The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-19

the Policy of Spain in Putting
Everything OFF Until To-mor-
row.
| 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 Allen of Nebraska, directing
the Committee on Naval Affairs to in
vestigate the disaster to the Maine.
An arrangement had been made for its
adoption with a minor amendment
without debate. Mason of Illinois, how
ever proposed a substitute providing
for an investigation to be conducted by
| a joint committee of the two branches
of Congress.
| Upon this the Illinois Senator diSre-
garding an appeal not to force discus
sion at this time of so melancholy an
affair, delivered a speech in which he
said that the people demanded the
truth concerning the explosion. and de-
claring that they would not be salts
fled with the investigation to be con-
Quoted by the officers of the navy, VINO
would virtually try their own case, and
| would cover up any blame that the
officials might show attached to them.
He fiercely denounced the policy of the
| Government in dealing with the Gu
ban question, into which he went at
| length, and declared that the United
States had adopted the policy of Spain
in putting everything off until to-mor-
row.
Sharp replies to Mason's charges Were
made by Wolcott of Colorado and Lodge
| of Massachusetts. The speeches Of
both Senators bristled with cutting crit
! icismS of the remarks made by the
! Senator from Illinois, and it was clear
that both Senators regarded the situa-
| ton as grave in the extreme. Senator
| Wolcott freely admitted that war
might come, and that he thought the
day might not be far distant. He, like
Senator Lodge, deprecated any utter
ances en- the floor of the Senate calcu-
lated to further aggravate the serious
state of affairs.
| The resolution which precipitated the
discussion finally went to the calendar.
| Soon after the Senate met to-day
Hale Of Maine introduced the following
| joint resolution:
and hereby is authorized to engage the
services of a wrecking company or
companies having proper facilities for
the prompt and efficient performance
of submarine work for the purpose CT
raising the remains of the officers and
men lost on the United States ship
Maine. and of saving the vessel, Or
such parts thereof, and so much of her
ctn oil
tings and appurtenances as may be
| practicable: and for this purpose the
sum of 100000, or so much thereof as
may be necessary, is hereby appropri-
ated and made Immediately available .
! The resolution was prepared at the
Navy Department, and introduced at
| the request of Secretary Long, who in
forwarding it to Hale also sent a letter
explaining its purpose. He says in this
letter that it is deemed proper and
| important that steps should be taken
Immediately to raise the remains of the
officers and men lost on the occasion
of the most deplorable catastrophe; to
raise the vessel or to save such por~
ton of armament and equipments as
may be practicable"
To this the Secretary adds: '"The
| meager information received respect
| ing the nature and extent of the injury
sustained by the hull of the Maine rem
| ders 1t difficult to determine at this
| time whether there is reason to hope
| that the vessel herself may be raised
but it seems probable, as she lies with
| in the protection of a harbor, and is
not wholly submerged, that much valu-
able property may be recovered, if the
necessary action is taken without de-
| lay The vessel, with her stores, guns
material. equipment, fittings and ap-
purtences, cost approximately 5000
900. AS an Illustration of the value Of
single items which may have escaped
serious injury, it may be said that the
1O-inch guns. of which the Maine car
| ried four were worth, with their
mounts, $43. 800 each. Aside from the
| melancholy duty resting upon the Gov
! eminent to recover and to bring to this
| country for burial, if this may be done,
the bodies of the officers and men who
| lost their lives in this disaster, it is
| believed that much valuable property
may yet be saved from the vessel In
| any event, it is of the utmost import
| ance that whatever is to be done in this
matter should be entered upon without
/ delay The sinking of the Maine will
| be made the subject of immediate and
| exhaustive inquiry, and Congress will
| be fully advised of the result of such
| investigation"
| Mr. Long states, in fixing the sum
asked for, that the department is at
| this time unable to estimate the neces-
sary expense with any degree of accu-
racy. but he says he has conferred with
! the Bureau of Construction and Re-
pair, and if the appropriation required
| be made only so much as may be found
necessary will be expended in the work
| The Secretary incloses a table show
/ ing the cost of number of items of
tn ordnance aggregating $505. 152.
| Allen thought it very desirable that
a provision be inserted in the resou-
/ ton for the transportation and burial
| of the remains of those who lost their
| lives in the disaster.
Hale called attention to the fact that
reference was made to the transporta-
ton of the bodies in the letter of the
| Secretary of the Navy. In many cases,
he said it would be impossible to bring
to this country the remains of the men
killed. as the bodies were so badly mu-
! tilated and the facilities for embalming