The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-02-19

The resolution was prepared at the
navy department and introduced at the
request OF Secretary Long, who, in for
wardlng Il to Mr.. Hale also sent a let
ter explaining It's purpose. He says in
this letter that at Is deemed proper and
important tina. steps should be taken
Immediately 20 recover the remains OF
the officers and men lost on the occa.
sion Of this most deplorable catas-
trophe: to raise the vessel or to save
such parts of her armament and equip
ment as may be practicable"
Tothlsth secretary added: "The mea-
gre information received respecting the
nature and extent of the injury sus-
tanned by the hull OF the Maine renders
It difficult to determine at this time
whether there Is reason to hope that the
| vessel herself may be raised: but It
seems probable as she lies within the
protection OF harbor and Is not wholly
| submerged that much valuable proper
ty may be recovered II the necessary
action is taken without delay. The veg.
sci with her stores, guns, material,
equipment, fittings and appurtenances
cost approximately s5,000.000. As an IL
lustration OF the value of single items
| which may have escaped serious injury
it may be said that the ten-lnch guns
OF which the Maine carried four. were
worth, with their mounts, s43.500 each.
Aside from the melancholy duty resting
upon the government togrgscrer7Sand
10 bring to this country for burial II this
may be done, the bodies of the officers
md men who lost their lives n this
| disaster, it Is believed that much valu-
able property may yet be saved from
| the vessel. In any event 1t Is OF the ut
most Importance. that whatever is to be
done in this matter should be entered
! upon without delay.
THE sinking 0f the Maine will be
made the subject OF immediate and ex-
| haustive inquiry and Congress will be
folly advised OF the result OF such In
vestigation."
Mr.. Long states that In fixing the sum
| asked fol. the department Is at this time
unable TO estimate the necessary ex-
| pense with any degree OF accuracy, bu.
he says he has conferred with the. bu-
reau OF construction and repair, and
that In case OF the appropriation re-
Quested, only 80 much. OF It as may be
found necessary will be expended In the
work.
The secretary eacloses a table. show
Ing the cost of a numberof items OF the
ordnance outfit Of the vessel. all as-.
grega;!ng s5b2,l52.
Mr.. Boutelle, In the coursc of his re-
marks on the Maine resolution said he
had no direct information, official or
otherwise as to the cause of the Maine
! disaster. but that all Information at
br-,fl tnnda1 ha bo,,.r
that II was due to an accident The res
olution was adopted without 4 dissent
ing voice.
Mr.. Mason then offered an amendment
to the Allen resolution for an investiga-
ton OF the Maine disaster providing for
n Special committee to make the in
vest!gation.
Mr.. Hale asked that the matter not
be pushed.
NJ. Mason In reply, said 1t was evil
dent that the facts In regard to Cuba
were being concealed from the people OF
the country and from Congress.
Mr.. Mason said the policy OF the gov
ernment was delay and nothing was
stopping the murder of people in Cuba
The De LONE letter had not stopped
the murders. The Maine disaster had
not stopped thetn. 1t was time for the
senate to act. Mr. Mason said he did
not want the facts regarding the Maine
looked UP In the executive departments.
Mr.. Mason said that IL Il was found
that the Maine disaster was result OF
accident the people would be better sat
isHed II committee OF Congress should
find II so, and no harm would be done.
Mr.. Mason, referring 10 tho Dc Lone
letter, said he thought everyone would
commend the President for the manner
In which he handled a matter which
was in part so personal to himself Mr..
Maso said that those who are so an
xious to 90 SLOW In the matter OF tho
Maine were the defenders OF De LONE
NJ. MACON said the President said IN
HIS message that one reason why he
had hesitated 10 lntprsera was because
OF the promise OF autonomy ana yet a /
the came time the Spaniards were de-
nounci1E the government. Mr.. Mason
said there should be American divrrs
for the Maine. 80 that the truth could
be told. He would not act upon nn lu-
vestlgatlon committee, he said, because
he would not sit at Il table with /
spanlhrd unless he had a stilIetto In his
pocket. This caused n litter In the sen
ate.
Senator Wolcott created a sensation
In replying to Mr.. Mason. Air. Wolcotl
said the senator from Illinois had sa!d
the people were losing confidence in QUO
OF the great departments Of the govern
ment, n statement that could not goun.
challenged.
Mr.. Mason sought 70 Interrupt Mr.
Wnlco,t, but the latter nrremptorIly de-
clincd to be interrupted and insisted
that the words be read 5l5s
He then sall he, desired 10 resent as
utterly unfonhded the lhslnuatioh THAI.