The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-21
LOSSES REIMBURSED.

WASHINGTON, March 81, 1S9S.-Imne-
diately after the reading of the journal in
the House today, the Speaker recognized
Mr. Boutelle (Rep., Maine), Chairman of
the Committee on Naval Aralrs, VINO
called up the bill for the relief of the sur
yivors and victims of the Maine disaster.
Mr.. Boutelle said that the purpose and
provisions of the bill were well under
stood and SO far as he was concerned,
he thought debate unnecessary. Still, he
was ready to yield to the desire of the
House.
Mr. Bailey said there was no DISPOSE
ton 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 re-
serve for the naval appropriation DILL
He gave notice of an amendment ne
would offer
Mr.. Cannon, Chairman of the Commit
tee on Appropriations, offered an amend
ment to allow the surviving officers and
tions in full compensation for losses sus-
tanned by them. This provision, he
thought, preferable to one to indemnify
them for the losses sustained, limited in
amount to twelve months sea pay. de
called attention to the fact that in the
case of the Samoan disaster the compen-
sation in each case was about the maxi
mum. He thought provision for COM
pensation for actual losses might lead
some of the survivors into the temptation
of magnifying their claims.
voting directly years sea pay. 1t would
obviate delay and the mediation of claims
attorneys. While Congress was doing this
act of justice, he said, it should do the
generous thing.
Mr.. Boutelle at this point concluded as
debate was to be indulged in that it would
be we'll for him to make a general state
ment. He then explained briefly that it
was the idea of the committee that Con-
gress should be as liberal 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 of the Samoan victims.
The committee did not believe the sur
vivorS should be reimbursed beyond the
actual losses incurred. The provision re-
lating to the filing of the schedule of
losses, made and sworn to, had been care
iCiSed successfully.
Mr. Bailey asked what the sea pay of
the highest officer Of the unfortunate YES
sci was.
Captain Sigsbee's pay is about $4, 4,500,''
answered Mr.. Boutelle.
.Then under the proposed amendment
he would receive that amount, no matter
what losses he sustained"
Exactly
What was the largest amount paid un-
der the bill for the relief of the Samoan
victims?''
about s2,oOO.'
Mr.. Boutelle said he did not imagine
that Captain Sigsbee or any other of the
of being reimbursed beyond the actual
amount of the losses they sustained.
Mr.. Boutelle and Mr.. Cannon had
rather spirited exchange of personalities.
The former criticized the latter's atti-
tude toward the bill and the latter said
he was responsible to his constituents
and the general public sentiment of the
country, not the gentleman from Maine
for his position.
1.-THE gentleman does not live on Gods
footstool," said he, '.who possesses the
= INf
gentleman from Maine'' Gaughter.)
Proceeding Mr.. Cannon again advocated
his amendment, pointing out that the av-
erage value of the regular equipment of
a ships crew was $66, yet in almost ev-
cry instance the members of the crews
of the ships which went down at Samoa
obtained practically years sea pay.
Americans, Chiamen and others on those
ships submitted schedules detailing losses
aggregating practically the maximum
amount they could obtain under the Sa-
moan act. AS a practical legislator he
thought his amendment was wise and
should be adopted.
Mr.. Bailey said at first he nad been
disposed to favor the Cannon amendment
He had heard something of the scandal
in connection with the Samoan act and
did not desire a repetition of that dis
graceful episode. But upon closer exami-
nation he though the provision in the bill
preferable He had long been of the
opinion that the best part of the Lords
Prayer was contained in the words Lead
US not into IemplaIlOn. BUT InlS amend
ment would make it more profitable not
to fall than to fall.
1T would give to the honest man more
than the dishonest man would claim, Mr..
Hilborn (Rep.. CALI denied emphatically
that there had been any wholesale fraud
in connection with the Samoan act. He
read a list of the officers in the Samoan
wreck, together with their salaries and
the amounts of their claims in proof of
this Several of the officers claimed
nothing at all and all of them claimed
only a small fraction of their salaries.
Mr.. Cousins Rep., Iowa) changed the
whole tenor of the debate at this juncture
by the delivery of a brief but eloquent
tribute to the American sailors who went
down with the Maine.
Mr. Cousins said:-"The measure now
proposed is most appropriate and just,
but hardly is it mentionable in contempIa-
tion of the great calamity to which it APP
pertains 1t will be merely an incidental
legislative footnote to page of history
that will be open to the eyes of the Re-
public and of the world for all time to
come
The bill was passed without division.