The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-22
Bill For Relief of Names Crew
Passed Unanimously.
A GEM in LITERATURE
COUSINS TRIBUTE TO THE He
RoES OF THE MAINE.
Evoked Tremendous Applause In the
House-Exchange of Personalities
Between Boutelle and Cannon
Lords Prayer Made to Serve
Point In Bailey's Speech.

today, prayed that the members might
meet with patience the problems of
the week and dispose of them to the
highest and best interests of all con-
cerned
Immediately after the reading of the
journal the speaker recognized Mr.
Boutelle Rep., Me.) chairman of the
committee on naval affairs, who called
up the bill for the relief of the sur
vivorS and victims of the Maine dis
aster. Mr.. Boutelle said that the pur-
pose and provisions of the bill were
well understood, and so far as he was
! concerned he thought debate unneces-
sary. Still, he was ready to yield to
the desire of the house.
Mr.. Bailey said there was no diSpo-
sitiOn on his side of the house to debate
the bill. Such matters as members on
his side desired to speak about in con-
nectiOn with the disaster they would
reserve for the naval appropriation bill.
He gave notice of an amendment he
would offer. Without debate there
/ fore, the bill was read by sections for
amendment.
Several minor committee amend
ments were agreed upon.
CANNON'S AMENDMENT.
Mr. Cannon, chairman of the COM
mittee on appropriations. offered an
amendment to allow the surviving of
ficers and men u months pay, with
out rations. in full compensation for
losses sustained by them. This pro-
vision he thought preferable to one
indemnifying them for the loss sus-
tanned, limited in amount to II months
sea pay. He called attention to the
fact that in the case of the Samoan
disaster the compensation in each case
was about the maximum He thought
provision for compensation for actual
losses might lead some of the survivors
into the temptation of magnifying
their claims. There would be also this
advantage in voting directly a years
sea pay: 1t would obviate delay and |
mediation of claims attorneys. While |
congress was doing this act of Justice ]
he said, it should do the generous |
thing.
BOUTELLE IN EXPLANATION.
Mr.. BoutelIe at this point concluded, !
as debate was to be INDUCED in. that /
1t would be well for him to make |
general statement. He then explained !
briefly that it was the idea of the COM /
mittee that congress should be as lib |
eral toward the victims of the Maine |
disaster as it had been toward those |
who suffered in the Samoan disaster.
and the bill had been drawn along the
lines of the bill passed for the relief
tee did not believe the survivors should
be reimbursed beyond the actual losses
incurred. The provision relating TO the
filing of the schedule of losses. made
and sworn TO, had been carefully
hedged about, and could not be criti-
cised successfully.
Mr. Bailey asked what the sea pay
of the highest officer of the unfor-
tunate vessel was
Captain Sigsbees pay is about
S4,5OO," answered Mr.. Boutelle. II
Then. under the proposed amend
ment he would receive that amount. no
matter what losses he had sustained?"
Exactly"
What was the largest amount paid
under the bill for the relief of the
Samoan victims?"
About $1,000"
Mr.. BOutelle said ne did not imagine
that Captain Sigsbee or any other of
the gallant officers of the Maine would
dream Of being reimbursed beyond the
actual amount of the losses they sus-
tanned.
EXCHANGE WORDS.
Mr.. Boutelle and Mr. Cannon had a
rather spirited exchange of personali-
ties The former criticized the latter's
attitude toward the bill, and the latter
said he was responsible to his cOnstit- !
uents and the general public sentiment
OF the country, not to the gentleman {
from Maine, for his position.
The gentleman doesn't live on Gods
fCotstool," said he. who possesses the
ability TO merit the appreciation of the
gentleman from Maine" Continuous |
laughter) '
Proceeding, AIR. Cannon again advo- 1
Gated his amendment. pointing out that a
The average value of the regular equip. 7
nent OF ships crew was S66, yet in l
, lO1nSt - Q 1
he crews of the ships which went |
Down at Samoa obtained practically a
year sea pay. As a practical legis-
ator, he thought his amendment was
wise and should be adopted.
LORDS PRAYER.
Mr.. Bailey said at first he had been s
disposed to favor the Cannon amend L
nent. He had heard something of the il
scandal in connection with the Samoan T
tct. and did not desire a repetition of
hat disgraceful episode. But, upon
loser examination, he thought the pro- b
Tision in the bill preferable. He had d
ong been of the opinion that the best u
'art or the Lords prayer was contained is
n the words, Lead us not into temp S
alton" But the amendment would
make 1t more profitable not to fall than
o fall 1t would give TO the honest man
more than the dishonest man would
lain.
Mr.. Hilborn (Rep., CALI denied en- =.
'hatically that there had been any at A
nosphere Of fraud in connection with n
he Samoan act. Several of the officers ,
laimed nothing at all, and all of them 1
laimed only a small fraction of their d.
alaries. -
GEM IN PROSE.
Mr.. Cousins CRep., Ia.) changed the
1hole tenor OF the debate at this juno
IRE bV the delivery of a hrief hui eln-