The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-18

the Bankruptcy Btll.
Washington, February 17.-At the SEN
ate today the blind chaplain delivered
touching invocation with reference to
the awful disaster to the Maine. The in
vocation follows:
Oh Lord God, with our whole people
we stand before Thee, deeply moved py
the appalling calamity in the harbor OF
Havana. ana we humbly pray that Thou
will grant to the relatives and friends OF
the officers and men whose lives have
been sacrificed that pity, consolation ana
support Thou alone canst bestow.
We beseech Thee to give Thy comfort
and cheer to the brave and noble men
who are now suffering from their wounds
nation loves and honors them. and SO
impart to all the survivors that cheer
which goes with the nations regard for
our navy, and with its regard and admir-
ration for their quiet, steady and brave
demeanor. Likewise we commend to Ihy
fatherly pity the family of the brave
young officer, who, in the performance
of.his duty, was swept into the gulf OF
death. Let Thy loving kindness come to
his father and mother and his group OF
brothers and sisters. Oh, Lord God,
show Thy regard and love unto us all in
these days of sorrow and pain. And may
we find in the religion OF our blessed
Lord and Sayior-in the faith and hope
and love which we gain from it alone
the upholding and comfort only to be
found here on Garth.
MIR. 1hurston of Nebraska presented a
joint resolution providing for commits
sion to supervise the collection of fund
among tile schools and colleges for the
purpose of erecting monument to Gen. \
Lafayette in the city of Paris France,
the same to be presented to the govern
ment of France and unveiled and dedi-
Gated on the Fourth Of July, 1900.
The only reference thus far made to the
disaster to the battleship Maine was
made in the form of the following resolu-
tion introduced by Mr.. Allen Of Nebras-
ka:
Resolved, That the committee on naval
affairs be directed to make an Immediate
and thorough investigation into the cause
of the disaster to the battleship Maine in
the harbor of Havana on the 10th inst,
and report to the Senate. -r
Mr.. Hale, chairman of the naval affairs
committee, said he had no objection to
the reference of the resolution to this
committee, but he did not deem it desir
able for the committee now to proceed
with an investigation of the melancholy
affair in Havana harbor. The executive
department of the government was even
now engaged in making an investiga-
ton. The secretary of the navy was en-
gagged in the work and was employing all
the means in his power to ascertain the
truth. If the matter were taken up by
the naval affairs committee MIR. Hale said,
the Lest the committee could do would be
to act through the navy department! He
was satisfied that as soon as the secretary
of the navy obtained definite Information
concerning the explosion and its details
he would communicate the facts to Con-
gress.
Mr. Allen objected to having the reso-
luton sent to the committee on naval
affairs. ''We,' said he 'who are not
members of the naval affairs committee,
or of the ssforeign2r 2relations committee,
cannot get information from the depart
ments about these things. We are shut
out as completely as if we were private
citizens. I think I ought to get my in
formation through the committee on
care to debate this matter or to indulge
in any extended discussion of it, What
[ want is action by the committee that
will give us information"
Mr. Chandler Of New Hampshire OH
jected to the resolution and it went over
until tomorrow.
Mr. Turpie's resolution declaring that
the sale of the Kansas Pacific ought not
to be confirmed until the government re
ceived not only the principal, but also
the interest of its claim, was laid before
the Senate and Mr. Thurston resumed
his remarks upon it.
Remarks in favor of the resolution were
made by Mr.. Rawlins of Utah, and in
opposition by Mr.. Gear of Iowa. While
Mr.. Warren of Wyoming rs speaking.
the morning hour expired and the resolu-
tions, it's privilege having been lost, went
to the calendar.
MrGorman nf Maryland suggested that
the Corbett case be voted upon February
2S at p. IN. This was agreed to.
The Corbett case was temporarily laid
aside and Mr.. Turpie moved to take up
his resolution to the Kansas Pacific
SALE The motion was agreed to, "a to
23.
The vote was then taken on Mr.. Hale'a
motion to refer the resolution to the
committee, the motion being last, 31-35.
The resolution was then adopted 1929,
The resolution as agreed to WAS as fol-
lows:
Resolved: AS the opinion of the SEN
ate that the sale Of the Kansas Pacific
division of the Pacific railroad made,
ought not to be confirmed, except upon
terms that the original claims and the
interest thereon due to the United States
from said railroad company of the Kan
SOS Pacific division be paid In full by
the bidders.
The Corbett case was hid before the
Senate and Mr.. Pettus of Alabama, con-
cluded his speech in support of the reso-
| luton, declaring Mr.. Corbe6t not entitled
| to his seat.
Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts followed
Mr.. Pettus with an extended legal and
constitutional argument In favor of the
seating Of Mr.. Corbett.
| EThe Senate at 4.10 p. m., went into exc
| cutive session and five minutes afterward
adjourned
IN THE HOUSE.
Washington, February l7-The House
today proceeded with the debate on the
| bankruptcy bill. Mr.. Moody, Republican
of Massachusetts,, spoke in favor of the
bill
During the progress of the debate the
Senate amendments to the deficiency ap
preparation bill providing for court fees
were agreed to-
Mr. Settle Democrat of Kentucky,