The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-19

SS44-ISS PSCl1uS, 9dII1OI1C OlIlZSuS
-Mason's Disclaimer-AIlen On
Investigations
Washington. Feb. 1S.-The resolution
offered Yesterday by Mr.. Allen (Neb).
| directing the committee on naval af-
fairs 10 make an immediate investiga-
ton of the disaster of the Maine, was
then laid before the senate. 1t pre-
\ cipitatedi the most furious debate.
Mr.. Chandler On. HI, thought that
| if the Tord immediate" be stricken
out and,the matter be left within the
discretion of the committee. there
would be no objection to the resolution.
Mr.. Mason Clls.), proposed an amend
ment sticking out all after the word
RESOLVED" and inserting the following:
BY the senate and house of repre-
sentatiVeS cOncurring. that joint COM
mittee of five. consisting of three mem
bers of the house of representatives
and two, members of the senate, be ap-
pointed ITO investigate the disaster to
the battieship Maine"
HALE'S MILD PROTEST.
Mr.. H; ale expressed the hope that Mr..
Mason would not press his substitute
The disaster he said, was even now be-
ing thoaoughly investigated by the ex-
ecutive department of the government
and that as soon as tangible results
were reached the facts would be COM
municated to congress. 1t seems to me
that int the circumstances and in the
light of the utmost facilities it is idle
TO indulge in debate"
Mr. Hale said he was willing to with
draw his objection TO the resolution of
Mr.. Alien. but the substitute suggested
by Mr.; Mason was even more objec-
tionabl. in its formula.
Mr.. Mason followed Mr.. Hale in a
speech Teplete with sensational utter
ances. Gle said in beginning that he
had no. disposition to infiame a situa-
ton already SO exciting, but he felt that
his substitute was fully justified by the
feeling- and desires of the people
CONGRESS HAS AUTHORITY.
q understand" said he, that the
navy department is making an investi-
CATION Of the disaster, but 1 also under
stand shat congress has the authority
to make an investigation 1t is a con-
gEessiO:lal investigation that people are
demanding. They are fast coming TO
the coISclusion that matters concerning
this Cuban affair. including the De
LONE letter incident and the loss of the
Maine. of which they ought to know,
are being concealed from them. The
people want to know the facts, and
they win know them"
Mr.. hIason said he did not desire to
reflect upon the motives or honor of
anybody, but he suggested that the
officials of the navy department, in
making the investigation, would be
tryingItheir own case and would natur-
ally eadeavOr to cover up any blame
that might attach to them.
PUTTING EVERYTHING OFF
THE. trouble with US is declared Mr..
Mason with great vehemence, that We
had adopted the Spanish policy of put
ting eterything of till tomorrow. Let
investigation Of this disaster to our
navy and to our country be thoroughly
investigated by congress, and then we
shall know that it will be done right.
Let the people, said Mr.. Mason, have
the facts. They want nothing less than
an Investigation in their interest Dy the
senataand house. Only in-this way can
the facts which are locked up in the
departments be gotten out" The coun-
try was tired OF the secret considera-
tions Sof such questions. He was not
WiIlin.s to strike out of his resolution
the word Immediate" Everyone was
Interested in knowing who blew up the
Maine and all wanted that informa-
ton row
VIII, delay? Why adopt the Span
ish Custom of putting off until tOmOr-
row What should be done today? We
had already waited too long. We were
told three years ago to wait We had
waited till 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
were 'stiIl waiting, and had continued
to Wiit until the series of caiamitieS
had Keen crowned by the Maine catas-
tropha, with its loss of 25T American
lives, In view of these facts, he could
never consent to striking out the word
Immediate" We want an investiga-
ton. .-he said, and we want it now.
NO occasion FOR DISCUSSION.
AIrs Hale interrupted Mr. Mason to
make a statement. He said that so
far fyOm having any desire for delay,
he was anxious to have it go forward
FROM this very time, as the inveStiga-
ton proposed by the navy department
wOulN. if not interfered with There
was mo proposition to postpone in
quiryA The whole subject matter was
even now undergoing investigation, and
in view of the promptness which had
been,eXercised, there was no reason for
impugning the motives Of the officials
Of tire department. This being the
true estate of affairs, there was no Oc-
casiC,n for a discussion of incidental
mat5ers. The members of the board
selected to investigate the Maine dis
astes were not officers of that ship, and
they had already been summoned to
appear as witnesses before the investi-
gatofs. In view of this fact he thought
the senate could reasonably wait a few
dayA until the results of the investiga-
ton could be given to the public. rs
anyone so much interested as are the
nav department and the officers of
thats department in ascertaining the
real: facts and in locating the RESPONSE
bilits of the disaster? Who could con-
duct the investigation so well as they,
Or Who do as much TO get at the bot
Lomsof the facts?" He hoped the SEN
ate would see the propriety of not
naEsng this an occasion for making
speeches. and that all
would take the view that in the pres
snce: of the great calamity which had