Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-16
TO TALK
Members Of Congress- Slow to Express
Opinions.
LEADERS PREFER TO Be SILENT
Senator Hale Confident That the
Disaster Mas Accidental.
OTHER VIEWS EXPRESSED

The news OF the disaster to the battle
ship Maine in the barber of Havana Great
ed q profound impression at the Capitol
Senators and members of the House as a
rule expressed the opinion for publication
that the catastrophe was the result OF
accident and not of design, but there were
some opinions. generally expressed under
the breath with the admonition not to pup
lish, to the effect that the affair looked
very mysterious ard doubtful. AS rule
senators expressed the opinion that the
department would and should make thor
ough investigation, and added that for the
present it would be unnecessary for Con-
gress to take the matter up.
The greatest interest prevailed as to the
extent of the disaster, and many of them
hurried to the Navy and State Depart
nents to learn If there were any further
details. With only the first reports before
them and recognition of the importance
of any utterances there was hesitancy
to express opinions at this time The I'M
mense gravity of the situation in case
later advices should show that the disaster
was not purely accidental was admitted
by all public men. Conservative public
men in the face of the appalling catas-
trophe. the meager Information at hand and
its possible consequences, therefore de-
clined to express any opinion at this time.
Prefer to Suspend Judgment.
Chairman Hit of the foreign affairs
committee, Chairman Dingley of the ways
and means committee and m smbers of the
naval committee of the House all said they
preferred to await fuller information be-
fore expressing themselves. Mr.. Hit said
1t would be we'll for the public to follow the
cue given by Capt. Sigsbee and suspend
| Judgment until the cause of the disaster
was ascertained.
Senator Plat of Connecticut expressed
the opinion that the explosion would be
found to be the result of accident from
within, and he doubted that any one could
have planned and carried out a plot to
bring about an explosion on the ship.
Ex-senator Butler of South Carolina, who
was member of the committee on foreign
relations in the Senate during his service,
said that tt5lwas decidedly strange that
American vessels visited every Port
in tina world and no accident befailen
them, but that as soon as a vessel visited
Havana this great disaster should occur.
Gen. Butler Was OF the opinion that some
bold man had gone aboard the Maine and
placed a grenade With a slow match where
probable, he thought, that many people
had been permitted to visit the warship,
and that some one of the visitors had car
ried q grenade aboard
Senator, Hnle's Announcement.
Senator Hale, chairman of the COM
| mittee on naval affairs and member
| of the committee on appropriations, said
| that he had just, come from an interview
with the SECRETARY of the Navy and that
he felt confident that the Navy Department
would institute a thorough investigation
| into the disaster. =,
There is no OCCASION said the sena-
tor. for, Congress to take the matter up.
Surely something should be left to the
department, and this is one Of the things
which, in my opinion, should be SO left.
1t is, Of course, impossible from the in
formation received to say how the acct
dent occurred, but l feel confident that
the facts when developed will show that
it was an accident. The Maine was, of
course. prepared for action in case action
should be necessary, and had therefore
many vulnerable points exposed. A bat
tie ship is little less than volcano under
the most favorable circumstances and
when legislating for the increase Of the
navy always feel that war vessel may
PIoNe 10 10 dlIilOSt as dangerous to those
| on board as to those whom it might en-
gage in hostile conflict. For this rea-
son, 1 am sure the affair in Havana har-
Dor will prove a genuine sensation in naval
circles aside from any political aspect of
it."
The senator expressed the opinion that
Congress would take steps to prevent tho
decrease of the navy, but did not under
take to say that there would be immediate
EFFORTS to replace the Maine. He said
that whatever could have caused the ca
tastrophe he was sure that no friend of
spain could have been guilty of such con-
quot, for the reason that if there had been
no hlgher motive the act would have been
very foolish and foolhardy one He said
the MAINE mas cost, according to his recol-
lection. between $3,0DO,OO0 and 81. 600. otu
Senator Fairbanks: THE reports are s,
meager that it is impossible to determine
the cause of the explosion or locate the re-
sponsibiliIy If any one is at fault A thor
otgh investigation doubtless will he insti-
[ tuted by the proper authorities. IT is a
NEST deplorable accident and one which
Will awaken the most general sympathy"
Investigate ton. Demanded.
Senator Warren Of Wyoming: IF IT
should develop that the Spanish had any,
thing to do with the occurrence, both the
United States navy and the army ought to
be summoned to take the matter I'm in
earnest. Ii 1t should prove to be an acct
dent, 1t should be carefully investigated.
Tor 1t is high time that such accidents
were brought to a close. 1t has apparen,,v
| come to be true that our naval vessels
cannot makey any move, cannot go I'M q
stream or down a stream or out to sea
without grounding or having some other
accident befall them. l hope, therefore.
that no time will be lost in determining
the cause aid placing the responsibility
for the occurfenoS. whether du> to the
hand OF a foreigner or member of our
own forces"
Senator pasdo: 1T is a deplorab,e occur
renee, but it Is impossible to saw whether
any one can bs held responsible or blame-
worthy. Certainly a most rigid investtpa.
tion should be made into the accident hv
| the Navy Department, and IL IT shonld
| subsequently appear that legislative action
Is necessary. Congress should take tn.
matter in hant Pr the present, however
/ Z 10 Fu;,. ~ A. . <,x