The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-18
UNSEEMLY DELAY.
The Government Bitterly Criti-
cized in the Senate Today.
While $50 of Our Sailors Lie
in Havana HarbOr,
President Mckinley and the
Cabinet is Hesitating,
SAYS SENATOR MASON.
The Dilly-DalIy Policy That
Has Prevailed
Responsible For the Death Of
American Citizens.
CONTINUED MURDERS
Of Tens of Thousands of Cubans
Including
The Dilly-DalIy Policy That
Has Prevailed
Responsible For the Death Of
American Citizens.
CONTINUED MURDERS
Of Tens of Thousands of Cubans
Including
Women and Children, All Due
to "Waiting'' Policy.

Washington, Feb. 18.-Mr. Mason has
offered an amendment to the Allen res
oIution for an Investigation of the
Maine disaster providing for a special
committee to make the investigation.
Mr.. Mason said that it was evident
that the facts in regard to Cuba. were
being concealed from the people of the
country and from congress.
Mr.. Mason said that the policy of the
government was delay and nothing was
stopping the murder Of people in Cuba
The De LONE letter had not stopped
the murders. The Maine disaster had
not stopped them. 1t was time for the
senate to act Mr.. Mason said he did
not want the facts regarding the
Maine locked up in the executive de-
partments.
Mr.. Mason said we have waited while
the diplomats have deceived US They
had sat at our table and misrepresented
the situation. Mr.. Mason said that
while diplomats delayed, $50 of our
brave seamen were lying in the harbor
at Havana.
Mr.. Hale said he hoped there would
be no exasperating debate in the senate
While this matter was being investigat-
ed by the senate. He deplored the re
hectio1s which were made upon the
navy department.
Mr.. Hale said the whole world de-
senator (MasOn1 would see ftlTl HmprO-
priety of the position he was taking.
Mr.. Mason said that he meant no re-
Election on Secretary Long, but an in
vestigatiOn by congress could not inter
fere with the navy department.
Mr.. Mason said the American people
were tired of investigation behind clos
ed doors; that with $50 seamen lying at
the bottom of Havana harbor, the peo-
pie of the United States wanted to
know whether she was blown up by her
enemies from spontaneous cOmDuE-
ton.
Mr.. Mason said that if it was found
that the Maine disaster was result OF
accident, the people would be better sat
isfied if a committee of congress should
find it so and no harm done.
Madrid, Feb. 18.-The newspapers
here are urging the government to
adopt great precautions when the
American divers arrive and not to al
low them to descend alone and examine
the Maine ''as divers sent by private
persons might be bribed to report at
variance with the actual facts and
might even do something to the hull,
which would serve as a confirmation Of
their report"
Here it is thought improbable that
Captain General Blanco will allow pri-
vate divers to descend, or even those
sent officially by the United States gov
ernment, if they are unaccompanied by
Spanish divers The newspapers here
fear serious trouble unless a strict sup
ervision is made . and they claim to
ers of a third nation to arbitrate in the
event of a disagreement between the
Spanish and American divers.
The whole press enjoins the most rig
orous supervision of the wreck of the
Maine.
Washington, Feb. 19.-In view OF the.
near approach to New York of the
Spanish warship, which has caused so
much comment, although it has been
explained semi officially she is merely
returning the courtesy exhibited in the
sending of the Maine to Havana, II
may be proper to state that the naval
regulations provide for a proper recep-
tion to the ship.
The commandant at the navy yard,
Admiral Bunce, will look after the ne
cessary fOrmalities. A salute viii be
exchanged with the ship by the shore
forts and a naval officer will be sent
from the navy yards to board the vessel
and extend to him the cOurtesies Of the
pert.
An anchorage will be pointed out and
all proper precautions viii be taken To
make the stay Of the ship safe and corn el.!i1
Portable. It is probable that she VIII
lie in the north river naval anchorage
unless she receives other orders from
the Spanish legation.
The government has cabled instruc-
tions to the commander Of the warsship
Vizcaya, leaving it to his discretion
when to quit New York.
New York. Feb. 18.-Lieut. Sharp Of
the United States army, bearing letters
from Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt called at police headquarters
and asked that the police boat patrol be
designated to watch about the Nlzcaya-
CAPTAIN Vredenburg who was in com
mand. said he had no authority to act
upon the request, but that ne Would
submit it to Chief McCullagh-
It is believed that ample precautlons
will be taken to prevent anything hap
pening to the Vizcaya-
Weather Indications.
rrtioago Feb 18.-For Kansas: Part