The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-02-26
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS,
SENSATIONAL U1rERAkCES IN REGARD
TO THE MAINE DISASTER.
Autonomy Denounced ~ Shame, q Fraud
and = Delusion...The Senate Opposes the
Railroads.
SENATE.

MoNDA1,-Mr. Morgan's resolution
calling upon the president for tho 70.
ports Of consuls in Cuba and for infer.
nation as to whether any agent OF tho
autonomous government in Cuba had
been accredited to this government
and recognized by II. was adopted
without dissent. A feature OF the ses.
sion was the speech In advocacy Of the
free coinage OF standard silver dollars
by Mr.. Allen, of Nebraska. During
the remainder of tho afternoon the
senate was in executive session.
TUBsDAY--The senate and house held
sessions to-day, but no business Of i'm
portanoe was transacted.
WnDNEsDAY-A discussion upon coast
detenses was tbs interesting feature Of
the senate session to-day. Many sena.
tors took the ground that the appro.
priatious should be for the full amount
Of the estimate by the war department,
instead Of some millions less. Sena.
tors Perkins and Hale said it was the
policy of the appropriations commit.
tee to make an annual expenditure OF
$40, 00o.0 900 9 year for Notifications.
THuRsDA1.-After . spirited debate
occupying more than two hours the
senate by . vote OF "a to % agreed TO
the resolution of Mr.. Turpie, Of In.
diana, declaring the senate's opposi-
ton to the confirmation Of the sale Of
the Pacific railroads. The only refer.
enoe thus far made to the disaster to
the battleship Maine was in the form
Of the following resolution, introduced
by Mr.. Allen. Of Nebraska: Resolved,
That the committee on national affairs
be directed to make an immediate aud
thorough Investigation into the cause
Of the disaster to the battleship Maine
in the hsrbor Of Havana on the 18th
inst. and report to the senate" Sew.
ersl senators objected to the resolu-
lion and it went over until Friday.
FR1DAY-Soon after the senate met to.
day Mr.. Hales, (Maine) obtained the floor
and introduced the following resolution:
That the secretary Of the navy be and
he is hereby authorized to engage the
services of q wrecking company, OF
companies, having proper facilities for
the prompt and efficient performance
Of submarine work for the purpose OF
recovering the remains Of the officers
and men lost on the United States
steamer Maine and OF saving the vessel
or such parts thereof, and so much Of
her stores, guns, material, equipment,
attings and appurtenances as may be
practicable; and for this purpose the
| sum OF $200,00 or 80 much thereof a.
may be necessary is hereby sppropri.
ated and made Immediately available.
The resolution was prepared at the
navy department and introduced at the
request Of Secretary Long, who in for
warding it to Mr.. Hale also sent a let.
ter explaining its purpose. He says in
this letter: 1T was deemed proper and
important that steps should be taken
| Immediately to recover the remains Of
the officers and men lost on the occa>
sion of this most deplorable catastro.
phe; to raise tie vessel. or to save
| such parts Of her armament and equip
ment as may be practicable" To
this the secretary adds: "The mea.
gre information received respecting
the nature and extent of the
injury sustained by the hull Of the
Maine renders it difficult to determine.
at this time, whether there is reason to
hope that the vessel may be raised, but
| Il seems probable, ss she lies within the
protection of q harbor and is not
wholly submerged, that much valuable
property may be recovered if the neces'
sary action is taken without delay. The
vessel, with her stores, guns, material,
equipment, Attings and appurtences,
cost approximately $4,000, 900. AS an
illustration as to the value OF single
items which may have escaped serious
injury, it may be said that the 10.inoh
guns, Of which the Maine carried four,
were worth, with their mounts, $43.-
800 each. Aside from the melancholy
duty resting upon the government to
recover and to bring to this country
for burial, if this may be done, tn
bodies of officers and men who los
| their lives in this disaster, it is be
lieved that much valuable property
may yet be saved from the vessel. II
any event it is of the utmost import
ance that whatever is to be done il
this matter should be entered upol
without delay, The sinking OF tn
Maine will b, made the subject OF i'm
mediate and exhaustive inquiry, AM
congress will be fully advised OF th'