The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-22
RELIEF FOR SURVIVORS.


so<iay unanimously paDeA Tho IN TOR
the relief OF the. survivors and vsc-
tins Ok the Naine dtsaater. Ths
bill segmhufses the survivors, ON
GERS and men. for the lps1es fheJ sue-
sAined. 20 an amoun; not to exceed
years pay. and directs the payment Of
sum equal 70 y~sr's pay 70 the isgai hsfs
Of tlsose who perished-
There Was quite spirited debate over
an amendment suggssssd BY NJ Casnsn
TO give the survivors q years pay oct ~
hand, instead Of attempting TO reimburse
legged scandals la connection with the re-
srabursenents Of the survivors OF the
Samoan disaster were raked ur. but the
ceb&te In the end. was saved from
rather sarsiid tone by q beautiful tribute
paid TO the gallant dead BY Mr.. Cousins.
He aroused the galleries TO spontaneous
applause The remainder Of the day was
occupied In the consideration Of the old
claim Of John Roach. the shipbuElder. for
Sszl 800. No action was taken upon The
claim.
Immediately after the reading Of the
journal the speaker recognized Boatelie.
chairman Of the committee on naval AZ
fairs. who called up the bill for the relief
Of the survivors and victims of the Maine
d.saster He said that the purpose and
provisions of the bill were weil under
s.cod. and. 20 far - he Was concerned. he
thought debate unnecessary. Still. he was
ready to yield to the desire Of the house.
Bailey said there was no disposition On
his side OF the house 70 debate the bill.
Such matters as the members on his side
desired to speak about In connection with
naval appropriation bill He gave notice
of an amendment he would o0sr Without
debate the bill was read by sections.
Several minor committee amsndment
were agreed upon.
Mr.. Cannon. chairman OF the committee
on appropriations. offered an amendment
to allow the surviving officers and men
twelve months pay. without rAdons. IN
fun compensation for the losses sustained.
This provision he thought preferable to
indemnifying them for the loss sustained.
limited In amount to twelve months sea
nay. He called attessior to the fact that
in the case Of the Samoan disaster the
oomp<usatson in caeh case was about the
maximum. He thought provision TOT
compensation for actual losses might lead
some OF the survivors into the temptation
of magnifying their claims.
There would be also this advantage in
voting a years sea pay 1t would save de-
Law. and bring more immediate action on
claims. While congress was doing this act
Of Justice. he said, II should do the gen
erous thing.
Mr.. goussile. at this point concanded. a.
a debate was TO be induiged. that II would
be well for him to make general state
ment. He then explained that 1t was the
desire OF the COMMITTEES that congress
should be as liberal towards the sailors as
n had been toward those who suffered In
the Samoan disaster. and the bin had been
drawn along the lines of the bill passed
for the relief OF the Samoan victims The
committee did not believe the survivors
should be reimbursed beyond their ac-
tual losses. The provision relating to the
fling OF the schedule of losses made in
Samoa had been carefully hedged about
and could not be criticised successfully.
Mr.. Bailey asked what the sea pay OF
the highest officers Of the unfortunate
vesse, was.
Capt sigsbee's pay is about 1850"
answered Boutelle.
he would receive that amount. no matter
what losses re had sustained"
Exactly"
What was the largest amount paid M
der the hill for the relief ~ the Samoan
vict.mse"
About Sc ua''
Route.le said he did not imagine that
Capt S.gsbee or any other Of the gallant
! officers of the Maine would dream OF be-
ing reimbursed beyond the actual amount
Of the losses they SUSTAINED
Bouteile and Cannon had a rather splr-
mer criticised the la..er's attitude toward
sha bill. and the latter said he was re-
sponsibie to his constituents and the gen
eral public sentiment. not 10 the gentleman
/ from Maine. for rs position. ''The gen
tlernan does not live on Gods footstosl. -
said he. ''wha POSSESSES the ability 30
neri, the appreciation Of the gentleman
4 from Maine. Continuous iaughter)
Proceeding. Mr. Cannon again advo-
Gated his amendment pointing out sha,
the average value Of tire equipment Of
ships cre~ was ses. We, in almost every
instance the members OF the crews OF the
ships which wen, aown a, Samoa OF
tanned a years sea pay. As practical
legislator he though; hs amendmen; was
wise and should b adopted
Bailey said Al FRS; he had been dis
posed ~ favor ths Cannon amendment
He had heard some hing Of the scandal in
connection with ,he simoaa act. and d.;
/ net desire repetition Of ii. But upon
cieser examination he thought the pro-
tfk&tn 4n shs Ea