The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-17
ADD TO APPROPRIATIONS
THE MAINE DISASTER STIMU.
IATES ACTION.
THE HOUSE EXPRESSES IT'S SYMPATHY
Teller AIIudes to Cuban Situation Our DUTY
to Step to The Front and Tell Spain
to Desist, Let the Consequences
be What They May.
be What They May.

be What They May,
Washington, d. c., Feb. 16.-The de-
bate on the Bankruptcy bill, which is to
continue until Saturday when a vote
viii be taken, opened in the House
today, but it attracted little attention,
the inerest of he members being enlrely
absorbed by he disaster to the Maine.
At the time the hall of the House was
almost deserted, the members being con-
gregatcd in the Hobbies or cloak rooms
discussing the accident and speculating
unon its probable consequence. just be-
fore the House adjourned Mr.. Boutelle,
chairman Of the Naval Committee pre-
sented the following resolution which
was unanimously adopted:
"HeSOlved, That the House of Repre-
sentatiyes has learned with profound /
sorrow of the great calamity which has
caused the destruction of the United
States battlship Maine, and the APP
palling loss of more than 25O lives, and
the w0unding of many others of thc |
gallant defenders of our flag and that
the House expresses its sympathy for
tine injured and its sincere coincidence
with the families of those who have
lost their lives in the service of the
nation"
Before the question was put, Mr..
Bailey asked Mr.. Boutellc if his COM
nattee was in possession of any informa-
ton which threw amy light upon the
cstpse Of the accident.
II regret TO say that we have no infor-
nation" replied Mr.. BOutelle, upon
which Il conclusion could be based. My
own impression, which may not be OF
vsllses ii That It was an accidental @
occurrence"
The speakers on the Bankruptcy bill
were:
In favor of the measure. Messrs. Hend-
| erson, (Republiean. IoWaD; Ianham.
| democrat, Texas. and Burke, Demo
| crat, Texas); in opposition to it, Messrs.
/ Underwood, democrat. Alabama); Bell,
lPopulist. CoIorado), Henry, Demo
| crft,7 Texasg McRae. democrat, Ar
| kansas) and Cochran, Democrat, Mis-
| souli).
At 500 O'Clock p. M. the House adj
| journed.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
| Washington, Feb. ia discussion
! upon coast defenses was the interest
ing feature of the Senate to-day. Many
! Senators took the ground that the dp-
preparations should be for the full a
mount of the estimates by the War De
partment instead of some four millions
! less.
In the early part of the day there
was discussion of the Kansas Pacific
| Railroad sale but no action was taken.
At :3j D. IN. the Senate went into
executive session. Open session was
resumed at 3:15, when the Fortifica-
tions Appropriations bill was taken up.
Mr.. Perkins, in the course of state
ment concerning it, said the Commit
tee on Appropriations was unanimous
| in its action in increasing the aggregate
sum appropriated by the House bill. Ey-
cry member of the committee was Ill
| favor of peace but all realized that the
best way to preserve peace was to be
| prepared for war.
MIR. Stewart Thought that the apprO-
priations should be increased so that
there should be no more talk about the
denfenseless condition of the coasts.
Mr. Chandler, IN. H. wanted an in
crease made upon powder and projec-
tiles which could be Immediately availa-
bic.
Mr.. German opposed the increase, say
ing the country could not, in view of
the present condition of the finances
and for other reasons afford the in
crease.
Mr.. Stewart said we did not carry on
our negotiations with foreign govern
ments in proper manner because our
great cities were not properly protected
Mr.. Hawley favored liberal appropria-
tiOns.
Mr.. Lodge advocated steady policy
looking to the proper defense of our sea
coast cities.
Mr.. Teller opposed the proposed in
crease. saying it was better to leave
the amount as fixed by the committee.
He agreed with those who did not con-
slider a war among the early probablll-
: ties but that the time of peace was the
+ time TO prepare for war. Still the m-
dicatiOns were strong for general war
and while the United States might es-
came by drawing it's head into it's shell
lilo n turtle, still we tbs great nation
, ebould be prepared for any emergency.
uore Mr.. Teller made an evident al
: ,,sion to the condition of affairs in
5 80 saving it was our plain duty
,,,I,an q nation was conducting a war up
on our borders contrary 10 international
law and the rules of humanity to step
r. the front and tell that nation 1t must
! dos;st let the consequences be to us
: what they might
NJ H Teller also spoke incidentally of
tho Hawaiian question. He said that If
: +ho United States wanted to become
e anI,tbing more than q hermit nation and
escape war only by submitting to lnsuits