The age-herald., 1898-02-19

that much valuable property may be re- covered if the necessary action is taken without delay. The vessel, with her stores, guns, material, equipment fittings and ap- purtenances, cost approximately $5000,000.
 Costly Guns
 'As an illustration as to the value of single items, which may have escaped se- rious injury, it may be said that the TO- inch guns, of which the Maine carried four, were worth with their mounts $4S,- 500 each Aside from the melancholy duty resting upon the government to recover and to bring to this country for burial if this may be done, the bodies of officers and men who lost their lives in this dis aster it is believed that much valuable property may yet be saved from the ves- sel. In any event, it is of the utmost im- portance that whatever is to be done in this matter should be entered upon with out delay. The sinking of the Maine will be made the subject of immediate and ex- haustive inquiry, and congress will be fully advised of the result of such inves- tigation."
 MT. Long states that in fixing the sum asked for, the department is at this time unable to estimate the necessary expenses with any dgree of accuracy, but he says he has conferred with the bureau of con- struction' and repair, and that in the case of the appropriation requested, only so much of it as may be found necessary will be expended in the work. The secre- tary encloses a table showing the cost of a number of items of the ordnance outfit of tho vessel, all aggregating s5O2,152.
 To Bring Them Home
 MT. Mason (rep) of Illinois, hoped that provision would be made for the trans portation of the bodies to the United States and for their burial in this coun- try. To that end he proposed an amend ment to the resolution as follows:
 After the word thereof and before the word and insert the following: And for the transportation and burial of the re- mains of the officers and men so far as possible"
 The amendment was agreed to and the resolution, as amended, was passed.
 Investigation Resolution
 The resolution offered yesterday by MT. Allen, directing the committee on naval af- fairs to make an immediate investigation of the disaster to the Maine was then laid before the senate. It precipitated the most spirited debate of the Cuban ques- tion.
 Mr. Chandler of New Hampshire thought that if the word Immediate be stricken out and the matter be left within the dis cretion of the committee, there would be no other objection to the resolution.
 MT. Mason proposed an amendment striking out all after the word resolved and inserting the following:
 "By the senate and house of representa- tives concurring, that a joint committee of five, consisting of three members or the house of representatives and two mem- bgers of tale senate be appointed to inveS- tieate fine disaster to the battleship Maine."
 Hale Wanted It Withdrawn
 MT. Hale expressed the hope that MT. Mason would not press his substitute. The disaster, he said, was even now being thor oughly investigated by the executive de- paltment of the government and that as soon as tangible reeults were reacned une facts would be communicated to congress-
 MT. Hale urged MT. Mason to wothduaw lds substitute as it would tend only to embarrass the executive department. -"I haid hoped" said Mr. Hale. "that this en- tire matter might be disposed of today without debate. It seems to me that in the circumstances and in the light of this most
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