Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-14
AUTHORITY GIVEN
Mr.. Chambers Resolution Adopted by
the Senate.
MAINE DISASTER INVESTIGATION
Indemnity for Spanish Treatment
of BoIten and Richelieu.
PASSED WITHOUT DEBATE

A beautiful. tender and touching prayer
was delivered by the chaplain of the Sen
ate az the ope ming of the Senate today in
memory of William E. Spencer, journal
clerk of the Senate, who died last Friday
morning.
A bill extending for one year the time
within which the Pittsburg and Mansfield
Railroad Company is authorized to con-
struct bridge across the Monongahela riv-
Ell was passed.
A resolution offered last Thursday by
Mr.. Chandler IN. HI. authorizing the COM
mittee on naval affairs to send for persons
and papers in the course of the ;nvestiga-
ton of the Maine disaster was adopted
Almost Immediately afterward Mr.. Allen
CNeb.J inquired of Mr.. Chandler what the
naval affairs committee had done regard
ing the investigation of the Maine catas-
trophe as provided for by his resolution
of several weeks ago
Mr.. Chandler, in reply. called attention to
the absence of the chairman of the naval
COMMITTEES, Mr.. Hale. and disclaimed any
desire intention TO speak for the COM
mittee- He said. however. that yet the
committee had taken no action regarding
the investigation bsyond presenting and
securing the passage of the resolution au-
thorIzing the committee to proceed as a
court lie expressed the opinion that the
policy of the committee would be to await
the action and findings of the naval court
Of inquiry. He called attention TO the in
teresting fact that naval courts have no
authority under the law to compel wit
nesses 10 testify or to punish them If they
should refuss.
He thought. therefore, that the naval
committee, in making its investigation.
ought TO be empowered to force testimony
from witnesses or suffer a penalty for re-
fusal
is the senator advised as TO whether the
naval affairs committee will make in
yeStigation of the Maine disaster?' in
Guired Mr.. Allen.
Il am not prepared 10 speak for the COM
mittee. replied Mr. Chandler. THE reso-
luton. take il, places an injunction upon
the committee To conduct investigation,
and the resolution agreed to few minutes
ago is in line with that injunction This
is a subject which I do not think ought to
be discussed in public. l desire to COM
mend the senator from Nebraska for his
patriotic restraint in refraining from dis
cussiug this matter.
The conference report on the army APP
preparation bill was presented by Mr.. Quay
pa and was agreed to.
PA ceedi1g under unanimous consent, this
Senate passed the following measures:
Amending an act to permit the use of the
right Of way through public lands for tram
roads. canals and reservoirs: to provide fo-
the erection Of a public building at Provi-
dence, r. l.. at a cost not to exceed $3.50,
go; 20 restore to rank ex-Cadet Engineer
J. E. Palmer; permanently locating the
capital Of the territory of New Mexico at
Santa Fe; granting TO the Kettle River
Valley Railway Company a right of way
through the north half of the Colville In
dian reservation, in Washington. and re-
lating to leases on the Hot Springs resorva-
ton
AT this point Mr. Lodge (Mass) of the
foreign relations mmittee called Up the
joint resolution for the relief of August
Bolten and Gustav Richelieu. The resolu
ton as reported from the foreign -eIa
ticns committee is follows: That thu
President Of the United States be, and h,
is hereby. empowered to take such meas
Tres as in his judgment may be necessary
to obtain the indemnity from the Spanish
government for the wrongs and injurie.
suffered by August Bolten and Gusta,
RIchelieu. by reason of their wrongful ar
rest and Imprisonment by Spanish author
tiles st Santiago de Cuba In the year 1898
and 10 secure this end he is authorized an,
requested to employ such means or exer
else such power as may be necessary"
The resolution, TO which objection wa
made few days ego, vas passed withou
debate.
At 2:fO pm. the Senate, on motion of Mr.
Quay. went into executive session, and sool
afterward adjourned.