New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-22
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
A LIVELY nrBATE PRECEDED THE PASSAGE or
TIE MAINE RELIEF BILL

n,es. with pa,iencc tho rroblcms Of the week and
dispose 81 ;hcn % the highest and best interests
of all concerned
r,,mcdatcly after the reading OF the journal the
Sneaker recognized Mr. Boutelle rep. Nc }. chair
man 81 the Committee on Naval Affairs. who called
IN the bill fo- the relief Of the survivors and VIC
fms Of the Maine disaster. Mr.. Boutele said that
the n,lrDose and provisions OF tn" bill were well
understood and. far as re was concerned, he
Thought debate unnecessary Still he was ready
70 Weld - tho desire OF the House
Mr. Bailey Dem. Tex said there was no dspo-
,itou en- his s!6c Of the House to debate the bill
Such matters as members on his side desired 10
speak ahou; In connection with the disaster they
would reserve for the Naval Appropriation Dill
He gave notice .: an amendment he would oner.
Wi.hou, debate. therefore, the bill was read by
sectioos for amendment. and several minor com
rnstic- amendments agreed 20.
MIR Cannon. rep. Ill. chairman OF the COM
nittcc or ApIropra ,icrs. offered amendment
20 allow tho surviving officers and men twelve
niont9s sea pay without rations IN full com
rensstion for losses sustained by them. This pro-
vision h" thought preferable 10 indemnify
them for the losses sustained. limited In amount
70 twelve months sea pay. He called attention 10
tn. fac; that IN tho Samoan disaster the COM
pensation I'm each abou; the maximum
lie thought q provision for compensation for
actual losses might lead some Of the survivors
into tH@ temptation OF rnasnifyinG their claims.
There would be also this advantage in voting di-
rec,ly a years pay 1t would obriate delay
ana iN~ mcmahon OF Chains Attorneys NHile
Congress was doing this OF Justice. he said.
Il should do the ge7erou- thing
Mp BOUTELLES EXPLANATION.
Mr. Boutelle a, this point made general state
mont He explained briefly that 1t was the idea
OF the committee that Congress should be as lib
eral toward the victims of the Maine disaster
as II had been toward those who suffered IN the
Samoan disaster and the bill had been drawn
along tho lines of the bill passed for the relief Of
the Samoan victims The comr,ittes did not be-
leve the survivors should he reimbursed beyond
the actual losses Incurred The provision
latins to the filing OF the schedule of losses made
end sworn had been carefully hedged about
and could he criticised shccessfuliy
Mr. Bailey asked what he sea pay OF the hghes.
officer Of the unfortunate vessel was
Captain sigshees pay Is about $3.50" answered
Mr. bouJeile
- Then under the proposed amendment he would
receive that amount. matter what iosseo he
sustained
Exactly"
What the larges, amount paid under the
bill for the relief Of the Samoan victins?'
About 5000"
Mr.. Boutelle said he did not imagine that Cap
tain Sgsbee or any other Of the gallant officers OF
the Maine would dream OF being reimbursed be-
yord the actual amount Of the losses they sus-
tained.
Mr. Boutelle and Mr.. Cannon had a rather spir-
TIED exchange OF personalities. The former criti-
cised the latters attitude toward the bill and the
and the general public sentiment Of the country
not 10 the gentleman from Maine for his position
The gentleman does not live GODS footstool"
SAID he. who Possesses tho ability TO meri, the
appreciation Of the gentleman from Maine
daughter
Mr. Cannon again advocated his anendnen,
pointing out that the average value OF the regular
equipment OF a ships crew sss yet In almost
every instance the members OF the crews of tho
ships which went down at Samoa obtained prac-
tcaly years sea pay Americans Cinnamon and
others on those ships submitted schedules detail
Ing losses aggrega ting practically the maximum,
amount they could obtain under the Samoan act
AS practical legislator. he thought his amend
ment was wise and should be adopted
Mp. Bailey said a. FIRST that he had hoo, die
posed TO favor the Cannon amendment He Ind
heard something Of the scandal in connec,,o, with
the Samoan act. and did not desire a repetition OF
that disgraccful episode But on closer examinations
ne !hought the provision in the bill preferable
he had long been OF the opinion thar tho ha.,
part OF the Lords PRAYER was contained IN m.
words Lead us not into temptation" Ru, THO
amendment would make IT more profitable net n
fali than TO fall It would give TO the homes, NAV
NJ. liiborn rep Cali de-ied emphs sa Gnv ,,o,
sh.,e hsG been any wholesale fraud connection
III the Samoan wreck. together with heir ssl
mis- Several Of the ocers ciaf.ed n proof Of
and all OF them claimed only a email fraction ~
their salaries N''" Vi
IhC<NI@->l ihAbI l. ~ IHE MAINE
Mr.. Cousins (Rep Iowa> changed tho r,ho,.
TENOR OF the debate at this Juncture by the deverv
OF a brief but eloquent tribute 10 the America,
sailors who went down on the Maine 10 said.
Inc measure now proposed is most Appropriate
and Just. 6ut hardly Is fl mentiorabe IN con-
temptation OF the great calamity TO which I, an
pertains II will Re mercy an incidental legislative
iootnote 10 page o: history that will be omen N
,ne eyes o; the Htpabie and Of the world for all
- the silent gratitude. the speeches. reverence
sl!esdy given ,oy grea: ana grateful Nation TO
ne dead defenders and TO taeir living kin 30 arI
OF S se.sa providing for their needs make
does n human ways its lest and stii feels Jea1
n To deh,, E*press.ons Of coincidence nave CON-
every nerve OF steel and Ooean cabs hSs carried
or syoua oreash the sweetest. tenderes, words
~ 'StP1' ny 1or thaf gal!an; who manned
u After pairing a high tribute to tn. men Of N.
a. a9oui The dask waters Of that mysterious ha Dor
ne heated dead while over It and over ali ,bspe
he tfu;S Piercing eye sterny watching for
r'S resolution shall be ultimately charged TO fa'e
lessons q history re.mberhs the woes Ss 'e Of
fe fSyrs for wo ,hs Hra oPd sST hs are
concluded his tribute. WI Oo"'"'
W cs:ss RS ,S A'4 tsTsS similar
Gods will that Cuba should be free ''"' 1t was
The Cannon amendmen; was los, wi,hou, dlv!-
xS MI Es.y stsIs a. sme.amen' to insert the
eect!or making them the bcrcacnres untcr Tho
bill 81 certain contingencies 49,
y was TeJected-6p TO l06--ss was another TO
:t.ike out Tie words and II there I've no parent
the brothers and sisers:" eIc. 49,,
passed unanimously
Hr Nesck (Ecp MichJ from Committee on
Elections No. g. presented the majority report In
the contested election case Of Wise against Young
The repor: Is ~ favor % the contestant, The
minority received ten days In which 10 file their
report The House then went into Committee OF
the Woe and took Up the private calendar
The Senate bnl 20 satisfy the claim sf tho LEGAL