New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-22
SHAREHOLDERS AN INQUIRY
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE
MAINE DISASTER
REPORTS FROM HAVANA THROW NO FuhrhER
LIGHT ON THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION
NO AGREEMENT YET WITH THE WRECK
ING OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TO
AccrMprF At KEY WEST

Washington Feb. 21.-The dispatches received
to-day from Havana by the State ana Navy
departments throw practically no further hsh'
on the causes OF the explosion when wrecked
the Maine on the night Of February 10. oo'n
Consul-General Lee and Captain Sigspee re-
ported progress in the work OF recovering anu
disposing Of the bodies still imprisoned In the
Maine but, according to one OF captain oiss
bees messages. delayed In TRANSMISSION run
last night no investigation had yet peeh n'aoe
Of that mart of the vessel most affected by the
explosion. No agreement has yet been reacheu
with the wrecking companies which are TO I'M
dertake the raising of the Maine. II such an
enterprise is practicable and. although neso.'~
lions will be begun afresh tomorrow, fur'her
serious delay in the work of salvage is antici-
pated.
ACTION OF THE SENATE.
BY passing the House resolution OF FRIDAY
last appropriating 100000 for the use OF the
Navy Department, the Senate to-day mace
sufficient sum OF money Immediately available
to meet the expense of the proposed examina-
ton of the wreck and the recovery OF the bodies
personal effects, stores and equipment no"
buried with the wrecked battle ship. An add
tional appropriation Will doubtless be needed.
however, II an attempt is TO be made to raise
the hull OF the Maine
The Senate also passed this afternoon reso-
luton offered by Mr. Allen, Of Nebraska. au-
thorizing the Committee on Naval Affairs to
inquire into the causes Of the disaster to the
Maine. The resolution differed from that
brought forward by the Nebraska Senator last
Friday In that It did not call for the appoint
ment Of a special committee. and did not re-
Quire the investigation to be undertaken I'M
mediately. No opposition made. and the
instruction to the committee was carried unani-
mously.
The State Department to-day decided to take
no steps TO call Lieutenant Sobral. OF the Span
ish Navy TO account for reflections cast by
him In a newspaper interview the discipline
OF the United States naval service, on the ground
that his connection with the Spanish Legation
here had been terminated in January last
Lieutenant Sobral is also understood to have re-
pudiated the offensive language attributed to
him in the published interview.
wRECKINa COMPANIES AT ODDS.
The wreckng companies and the legal ad
vsers Of the Navy Department late this after
noon. after haggling several days over the de-
tails OF the contract to work on the Maine and
apparently reaching complete agreement re-
garding terms. at the last moment had a serious
falling out, ending in display OF bitterness on
both sides with the result Of postponing the
work another valuable day, and reducing to a
minimum the chances Of saving a single one Of
the hundred bodies which Consul-General Lee
reports are still in the warped hulk of the bat
tle-ship. This Misunderstanding came most
Unexpectedly after the joint proposition Of the
two American companies had been submitted
In writing and the contract had been made
ready for signing
The agreement which was reached about noon
by Chief Constructor Hichborn, Chief Of Equip
ment Bradford and udge-Advocate- General
Le,nly. for the Navy. with President Isaac
Chapman of the Merritt Chapman Derrick and
Wrecking Company. of New-York. and Captain
Humphreys Of the Boston Towboat Company,
as parties Of the second part. provided for the
prompt beginning of operations on the Maine
with about $500 day compensation during
the investigation by divers and the rescue Of
imprisoned bodies OF seamen. as we'll as during
the subsequent progress Of dismantling the
wreck OF its heavy weights and movable valua-
bies. II It should be found to the satisfaction
OF the Government that the wreck would have
to be destroyed where II lay, the agreed rate
of compensation was to continue until the work
was finished. but If found practicable to save
the vessel and deliver her at the New-York
Navy Yard. the Government undertook to pay a
salvage bonus of 100000 In addition to the
per diem compensation.
These terms were considered remarkably fair
to both parties. and It generally approved
by naval officers, who thought the proposition
was particularly liberal on the part Of the con-
tractors, especially In view Of the fact that the
work to be undertaken in a foreign har-
Dor under unusually dangerous circumstances
on account OF the widespread damage 10 the
ship and the ragged nature OF the material in
which the divers would be forced to work.
ANOTHER IRRITATING DELAY.
When the contract. which was quickly drawn
up in the Judge Advocate Generals office. was
presented TO Secretary Long and the contract
ors for signature II found TO call for more
divers and apparatus than had been Thoroughly
agreed to. 1t is said the Objectionable clause
was simply inserted with view of expedting
the work within a time limit which had been
fully approved by the contractors. The latter.
however, insisted that they had cut the figures
for the work TO the lowest possible business
basis. erd that the additional plant called for
would compel increased compensation as long
as its use was required This deyeIopment
coming after o'clock at the end of a hard
days effort TO reach understanding broke
down the patience Of all concerned, and after
a spirited colloquy between Judge-Advocate-
General Lemly and the two bidders. which was
exceedingly personal in its nature Secretary
Long was reluctantly compelled to postpone un-
I'll tomorrow any further proceedings
LARGER SALVAGE WANTED
The Judge Advocate Generals Department
attributes very ugly things to the con-
tractors. who are charged with having acted as
rivals In the bidding so long there were other
competitors In the field. but when they found
themselves masters of the situation and became
convinced that the contract was in their own
hands, found 1t to their advantage to pool their
issues and squeeze the Government. This is in
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