Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-02-18
CONGRESS- IS ACTING.
INVESTIGATION TO BE PUSHED FAST.
Senators Demand that There be Also an
Investigation by ConGress-No
Time for Delay.

introduced the following joint resolu-
ton: THAT the secretary of the navy
be and is hereby authorized to en-
gage the services of Il wrecking COM
pany OF companies having proper fa-
elites fol- the prompt and efficient
performance of submarine work, for the
purpose of recovering the remains of
the officers and men lost on the u. S.
S. Maine, and of saving the vessel or
such parts thereof, and 80 much of her
stores, guns, material, equipment, fit
tings and appurtenances as may be
practicable; and for this purpose the
sum Of 100000 or so much thereof as
may be necessary, Is hereby appropri-
ated and made Immediately avail
able"
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 its purpose. He says
in this letter that at Is deemed proper
and important that steps should be
taken Immediately to recover the re-
mainder of the officers and men lost
on the occasion of the most deplorable
catastrophe, to raise the vessel, or to
save such parts of her armament and
equipment as may be practicable"
To this the secretary adds: THE
meager information received respect
ing the re are and extent of the in
jury sustained by the hull Of the
Maine renders II difficult to detetmnle
at this time whether there is reason to
here that the VESSEL hari.f may tie
raised, but 1t sens probable as she
lies within the protection of a harbor
and is not wholly submerged. that
much valuable property may be re-
st..V. NaH
taken without delay. The vessel with
her stores. guns. material. equipment,
fittings and appurtenances, cost APP
proXimately s5,00O,000. As an illustra-
ton of the value of single items which
may have escaped serious injury 1t
may be said that the ten-inch guns, of
which the Maine carried four, were
worth with their amounts s43,500 each.
Aside from the melancholy duty rest
ing upon the government to recover
and to bring to this country for burial,
II this may be done, the bodies of the
officers and men who lost their lives
in this disaster, 1t 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 subject of immediate and
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 neces-
sary expense with any degree of ac-
curacy. but he says he has conferred
with the bureau of construction and
repair,an II the appropriation request
ed be made, only so much as may be
found necessary will be expended in
the work.
The secretary encloses a table show
ing the cost of number of items OF
ordnance outfit of the vessel aggregat-
ing $500, 1852.
Mr. Mason has offered an amendment
| to the Allen resolution for an investi-
CATION of the Maine disaster providing
for n special committee to make the
investigation.
Mr.. Hale asked that the matter be
not pushed
Mr.. Mason in reply said that it was
evident that the facts in regard to
Cuba were being concealed from the
people Of the country and from Con-
gress.
Mr. Mason said the policy of the gov
eminent was delay, and nothing was
stopping the murder OF people in Cuba.
The DeI.ome letter has not stopped
the murders. The Maine disaster had
not stopped them. 1t was time for the
Senate to do it. Mr.. Mason said he did
not want the facts regarding the Maine
locked up in the executive depart
ments. He said we have waited while
the diplomats have deceived us. They
had sat ut our table and misrepresented
the situation. Mr. Mason said that
while diplomats delayed, $50 of our
brave seamen We're lying in the har-
| Mr.. Hale said he hoped there would
be no exasperating debate in the Sem
ate while this matter was being inves-
tigated by the Senate. He deplored the
reflections which were being made up
on the navy department.
Mr.. Hale said the whole world de-
plored the great tragedy. He hoped
the senator tMason) would see the
| immediate propriety of the position he
was taking.
Mr. Mason said he meant no reflec-
ton on Secretary Long, but an inves-
LEGATION by Congress could not inter-
fere with the navy department. The
American people were tired of investi-
cation behind closed doors; that with
$50 seamen lying at the bottom of Ha-
vana harbor the people of the United
States wanted to know whether she
was blown up by her enemies or from
spontaneous combustion.
Mr.. Mason said that II II was found
that the Maine disaster was a result OF
accident the people would be better
satisfied IT q committee of Congress
should find 1t so and no harm would
be done.
Mr.. Mason, referring to the De LONE
letter said he thought every one would
commend the President for the man.
ner in which he had handled a matter
which was, In part, so personal to
himself.
Mr.. Mason said that those who are
so anxious to go slow in the matter of
the Maine We're the defenders of De
LONE and had praised his wise states.
mansh,p He said the President said
In his message that one reason why he
Ind hestated to Interfere was because
of the promise of autonomy, and yet
at the same time the Spanlards We're
denounclng this government. Mr.. Ma
son said there should be American di,-
ers from the Maine so that the truth
could he told.
Senator Wolcott created n sensation
In replying to Mr.. Mason. He said the
senator from Illinois had said the peo-
ple are losing confidence in one OF the
departments of the government Mr..
Mason sought to interrupt Mr.. Wolcott,
Int the latter declined to he interrupt-
ed and insisted that Mr.. Mason's words
be read. He then said he desired to
resent as utterly unfounded the insinu.
alton that the President distrusted any
department Of the government. He
resented statement on the floor OF the
Senate that there was any distrust of
the navy and especially during this
calamitous and terrible time. The coun.