The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-18
ONLY 81 PER CENT. PAID
THE GOVERNMENT TO LOSE RE
MAINDER OF DEBT.
RESOLUTION PASSED AGAINST THE SAIL
The Only Reference Made to the Maine Dis
aster Was an Investigation by Senator
Allen The Discussion on Bankruptcy
Bill Dragged Slowly Along.

Washington, ID. e., feb. lI.-After a
spirited debate occupying more than two
hours. the Senate to-day by a vote of "a
to % agreed to the resolution of Mr.. Tur-
pie Und.), declaring the Senate's opposi-
ton to the confirmation of the sale of
the Kansas Pacific railroad. 1t was de-
| veloped by the discussion that tile gov
ernment would receive from the sale
of the Union and Kansas PACIFIC rail
roads something more than 100000.
ninety lone per cent of the entire indebt.
edness of the roads to the United States.
| the basis of settlement being about $20,,
100000 better for the government than
that proposed by the Cleveland admins
tration.
The resolution is as follows:
Resolved, as the opinion of the Sen.
ate. that the sale of the Kansas Pacific
division of the Pacific Railroad made to.
day, ought not to be confirmed, except
upon the terms that the original claims
and the interest thereon due to the
United States from said railroad COM
pany of the Kansas Pacific division be
paid in full by the bidders"
The only reference thus far made to
the disaster to the battleship Maine
was made in the form of the following
resolution introduced by Mr.. Allen
(Neb).
Resolved. That the Committee on
Naval Affairs be directed to make an
immediate and thorough investigation
into the cause of the disaster to the bat.
| tleship Maine in the harbor of Havana
on the 10th instant, and report to the
Senate
Mr.. Hale, Chairman of the Naval AT.
fairs Committee, said he had no objec
| ton to the reference of the resolution
to his committee, but he did not deem
it desirable for the committee now to
proceed. with an investigation of the
melancholy affair in Havana harbor
The Executive Department of the gov
eminent was even now engaged in max.
ing an investigation of the disaster
The Secretary of the Navy was engaged
in the work and was employing all the
| means in his power to ascertain the
truth. If the matter were taken w
by the Naval Affairs COMMITTEE, Mr.
Hale said the best the committee could
do would be to act through the Navy
| Department He was satisfied that as
soon as the Secretary of the Navy OBJ,
tanned definite information concerning
| the explosion and its details he woulo
| communicate the facts to Congress.
Mr.. Allen objected to having the reso.
luton sent to the Committee on Naval
| Affairs. We of u.s." said he, ''wtho
are not members of the Naval Affairs
Committee. or of the Foreign Relations
Committee, cannot get information from
| the department about these things. We
are shut out as completely as if we
were private citizens. | think / ought
to get my information and / am deeply
| interested in this matter, through the
Committee on Naval Affairs of this Sen
ate. | do not care to debate this mat
ter or to indulge in any extended dis
cussion of it, What | want is action
by the committee that will give us in
formation
Mr.. Chandler IN. HI objected to- the
resolution and it went over until to-
morrow
After the disposition of the resolution
the Corbett case WAS discussed by Mr..
Pettus (Ala.). and Mr.. Hoar (AIass). an
agreement having first been reached to
take a final vote upon the case on Mon
day, February %.
The Senate at 4:10 p. M, went into
executive session and FIVE minutes later
adjourned.