The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-19

Washington. Feb 1S-A debate, de-
Cided i'm its sensations, was uneXpect-
edly precipitated in the senate today
over the consideration of the resolution
of Mr. Allen (NebD, directing the COM
mittee on naval affairs to investigate
the disaster to the battleship Maine.
An arrangement had been made for
the adoption of the resolution with a
minor amendment without debate. Mr..
Mason QllD. however proposed a SUBJ
stitute providing for an investigation
to be conducted by joint committee
Of two branches Of congress. Upon this
the Illinois senator, disregarding an ap-
peal not to force a discussion at this
time on so melancholy affair, delivered
speech in which he said that the peo-
pie demanded the truth concerning the
explosion and declared that they would
not be satisfied with the investigation
to he conducted by the officers of the
navy, who would virtually try their
own case and would cover up any
blame that the facts might show at
tached to them. He fiercely denounced
the policy of the government in dealing
with Cuba, into which he went al
length and declared that the United
in putting everything off until tomor-
row.
MASON'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Mason said in beginning that he
had no disposition to inflame a situa-
tion already so exciting, but he felt
that his substitute was fully justified
by the feelings and desires of the peo-
pie. II understand" said he, that the
navy department is making an inves.
tigation of the disaster, but l alsC
understand that congress has the au.
thority to make an investigation. II
is a congressional investigation thai
the people are demanding. They ar,
fast coming to the conclusion that mat.
ters concerning this Cuban affair. in
Guiding the de LONE letter incident anC
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"
Mr.. Mason said there was no calam,
ity so great as a failure on the par
of those in power to appreciate the
real situation when it was so serious
as it now is, and no sorrow 50 pro.
found as that over indifference to thi.
situation. The people We're sick anC
urea OF secret Investigations ana re
ports by cipher, and of having in
formation suppressed, and then dolet
out to them as some executive Of
tcer might think suitable. He wanted
congressional investigation ant
wanted it open to the world. He haC
letter from Mr.. Julian Hawthorn,
read to show, as he claimed, that mur
der was the policy of the Spanish gov
ernment in Cuba. Autonomy, he de
nounced asa sham, a fraud and de
fusion, and the de LONE letter only
served to emphasize the treacherou
character of the Spaniard. AS TO
himself, he would not, if eligible, b,
willing to serve on the proposed com
mittee, as he would not want to sit a
the table with a Spaniard who nigh
have stilletto under his clothes, un
less he himself was ironclad. Th
record of the Spanish nation, continued
Mr.. Mason, who appeared to be labor
ing under considerable excitement, i
one of the continuous treachery, an
we have experienced that treachery il
our history for the past hundred years
We are told, he said, that the nava
board may be able to reach Havana b,
next Monday.
"Manana," he exclaimed, "Manana-