Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-17
ACTION IN CONGRESS
Senator Allen Introduces a Resolu-
ton 10 Investigate.
GOES OVER ON AN OBJECTION
Unabated Interest at the Capitol
in the Maine Disaster.
MANY THEORIES EXPRESSED

There is undated interest at both ends
of the Capitol today in the Maine disaster
but expressions generally take the shape OF
| inquiry for new light upon the subject and
OF demands for most rigid investigation
AS a rule, the occurrence Is viewed a
mystery and some express the opinion that
| 1t will always remain such. There are
many theories advanced, but the authors
Of them generally confess that they amount
to nothing more than speculation.
The best information obtainable," said
Senator Gear Of Iowa, Indicates that there
| We're two explosions and that five hours
elapsed between the two. 1 do not profess
to be an expert. but this seems to me to be
| Inconsistent with the torpedo theory
Another senator, who refused to allow
his name to De used, expressed doubt as to
whether a torpedo explosion would have
l caused the shattering Of windows in Ha-
Vana as this explosion, he said, Is reported
to have done. Indeed. there are almost as
| many theories as there are members OF
| Congress, and there appears to be unanmi-
| ty only upon the one point that the matter
should be probed to the bottom
leading member of the Senate COM
| mittee on foreign relations expressed the
opinion that If the Navy Departments pro-
posed inquiry should prove unsatisfactory
the matter should be taken up by Congress.
VI
the Senate. appears to be to allow the mat
| ter to rest where it is until more light can
| be secured than at present.
| There Is general comment upon the fact
that no reference was made in either house
or Congress yesterday to the occurrence,
and this circumstance is taxen to indicate
that the present CongTe could be counted
upon to keep cool head and deal cautious
ly and wisely with real emergency, if
one should arise.
The Chaplain's Prayer.
At the opening Of the Senate today the
blind chaplain delivered a touching invo-
cation with reference to the awful disaster
TO the Maine. The invocation follows:
ION. Lord, God. with our whole people
We stand before Thee deeply moved 10y the
| appalling calamity in the harbor Of Ea-
| vana. And We humbly pray that Thou will
grant to the relatives and friends of the
| officers and men, whose lives have been
| sacrificed, that pity, coLSoia zion and sup
port which Thou alone canst bestow. We
| baseech Thee to give Th.' comfort and
| cheer to the brave and noble men who are
| now suffering from their wounds and hurts
| Give them the sense that the nation loves
and honors them, and so import To all the
| survivors that cheer which goes with the
| nations regard for our navy, and with its
| regard and admiration for the GuIer, steady
and brave demeanor. Likewise we COM
mend to Thy fatherly pity the family of
| the brave young officer, who, in the par
formance of his duties. 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 Blessed
/ Lord and SaVior-in the faith and hope and
love. which we gain from il alone-the up
holding and comfort only to lie found there
| Ola earth"
| The only reference made to the disaster
to the Maine was in the form of the
| following resolution introduced by Mr.. Al
| len (Neb.J: Resolved, That the committee
| On naval affairs be directed to make an
| immediate and thorough investigation into
the cause of the disaster to the battle ship
| elaine in the harbor of Havana on the 10Th
instant and report to the Senate"
| Mr.. Hale (Me.). chairman of the naval af-
| fairs commttte, said he had no objection to
| the reference of the resolution to his COM
| nittee. but he did not deem it desirable for
| the committee now to proceed with an in
| Vestigation of the melancholy affair in Ha-
| vana harbor. The executive department of
| the government was even now engaged in
| making an investigation of the disaster.
| The Secretary of the Navy was engaged in
the work and was employing all the means
| in his power to ascertain the truth.
1t the matter were taken I'D by the naval
affairs committee. Mr.. Hale said, the best
| the committee could do would be to act
through the Navy Department. H. 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 Congress.
Mr.. Allen objected to having the resolu-
| ticn sent to the committee naval af-
| fairs. I'VE Of u.s." said he, who are not
| members Of the naval affairs committee,
| Or OF the foreign relations committee can
! rot get information from the departments
| about these things. We are shut out as
| &C implicitly as If we were private citizens
think l ought to get my Information, and
| L am deapiy interested in this matter
| through the committee on naval affairs of
| II n mt Il
matter or to indulge in any extended dis
| CT sson of it. What 1 want is action by
| the committee that will give us infor.na-
| ton"
Mr.. Chandler On. HI objected to the res
| oiution. and it went over until tomorrow
Resolution in the House.
! 1t is probable that the families of the VIC
! tins of the disaster will be cared for nv
the government, as were the survivors of
| these VINO were lost in the Samoan hurri-
cane several years ago. when fifty-fou.
American officers and sailors were lost
| fiom the Nipsic, Vandalia and Trenton
which were wrecked on that occasion
Representative Mcclellan of New York
it'll oduced joint resolution appropriating
| Sla0.OU for this purpose in the House to-
| day.
The resolution is as follows: Resolved,
| by the Senate and House of Representa-
| tives, that the Secretary of the Navy be
and hereby is directed to pay out Of the
| money in the treasury not otherwise pro-
| N.ded sum equal to twelve months pay
| to the legal heirs representatives of
! each of the officers and crew of the United
| States snip Maine who persisted in the dis
aster in Havana February 10, 1898, and the
! sum of S1500O0 or SO much thereof as may
be necessary, is appropriated to carry out
! the provisions of this act"
! special act of similar tenor was passed
| for the relief of the victims of the Samoan
| disaster. 1t Is not customary to grant pen
| sions to the widows or orphans of soldiers
or sailors who die in time of peace, but
| Congress, in view of the extraordinary cir
| cumstances, will undoubtedly be quick to
| grant the relief proposed by Mr.. Mcclellan.
In Foreign Ahnirs Committee.
| The foreign affairs committee of the
| House held a brief meeting this morning.
The members informally discussed the lat
! est rumors regarding the Maine disaster.
| but no action was either taken or sug-
gested Chairman Hit was not present.
The DeArnlond resolution calling upon the
| Secretary Of the Treasury for the expense
! incurred by the United States in intercept
| ing filibustering expeditions to Cuba was
| reported favorably and will be called up
| during the day.