The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-19

the facts might show attached to them.
He fiercely denounced the policy of the gov
ernment in dealing with the Cuban ques-
ton, into which he went at length, and he
remarked that the United States had adopt
ed the policy of Spain in putting everything
off until tomorrow.
Sharp replies to Mr.. Mason's charges
were made by Mr.. Wolcott and Mr. Lodge.
Mr.. Wolcott declared that mot patriotic
citizen in this broad land has not the fullest
and most splendid and glorious confidence
in every department of this government,
and in the Department of the Navy particu-
larly." Mr.. Wolcott thought this was a
time when we should refrain from gratui-
tous insult to a friendly nation and from
unjust and ignorant criticism. War may
come" said he. II think myself the day
may not be far distant. When that day
comes our course must be eternally ground
ed in the right. War is grim decision,
and when it comes it must come so that the
people of the world can at least respect our
conduct and our position. And, above all,
it must come under circumstances which
make us respect ourselves" Mr.. Lodge. in
a brief but brilliant speech, defended the
honor Of the navy and Secretary Long and
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt and of the
naval officers. The resolution which precip-
itated the discussion finally went to the
calendar.
FOR WORK ON THE MAINE.
Soon after the opening of the session Mr..
Hale obtained the floor and introduced the
following joint resolution:
'That the secretary of the navy be and
he is hereby authorized to engage the serv-
ices of wrecking company or companies.
having proper facilities for the prompt and
efficient performance of submarine work.
for the purpose of recovering the remains
of the officers and men lost on the United
States steamer Maine, and of saving the
vessel, or such parts thereof, and so much
Of her stores, guns, material, equipment, fit
tings and appurtenances as may be practi-
cable; and for this purpose the sum of $780,
600, or so much thereof as may be necessary,
is hereby appropriated and made immediate
ly available"
The resolution was prepared at the Navy
Department and introduced at the request
of Secretary Long, who in forwarding it to
Mr.. Hale also sent a letter explaining it's
purpose. He says in this letter: 1T was
deemed proper and important that steps
should be taken Immediately to recover the
remains of the officers and men lost on the
occasion of this most deplorabe catas-
trophe to raise the vessel or to save such
parts of her armament and equipment as
may be practicable"
To this the secretary adds: 1.-THE meager
information received respecting the nature
and extent of the injury sustained by the
hull OF the Maine renders it difficult to de-
termine at this time whether there is rea-
son to hope that the vessel herself may be
raised; but it seems probable as she lies
xxyit IN +l,,, nf her rhO 10 nn
wholly submerged, that much valuable prop
erty may be recovered if the necessary ac-
ton is taken without delay. The vessel, with
her stores, guns, material, equipment, fit
tngs and appurtenances cost approximately
s., 900 900. As an illustration as to the value
of single items which may have escaped
serious injury, it may be said that the ten
inch guns, of which the Maine carried four.
were worth, with their mounts, $43,500 each.
TO RECOVER BODIES.
aside from the melancholy duty resting
upon the government to recover and bring
to this country for burial the bodies of off,
GERS and men who lost their lives in this
disaster, it is believed that much valuable
property may yet be saved from the vessel
In any event, it is of the utmost Importance
that whatever is to be done in this matter
should be entered upon without delay. The
sinking of the Maine will be made the SUBJ
ject of immediate and exhaustive inquiry
and Congress will be fully advised of the
result of such Investigation"
Mr.. Long states that in fixing the sum
asked for, the department is at this time
unable to estimate the necessary expenses
with any degree of accuracy, but he says
he has conferred with the Bureau Of Con-
struction and Repair, and that in case of
the appropriation requested, only so much
of it as may be found necessary will be ex-
pended in the work. The secretary incloses
a table showing the cost Of a number Of
items of the ordnance outfit of the vessel all
aggregating 1902, ,152.
Mr. Allen thought 1t very advisable that
a provision be inserted in the resolution for
the transportation and burial of the re-
mains of those who lost their lives in the
disaster.
Mr. Hale called attention to the fact that
reference was made to the transportation Of
the bodies in the letter from the secretary
of the navy. In many cases, he said, it
would be impossible to bring to this coun-
try the remains of the men killed. as the
bodies were so badly mutiated and the fa-
cilities for embalming so inferior in Ha-
vana that already the remains Of many of
the dead were decomposing and it would be
necessary, probably, to bury them at once.
Mr. Mason hoped that provision would be
made for the transportation of the bodies
to the United States and for their burial in
this country. TO that end he proposed an
amendment to the resolution as follows:
After the word thereof" and before the
word land" insert the following: And for
the transportation and burial of the remains
of the officers and men so far as possible"
The amendment was agreed to. and the res
olution, as amended. was passed.
A joint resolution, offered by Mr.. Quay,
fixing the limit of cost of dams 2, g. and 5
on the Ohio river at $z,5O0OOO. was agreed
to, Mr. Quay explaining that it was neces-
sary in order that the secretary Of war
could make contracts for the work.
ALIENS RESOLUTION TAKEN UP.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr..
Allen directing the committee on naval af-
fairs to make an immediate investigation
of the disaster to the Maine was then laid
before the Senate. It preciptated the most
spirited debate of the Cuban question. Mr..
Chandler thought that if the word 'immedi-
ate' be stricken out and the matter left
within the discretion Of the committee,
there would be no objection to the resolu-
ton.
Mr.. Mason proposed an amendment strik-
ing out all after the word resolved" and
inserting the following: by the Senate, the
House of Representatives concurring. that
oo,,voi4+aa Of five conSistinO of