Evening journal., 1898-02-19
MASON'S HOT TALK.
Declares Court of Naval In
quiry Insufficient.
WAKES WARM ON MAINE DISASTER.
Makes ImpAssioned Speech Favoring Joint
Committee of Investigation-He De-
nounoes Spanish Treachery-Con-
gress Votes TO Raise Wreck.


WASHINGTON, Feb. Ex-senator AL
lens resolution offered yesterday direct
ing the senate committee on naval af-
fairs to make an immediate investiga-
tion into the cause of the loss Of the
Maine was laid before the senate yes
terday. Senator Mason wanted to
amend so as to provide for a joint COM
mittee of the senate and house.
Senator Hale objected to any action
that would require the senate commit
tee to make any investigation pending
the result Of the investigation being
made by the navy department. He
pointed out that such action might en-
barrass the department, which had been
given ample means by the appropria-
tion made this morning. He would
promise that the naval committee would
not shirl1 the responsibility Of making
an investigation if it should be neces-
sary, and ne would not object to the
adoption of the resolution if the require
ment that It should be immediate should
be stricken out
Senator Mason made an infiammatory
speech, charging that the administration
was conoealing the facts already in
! their possession as to the cause Of the
loss of the Maine. He declared that the
navy department could not be trusted
| by the people to make an investigation
that would be conclusive. He protested
! In the most impassioned manner against
! any proposition to delay the investiga-
tion and he would resist striking out
the word immediate" We had adopted
the Spanish maxim, Tomorrow" and
had already delayed until 100000 men,
women and children had perished in
Cuba and until 259 of our officers and
seamen were dead at the bottom of Ha-
vana harbor
Senator Hale protested against the re-
feotion Of Senator Mason upon the
naval officers detailed to make the in
yestigation and declared that the in
| vestigation would be thorough. He ex-
pressed the hope that the senator would
not make this an occasion for intem-
perate speeches.
Senator Mason said that an investiga-
tion by congress could not interfere
with the investigation by the navy.
'rhe naval investigation would be Sc
cret. The people wanted an open in
vestigation, such as would be had by
congress, with doors wide open. He in
timated that with a naval investigation
the proceedings would be secret and
the officers would give out only as much
as they might see fit.
Il would not sit down at the table
next 10 a Spaniard, he exclaimed, "un-
less had an ironclad between me and
his stiletto. There has been nothing In
Spanish diplomacy in hundred years
but duplicity and rascality."
He said he would not serve on the
committee Of investigation. because he
was afraid to trust himself where a
Spaniard could get at him. There were
men in the senate, however, who, he
believed. would be in no danger, and he
was willing to trust them there.
Senator Lodge said the people of the
United States had received the news
Of the calamity at Havana with admi-
rable self restraint What they wanted
now was the truth. The way to get al
the truth was through the naval inves-
tigation.
The resolution went to the calendar.
Pending a motion by Mr.. Hale that
the senate go into executive session
Mr.. Bacon OF Georgia introduced the
following joint resolution: THAT there
shall be prepared under the direction
Of the secretary Of the navy and placed
upon the wall of Statuary hall, in the
capitol building, a bronze tablet COM
memorative of the officers and men OF
the United States navy who persisted
: in the loss Of the battleship Maine in
the harbor of Havana, Feb. Is. 1898
The said tablet shall contain the names
OF said officers and men and shall be-
, an enduring memorial to their honor
) and a perpetual token of the sorrow
p of the nation"
The resolution further appropriates 6
{ sufficient sum of money to carry tn,
resolution into effect. It was referred
to the committee on naval affairs.