The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-19

Maine Disaster the Cause of the
Excitement in the Upper House.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.- A debate,
decided in its sensations, was unex-
pectedly precipitated in the senate to-
day, over the consideration of the res
olution of Mr.. Allen (Neb), directing
the committee on naval affairs to in
Vestigate the disaster to the battleship
Maine
An arrangement had been made for
the adoption of the resolution, with a
minor amendment, without debate. Mr.
Mason Ull), however, proposed a sub
stitute. providing for an investigation
to be conducted by a joint committee
of the two branches of congress. Upon
this the Illinois senator, disregarding
an appeal not to force a discussion at
this time, delivered speech, in which
he said that the people demanded the
truth concerning the explosion, and de-
clared that they would not be satisfied
with the investigation to be conducted
by the officers of the navy, who would
virtually try their own case and would
cover up any blame that the officials
might show attached to them.
Sharp replies to Mr.. Mason's charges
were made by Mr.. Wolcott (Col.) and
Mr Lodge (Mass). Mr.. Wolcott de-
clared that mot a patriotic citizen IN
this broad land has not the fullest and
most splendid and glorious confidence
In every department of this govern
ment, and in the department of the
navy particularly" Mr. Wolcott
thought this was a time when we
should refrain from gratuituous insult
to friendly nation, and from unjust
and ignorant criticism
Mr.. Lodge, in brief but brilliant
speech, defended the honor of the navy
ana secretary Long and Assistant Sec
retary Roosevelt and the naval officers.
A resolution, which was referred, was
offered, appropriating money for a tab
let in the capitol corridor in memory of
the men lost in the Maine disaster, the
tablet to contain the names of the Of
hcers and men, and to be an enduring
memorial to their honor and a perpet-
ual token of the sorrow of the nation"
Spirited Debate.
The Allen resolution when laid before
the senate precipitated the most spirit
ed Cuban debate of the session.
Mr.. Mason Qll) proposed an amend
nent striking out all after the word
resolved and inserting the following:
By the senate, and house of representa-
yves concurring, that joint committee Of
hve, consisting of three members of the
house Of representatives and two members
OF the senate, be appointed to investigate
the disaster to the battleship Maine.
Mr.. Hale urged Mr.. Mason to with
draw his substitute, as it would tend
only to embarrass the executive depart
ment.
Mr.. Mason followed Mr.. Hale in
speech replete with sensational utter
ances. He said in beginning, that he
had no disposition TO infiame a situa-
uon already so exciting, but he felt that
ms substitute was fully justified by
the feeling and desires of the people
OGny~c
navy department is making an tnvesti-
cation Of the disaster, but l also un-
oerstand that congress has the au-
thor1ty to make an investigation It
is congressional investigation that
the people are demanding. They are
last coming to the conclusion that mat
ters concerning this Cuban affair. in
Guiding the De LONE letter incident
and the loss of the Maine, of which
they ought to know, are being conceal
ed from them. The people want to
know the facts and they will know
them.
'"Fhe trouble with US is" declared
Mr.. Mason, with great vehemence,
that we have adopted the Spanish
policy of putting everything off until
tomorrow. Let the investigation of
this disaster to our navy and to our
country be thoroughly investigated by
congress and then we shall know that
1t will be done right.
Tired of Waiting.
1--WE had already waited too long We
were told three years ago to wait We
had waited until night had followed
day; winter had followed summer, and
time had gone on while the terrible
cruelty continued. In the meantime
Spanish diplomats had sat at our
tables and partaken of our hospitality
while We are still waiting ard had con-
tinued to wait unti' the series of calam-
tiles had been crowned by the Maine
catastrophe with its loss Of $50 precious
American lives"
MIR. Hale here interrupted Mr.. Mason