Evening star., 1898-02-18

legitimate and true cause of this disaster
may be, is there not danger that If We are
at fault and 1t was a mistake Of this gov
ernment, is there not danger that that de-
partment in investigating itself will be
trying its own cause and possibly involv-
ing US in trouble with other nations by
finding a state of facts that do not exist ?
1t is all very well for the senator from
Maine to say that when the facts are de-
termined they will be reported to Con-
gress- It Is all very well for US to have
that high idea Of duty and that high con-
ception that everyone else in the discharge
Of his duty will do the right and proper
thing"
Stateaent CAalAenEed.
- Senator Woaeott created q sensation in
replying to Mr.. Mason. Mr.. Wolcott said
the senator from Illinois had said the peo-
pie were losing confidence in one Of the
great departments of the government, a
statement that could not go unchallenged.
Mr.. Mason sought to interrupt Mr.. VOL
colt, but the latter peremtorily declined to
be interrupted and insisted that the words
be read.
He then said he desired to resent as ut
terfy unfounded the insinuation that the
people distrusted any department Of the
government. He resented especially q
statement on the floor of the Senate tha.
there was any distrust Of the navy and es-
pectally during this calamitous and terri.
BILE time. This country. said he, will never
stand and listen to insinuations that our
officers will lie.
He did not know what slums the senator
from Illinois had dragged to secure basis
for his remarks. He declared that the in
vestigation Of the terrible disaster would
be conducted fairly.
Today we should refrain from insulting q
friendly nation and outrageous criticism
OF our own people.
Mr.. Wolcott went on to say that war
might come; in fact, it might not be far
distant; but our corduct must be such as to
make us respect ourselves and make nations
respect the position.
Mr.. Lodge CMass) said this was a question
which involved the death of American sea-
men in Havana. and that the only way to
ge: at the truth was through the naval Of
fcers. He said no one could distrust the
naval officers or doubt that they would tell
the truth. No one believes that John Sigs-
bee would lie.
Speaking of Secretary Long, he said he
was an henored citizen Of Massachusetts.
thing of the great disaster. Those who
knew Roosevelt. the assistant secretary,
knew that he would do nothing to deceive
the people. He said that up to this time
action of the American Congress. in face
Of the great disaster, had been dignified,
end 1T was to be regretted that this debate
had arisen today.
Mr.. Mason followed Mr.. Lodge and
ment that was not borne out by amy state
ment made by him (Mason). He was sur
prised that the great admiration Mr.. VOL
colt had for the Navy Department had not
stopped cver'' to the Treasury Depart
ment.
This caused a laugh among senators and
spectators.
Mr.. Mason said he did not like Mr. VOL
colts allusion that he got his information
from the slums.
Senator Hawley said the Cuban question
did not enter into the matter of the loss of
the Maine. He thought it was improper to
make allusions to our enemies at this
time, as we had none. Two Investigations
could not go at once.
Mr. Allen Crfticises Secrecy. ~
Mr.. Allen followed in a criticism OF the
secrecy both in the departments and in
the Senate and the balance of the Capt.
toll The foreign relations committee did
not permit the senators to know what
was going on.
Senator Platt Conn.) said that in COM
planning about the secrecy OF the Senate,
he was casting a reflection upon the in
vestigation Ee was trying to have made of
the Maine disaster.
Mo Hale said that 1t would be better to
have no warning upon the subject of Cuha
On the floor of the Senate. He had read
the dispatches from Captain Sigsbee re-
ceived by Secretary Long, which. he said,
showed that in Havana today there was
nothing but profound sympathy for the un-
fortunate occurrence.
At 2 o'clock the resolution went to the
calendar without a vote.
Mr.. Bacon (Ga.) offered a resolution for
a memorial tablet in the Capitol for the
officers and crew OF the Maine.
The Senate then went into executive ses-
sion on the motion of Mr. Hale.
PASSED BY THE HOUSE.
No Objection to the Senate Resolu-
tiOn.
Immediately after the reading Of the
journal at noon in the House of Represen-
tatives today Mr.. Boutelle (Me.), chair
man of the naval committee, asked unani-
nous consent for the consideration of the
resolution prepared by the Navy Depart
ment and passed by the Senate, appro-
priating S2OOOOO to raise the Maine and
recover bodies of the victims.
The mere mention of the Maine disaster
on the floor brought members in crowds
from the cloak rooms and lobbies, and
they thronged down the aisles to listen.
The spectators in the galleries leaned over
with breathless interest as Secretary
Longs letter was read.
1T is unnecessary to say" said Mr..
Boutelle at the conclusion of the reading
Of the letter from Secretary Long, that
the work of salvage should begin at once