with her stores. guns, material equipment.
fittings and appurtenances, cost approxi-
mately S5,OOO,OOO. AS an illustration of the
value of single items which may have
escaped serious injury. 1t may be said that
the 1o-inch guns, of which the Maine car
Tea -FOUR, were worth, with their mounts,
$4,000 each Aside from the melancholy
duty resting upon the government to re-
nnNar md
burial, IL this may be done, the bodies of
Aae officers and men who lost their lives in
this disaster, ii is believed that much val
liable property may yet be saved from the
vessel In any event. it is of the utmost
Importance that whatever is to be done in
this matter should be entered upon without
delays
THE sinking of the Maine will be made
the subject of immediate and exhaustive
IL quiry. and Congress will be fully adj
v.sed of the result Of such investigation"
Mr.. Long states that in fixing the sum
asked for, the department is at this time
Unable to estimate the necessary expense
with any degree of accuracy, but he SAYS
he has conferred with the bureau of con-
struction and repair and that in case of the
appropriation requested. only so much OF
1t as may be found necessary will be ex-
pended in the work.
The Secretary incloses the following
table, showing the cost of a number OF
items of the ordnance outfit of the vessel
Main battery AMI equipments, SlS3,557
main battery, miscellaneous, $3.50; secon.
dGry battery and equipments, So, ,IiS; small
arms and equipments, IS. 142; ammunition
S123.0i9; ammunition, secondary battery
AID small arms, s30.5l2: magazine and
small room equipments. 81 .1J9: stores tools
&c, 81 .S3I; torpedo outfit. s22.3lO. perma
Bent fittings. main battery, $3.50; perma
nent. secondary battery, 81 30; permanent
fittings. torpedo 1851; permanen; fittings
miscellaneous, sI65. Total. xJ02, ,152
bringing Remains Home.
Mr.. Allen thought it very desirable that
q provision be inserted in the resolution
for the transportation and burial of the re-
mains OF these who lost their lives in the
disaster
reference was made to the transportation
of the bodies In The letter from the Secre-
tGry of the Navy. In many cases, he said
1t would be impossible to bring to this
country the remains of the men killed, as
the bodies were so badly mutilated and the
facilities for embalming so inferior In Ha-
vana that already the remains of many of
tho dA~A -~>- d>aonanasinar apd II vould