The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-22
SENATE WILL INVESTIGATE.
Naval Affairs Committee VIII Inquire
Into the Maine Disaster.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.--For three hours
to-day the Senate had under discussion the
bill providing for the taking of the twelfth
and subsequent censuses. 1t was so amended
as to place The Census Bureau under the sec
rotary of the interior, but the extended dis
cussion which followed discloses so wide a
divergence of views on the part of SEN
ators as to the various features of the
measure that no further action was taken.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Allen directing
the committee on naval affairs 10 make an
investigation of the disaster to the battle
ship Maine was accepted without debate.
The galleries were filled when the Senate
convened. the crowd of spectators doubtless
being attracted by the probability of fur
Their debate upon Cuban affairs or matters
connected with the catastrophe at Havana.
The joint resolution providing for the re-
covery of the bodies OF officers and men
from the wrecked battle ship Maine and for
the recovery of valuable property ON the
ship, which was passed by the House of
Representative last week, was presented
to the Senate and passed Immediately. 1t
carries an appropriation of 100000.
Mr.. Hoar introduced joint resolution d.
recting the transfer of valuable historical
documents from the several governments to
the National Library.
Mr.. Allen then introduced his resolution
as follows:
Resolved, That the committee on naval
affairs be, and 1t is hereby directed, to
make q thorough inquiry into the destruc-
ton of the battle ship Maine in Havana
harbor on the 18th inst, and report to the
Senate.
The resolution was passed Immediately.
As no other business was pressing the Sen
ate, at the suggestion of Mr.. Hale, began
to consider unobjected bills on the calen-
dar Among those passed were the follow
Ing: Requiring masters and mates of sail
vessels of over 200 tons to have licenses
issued by United States inspectors; grant
ing to the State of Wyoming $1,000 acres OF
land to aid in the continuation, enlargement
and maintenance of the Wyoming State
White & Black River Valley Railway Com
pany to build q bridge across the Black
river, in Arkansas; to require patents to be
issued to land actually settled under the
act entitled IAN act to provide for the
armed occupation and settlement of the I'M
settled part of the peninsula of Florida, APP
proved Aug. 4, 1872, and to amend an act
to prohibit the passage of local or special
laws in the Territories to limit territorial
indebtedness, etc.
calendar was discontinued and the measure
providing for the twelfth and subsequent
censuses was laid before the Senate MI.
Allison thought the Census Bureau ought
not be made an Independent bureau, but be
placed under the Department of the In
terror, under the general supervision of the
secretary of the Interior and he proposed
amendment to that effect.
Mr.. Teller offered an amendment to Mr..
Allisons amendment providing that the
Census Bureau be placed under the Depart
ment of Labor, and that the commissioner
of labor have general supervision of the
work. The amendment to the amendment
was lost--21 to 80.
The question then reverted to the amend
ment offered by Mr. Allison. 1t was adopted
The bin was discussed until $40 p. M,
when, without action, the Senate, on mo-
ton of Mr. Carter went into executive Ses-
sion and shortly afterwards adjourned.