The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-24
DOFuCS OF CONGRESS-
Abstract Of the Important Pro
ceedings in Both Houses.

The Senate, on Feb. Is passed the Forti-
ficatlon appropriation bull.
On motion of Mr.. Pettus the appropria-
ton for the construction OF sea walls ana
embellishments was increased from $50, goo
TO So 600.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Chandler
increasing the amount appropriated Tor
powders and proiectiles for a reserve sup
ply for armament and Qualifications from
$3.50 6lS to $3.50, els was accepted.
In the Senate on Wednesday, the ven
cradle Senator Morrill,, of Vermont, opposed
the ratification of the Hawaiian treaty.
The debate on the Bankruptcy bill
opened on Wednesday in the House. Gen.
Henderson, of Iowa, opened the debate in
favor of the bill. In concluding ms re-
marks he said:
In general terms it may be said that
under the provisions of this bill the honest
bankrupt will be treated with considera-
ton and within d reasonable time be dlS-
charged. The dishonest bankrupt will be
explicitly charged with his wrong-doing,
deliberately tried, and Immediately pun
ished. The estate will be as quickly re,
duced to cash as possible and distributed
to the creditors
/ In the Senate on Feb. Il, Mr.. Allen. OF
! Nebraska offered a resolution that the
! Committee on Naval Affairs make an M
mediate and thorough investigation INTO
! the cause OF the disaster to the DdttleShlp
! Maine.
| Mr.. Hale. of Maine, Chairman of the
| Naval Affairs Committee, said he had no
| objection to the reference OF the resolution
| to his Committee, but he did not deem IL
| desirable for the Committee now to pro
| coed with an investigation OF the melan-
| choly affair in Havana Harbor. The IKE
| cutiVe Department of the Government was
even now engaged in making an investlga-
ton OF the disaster. The Secretary OF the
| Navy was engaged in the work, ana was
| employing all the means in his power to
! ascertain the truth. Inc resolution "eHt
| over.
The disaster to the battleship Maine was
| provocative of a spirited and acrimonious
debate in the Senate on Feb. Is.
To the resolution presented by MIR. Alien,
| of Nebraska, Mr. Mason, OF Illinois, pro-
| posed an amendment striking out all after
| the word Resolved" and inserting the 1ol-
| lowing:
by the Senate, the House of Repre-
! sentatives concurring, That Joint com
mittee of five consisting OF three members
| Of the House of Representatives and two
| members of the Senate, be appointed to
| investigate the disaster 10 the battleshlp.
| Mr. Hale expressed the hope that MIR.
Mason won Id not press his substitute.
Mr. Mason answered Mr.. Hale in
speech replete with sensational and pyro-
technic utteranceS. 81 understand" said
he, that the Navy Department is making
an investigation of the disaster, but also
understand that Congress has the author
ity To make an investigation. ii is a Con-
greSSional investigation that the people
are demanding. They are fast coming to
the conclusion that matters concerning
this Cuban affair including the De LONE
letter incident and the loss OF the Maine, OF
which they ought TO know, are being con
cealed from them. The people want to
know the facts and they will know them.
Mr.. Wolcott, of Colorado, answering Mr.,
Mason, said:
~ desire to resent as utterly unfounded
the suggestion that there is patriotic
citizen in the broad confines OF this land
who has not the fullest and most splendid
and glorious confidence in every Depart
ment of this Government and In the De-
partment OF the Navy particularly. 1t has
been true in every Administration since
the time OF Washington. The people OF
the United States have never yet been
called upon to distrust one OF the Co
ordinate branches OF this Government,
and they never will while the flag floats. |
Least OF all is il decent, in my opinion,
that in this chamber there should be in
situations cast at this critical time that
there is lack in the minds of the people
of the United States Of confidence in the
Navy of our country.
eve can stand such discussion and
debate we can endure much OF public dis
cussion when there should be silence, but
this is one thing this country can never
stand, and that is to listen, and without
resentment, to an lnslnuatlon that the
officers OF our Navy are not men OF honor
and integrity and Of truth. The officers
appointed to investigate will do their duty.
''Mr. President, war may come. think
myself the day may not be far distant, and
when il comes We viii fight ii alone, Tor
there will be no other nation to lift a hand
to fight with us. When that day comes
our course must be eternally grounded in
the right, and until it comes, there is
nothing SO belittles this people, III my
opinion. as these unjust and outrageous
attacks upon "A friendly Government.
Mr.. Woicott was followed i'm mediately
by Mr.. Lodge, OF Massachusetts, who also
had sat very FESTIVE under Mr.. Mason S re-
Elections upon the Navy Department. He
spoke with intense earnestness, saying:
Mr.. President, this is not question
which involves CubanS or SpanlardS.
This is question which involves brave
American seamen gone to their death in a
foreign port. In the presence OF that ca
lamity what we want is the truth. How
are TO get it? BY Investigations Of a
committee of a Congress which knows moth
ing which has no witnesses to summon,
which has no expert knowledge, which is
miles from the place where the disaster
occurredy There is only one way to get at
the truth Of this matter, and that is
through the naval officers who have been
selected To perform that duty. / would
rather trust this investigation to the Off
GERS Of the American Navy than To any
other men in the country.
The Secretary Of the Navy is q man of
distinguished ability, of honor and patriot
ism. II anyone magines that Secretary
Long will not tell the truth and insist
upon the whole OF IL, he little knows the /
character Of the man who has the honor 10
fill that great post at the head OF the Navy"
Mr.. Allen, OF Nebraska, said he desired
10 secure vote upon the resolution, but
he desired 90 reiterate the suspicious ex-
pressed by Mr.. Mason that the investiga-
ton by the Navy Department would not
be satisfactory TO the country.
The resolution went to the calendar
Mr.. Hale, before the discussion over the
investigation resolution offered a resolu-
ton relative TO the raising OF the Maine
authorizing the Secretary Of the Navy To
engage the services Of a wreclfing com
pany or companies having proper facilities
for the prompt and efficient performance of
sub marine work, for the purpose of re-
covering the remains OF the officers and
men lost on the United States steamer
Maine, and Of saving the vessel or such
parts and so much of her stores. guns.
material, equipment, fittings and appur-
tenances as may be practicable: and for
this purpose the sum Of $500 900, or so
much as may he necessary, is hereby ap-
propriated and made Immediately avail
able"
The resolution was prepared at the Navy
Department, and introduced at the re-
quest of Secretary Long who wrote a