The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-22

nat the Spc11dIy vi Ilc navy 10
hereby authorizI to engage the SER
vices of the wrecking company or COM
panies having proper facilities for the
prompt and efficient performance Of
submarine work for the purpose of
recovering the remains Of the officers
and men lost on the United States bat
tlesnip Maine, and of the saving the
vessel or such parts thereof and so
much Of her stores, guns, material
equipment, fitting and appurtenanceS
as may be pr~acticable; and for this
purpose the sum of $500, 900 or so much
thereof as may be necessary is hereby
appropriated and made Immediately
available"
The resolution was prepared at the
navy department and introduced at the
request of Secretary Long, who in for
warding it to Senator Hale also sent
a letter explaining its purpose. He
says in this letter: 1T is deemed
proper and important that steps should
be taken Immediately to recover the
remains of the officers and men lost
on the occasion of this most deplOr-
able catastrophe; to raise the vessel,
Or to save such parts of her armament
and equipment as may be practicable.'
Senator Mason hoped that provision
would be made for the transportation
OF the bodies to the United States and
for their burial in this country. To
IIldI emo ne pIOpOSSu dh dIllcliuAiISiI
to the resolution as follows:
'tAfter the word thereof and before
the word and insert the following:
And for the transportation and burial
of the remains Of the officers and men
so far as possible
The amendment vas agreed to and
THE resolution as amended was passed.
The resolution offered yesterday by
Senator Allen, of Nebraska, directing
the committee on naval affairs to make
an immediate investigation of the dis
aster to the Maine was laid before the
senate.
Senator Mason, of Illinois, proposed
an amendment striking out all after
the word 'resolved' and inserting the
following.
'1By the senate, the house of repre-
sentatives c~Oncurring that a joint COM
mittee of five consisting of three mem
ibers of the house of representatives
and two members of the senate be APP
pointed to investigate the disaster to
the rbattleshfp Maine"
Senator Hale expressed the hope
that Senator Mason would not press
his substitute. The disaster, he said,
was even now being thoroughly inVes-
'tigated by the executive department
of the government and that as soon as
tangible results were reached the facts
would he communicated to congress-.
Senator Hale urged Senator Mason to
Withdraw his substitute as it would
tend only to embarrasS the executive
department.
SENATOR MASON'S FIERY
SPEECH.
Senator Mason followed SenatOr
Hale in a speech replete with sensa-
rtiOnal and pyrOtechnic ~utteranceS. He
said. in the beginning, that he had no
disposition to inflame a situation al
ready so exciting; but he felt that his
substitute was fully justified by the
feelings and desires of the people. Il
understood" said he" that the navy
department is making an investigation
of the disaster, but l also understand
tina has the authority to
make an investigation. 1t is a con-
gressiOnal investigation that the peO-
pie 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 concealed from
them. THE people want to know the
facts and they will know them"
Senator Mason said he did not de-
sire to reflect upon the motives or
honor of anybody, but he suggested
that the officials OF the navy depart
ment in making their investigation
would be trying their own case and
would naturally endeavor to cover up
any blame that might attach to them.
He was not willing to strike out OF his
resolution the word Immediate
every one was interested in knowing
who blew VI the Maine and all wanted
that information now. Why delay?
Why adopt the Spanish custom of put
ting off until tomorrow what shout be
one today?
Senator Hale interrupted Senator
F--O. -o11-o - ctntnp1ant H. CoII
that so far from having any desire for
delay, he was anxious to have it go
W. from this very time, as the in
V~estigatiOn proposed by the navy de-
partment would if not interferred with
There was no proposition to postpone
inquiry.
Replying. Senator Mason said there
was no calamity so great as a failure
On the part of those in power to appre-
ciate the real situation when it was so
eriou as it now is, and no sorrow so
profound as that over indifference to
this situation. The people were sick
and tired of secret Investigations and
reports by cipher and Of having infor-
NATION suppressed and then doled out
to them as some executive officers
might think suitable. He wanted a
congressional. investigation and want
ed it open to the world. Any investi-
cation by congress would only
strengthen the finding Of the navy de-
partment in case the explosion proved
to be an accident. He had no desire TO
stir up trouble, but would only insist
as he had done before, upon the stop
ping of human slavery and inhuman
warfare in the adjacent island.
He had a letter from Mr.. Julian
Hawthorne read to show, as he claim
I'd, that murder was the policy of the
Spanish government in Cuba. He also
had Mr.. de LOme's letter read and as
serted that the late minister had been
defended in the senate until he had
confessed out of his own mouth that
autonomy was a fraud and that he