The times., 1898-02-18

war declared between Spain and Amer
lea an attack upon the Maine in the
harbor would have been as Infamous
her destruction by the use of the sub
marine mines
Although the whole country was dis
eussing the horrible affair Wednesday.
there was no reference to il in either
house of Congress. The only official
notice taken of the affair i'm Congress
was the introduction yesterday in the
Senate by Mr. Allen Of a resolution di-
recting the Committee on Naval Affairs
to make an immediate and thorough in
yestigation into the causes of the dis
aster, and joint resolution In the House
by Representative Mcclellan. OF New
York. appropriating S159eD0 to pay To the
heirs OF the crew. The resolution of Mr..
Allen. who asked it's immediate consid-
Grafton. was objected TO by Mr.. Chandler
member of the Committee on Naval
Affairs and former Secretary Of the
Navy. and under the rules il went over
until tomorrow. No action was taken on
the resolution in the House.
There has also been considerable un-
favorable comment among Senators on
account OF the failure of the President
to respond TO the resolution passed sey-
eral weeks ago, calling upon the Presi-
dent for information as % what steps
had been taken for the protection OF
American interests in Cuba. Senators
who have been permitted 70 learn Pri-
vately certain facts shosV that all the re-
ports of Consul General Lee 20 to shoq.
that the newspaper dispatches relative
To the failure of the Spanish scheme OF
autonomy are correct and that If these
dispatches We're made public. they would
show that the plea OF the President for
delay in the hope that Spain would pa
city the island and influence the insur-
gents to cease hostiiities. had not a single
fact upon which to rest.
Senator Mason. of Illinois is unable to
keep at his desk five minutes at time.
50 nervous is he over the horrible news.
He is waiting most impatiently for an
thentic news and chatting at the seem
ing inactivity of the Administration.
1T will not be war said the Senator
yesterday: 1--WE will simply pull
ii rotten tooth. If 1T should prove TO have
been the work Of an enemy. as I have al
ways contended. the freedom of Cub;,
will come in short order Every civilized
power in Europe will give the United
States moral support. for no self-respect-
ing nation can cOuntenance such barbaric
treachery as sent that ship to the bot
tom Of the ocean. There we were i'm a.
condition Of peace. visiting Havana on "a
friendly mission. and whatever might
have been the suppressed feelings Of the
populace. it was the duty or Spain
TO protect uS from all cCnerS. The Maine
was like a strong man asleep iu th,.
house Of friends. trusting implicitly in
the protestations OF good will on the part
Of those whose hospitality he was ac-
ceptins.
The following resolution was offered 10y
Mr.. Allen yesterday;
Resolved. That the COMMITTEES on VA
val Affairs is directed TO make immedi-
ate and thorough inquiry into the cause
Of the destruction OF the baJtleship
Maine in the harbor OF Havana. and to
report the result Of the same 10 the Sem
ate
Mr.. Hale. chairman or the Committ-.
on Naval Affairs. said that he had NJ
objection to the resolution being sent -
that committee. bus that the executive
branch of the Government was invest-
ga ting the matter and had all the means
and appliances for getting at the rea.
truth to the melancholy event.
Mr.. Allen said he wanted the resolution
adopted He said that Senators not
members Of the Committee on Naval Al
fairs or of the Committee on Foreign Re-
iations could obtain no information as
to what was going on. They were as
rigidly excluded as though they Were
not United States Senator's
He should like to know what progress
was being made in the inquiry as 90 thtt
disaster.
He would Ike TO have the resolution
adopted without any debate. He did not
wish 10 engage in any discussion Of tho
matter.
Mr. Chandler objected To the considera-
ton of the resolution. and it went over
until today.