The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-22
And Legal Heirs of Those Who Per-
isled to Receive IA sum Equal to u
Years Pay of Each Victim.
WARM DEBATE IN THE HOUSE
PROVOKED BY AN AMENDMENT Of
FERED BY MIR. CANNON.
Eloquent Tribute to the Dead from
MIR. COusins-JOint Investigation
Proposed by Mr.. Wheeler.

WASHINGTON. March 21.-The House
to-day unanimously passed the bill for the
relief of the survivors and victims of the
Maine disaster. The bill reimburses the sur
viving officers and men for the losses they
sustained to an amount not to exceed a
years sea pay. and directs the payment
Of a equal to a years pay
to the legal heirs of those who
persisted. There was quite a spirited
debate over an amendment suggested by
Mr.. Cannon, to give the survivors each
years pay out of hand instead of attempt
ing to reimburse them for actual losses. An
old alleged scandal in connection with the
reimbursement of the survivors of the Sa-
moan disaster was raked up, but the de-
bate in the end was saved from a rather
sordid tone by beautiful tribute paid to
the gallant dead by Mr.. Cousins, of Iowa,
in a short but eloquent speech. He aroused
the galleries to spontaneous applause when
he said that while the vultures might be
watching over the dark waters of Havana
harbor for the beated dead, above all the
eagles piercing eye watching for the
truth The remainder of the day was occu-
pied in consideration Of the old claim of
John Roach, the shipbuilder, for 1881, 00O
No action was taken on the claim.
The blind chaplain, in his invocation to-
day prayed that the members might meet
with patience the problems of the week,
and dispose of them to the highest and best
interests of all concerned.
Immediately after the reading of the jour-
nal the speaker recognized Mr.. Boutelle
(Rep.. Me), chairman of the committee on
naval affairs, who called up the bill for the
relief of the survivors and victims of the
Maine disaster Mr.. Boutelle said the pur-
pose and provisions of the bill were well un-
derstood and so far as he was concerned,
he thought debate unnecessary. Still, he
was ready to yield to the desire of the
House.
Mr.. Bailey said there was no disposition
on his side of the House to debate the DILL
Such matters as members on his side de-
sired to speak about in connection with the
disaster they would reserve for the naval
appropriation bill. He gave notice of an
amendment he would offer. Without debate
therefore, the bill was read by sections for
amendment. Several minor committee
amendments were agreed to.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the committee
on appropriations offered an amendment to
allow the surviving officers and men twelve
months sea pay, without rations, in fuli
compensation for losses sustained by tnem
This provision he thought preferable to one
to indemnify them for the losses sustained,
limited in amount to twelve months sea
pay He called attention to the fact that IN
the case of the Samoan disaster the COM
pensation in each case was about the maxi
mum. He thought provision for compensa-
ton for actual losses might lead some OF
the survivors into the temptation of magnl-
flying their claims. There would be also TINS
advantage in voting directly a years sea
pay. 1t would obviate delay and the media
ton of claims attorneys. While Congress
was doing this act of justice, 1t should do
the generous thing.
BOUTELLES STATEMENT
Mr. Routelle at this point concluded as
debate was to be INDUCED in, that it would
be well for him to make a general state
ment. He then explained briefly that 1t was
the idea of the committee that Congress
should be as liberal toward those who suf-
feared in the Maine disaster as it had been
toward those who suffered in the
Samoan disaster, and the bill had
been drawn along the lines of the bill
passed for the relief of the Samoan VIC
Tins The committee did not believe the
survivors should be reimbursed beyond the
actual losses incurred. The provision re-
lating to the filing of the schedule of losses
made and sworn to had been carefully
hedged about and could not be criticised
Mr.. Bailey asked what the sea pay of the
highest officer of the unfortunate vessel
Captain Sigsbees pay is about $780,"
answered Mr.. Boutelle.
Then, under the proposed amendment,
he would receive that amount no matter
what losses he had sustained.
EXACTLY.
What was the largest amount paid under
the bill for the relief of the Samoan vic
About $1,000"
Mr. Boutelle said he did not imagine that
Captain Sigsbee or any other of the gal
liant officers of the Maine would dream of
being reimbursed beyond the actual amount
of the losses they sustained.
Mr.. BouteIle and Mr.. Cannon had
rather spirited exchange of personalities.
The former criticised the latters attitude
toward the bill and the latter said he was
responsible to his constituents and the gen.
eral public sentiment of the country, not
to the gentleman from Maine for his posi-
ton. 1.-The gentleman does not live on GODS
footstool" said he. who possesses the abil-
ity to merit the appreciation of the gentle
man from Maine" Naughter) Proceeding,
Mr.. Cannon again advocated his amend
ment. pointing out that the average value 1s
was S66 yet in almost every Instance the
members Of the crews OF The ships when
a years sea pay. As practical legislator;
he thought his amendment was wise ana
should be adopted.
Mr. Bailey said at first he had been dis
posed to favor the Cannon amendment. He
had heard something of the scandal In con-
nection with the Samoan act and did not
desire repetition of that disgraceful cpl
sode But upon closer examination ne
thought the provision in the bill preferable.
He had long been of the opinion that the
best part of the Lords prayer was con-
tanned in the words: Lead us not into
temptation" But this amendment would
make 1T more profitable not to fail than to
fall. II would give to the honest man more
than the dishonest man would claim.
Mr. Hilborn (Rep., Cal) denied emphau-
cally that there had been any wholesale
fraud in connection with the Samoan act,
all and all of them claimed only small
fraction of their salaries.
AN IOWAN'S TRIBUTE.
Mr.. Cousins rep, la changed the whole
tenor of the debate at this juncture by the
delivery of brief but eloquent tribute TO
the American sailors who went down with
the Maine Mr. Cousins said: THE measure
now proposed is most appropriate and just.
but hardly is it mentioned in contemplation
of the great calamity to which 1t appertains.
1t will be merely an incidental legislative
footnote to q page of history that will be
open to the eyes of the Republic and of the
world for all time TO come. No human
speech can add anything TO the silent graf
itude the speechless reverence already CIV
en- by a great and grateful nation TO its
dead defenders and 10 their living kind.
No act of Congress providing for their needs
can make a restitution for their sacrifices.
Human nature does. in human ways its
best and still feels deep in debt. Express
sfons of coincidence have from every
country and from every cline and every