The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-19
SCRAP N THE SENATE.
First Gun Fired in the Debate
on the Maine.
MADE IT HOT FOR MASON.
Reflection on Navy Depart
IlGnt Resented.
WOLCOTT The WARRIOR.
Handles Illinois Senator Without
Gloves.
WOLCOTT THE WARRIOR.

Washington, Feb. 1S.-Soon after the
Senate met to-day, Mr.. Hale of Maine
obtained the floor and introduced the fol-
lowing joint resolution:
"That the Secretary of the Navy be, and
is hereby authorized to engage the serv-
ices of a wrecking company or companies,
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 bat
tleship Maine, and saving the vessel or
such parts thereof and so much of her
stores, guns, material, equipment fttIGgs
and appurtenances as may be practical
BILE; and for this purpose the sum of $780,
600, or so much thereof as may be nee
essary. 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 1t to Mr.. Hale, also sent a letter
explaining its purpose. He says in this
letter: 1T was deemed proper and impor-
tant that steps should be taken immedi-
ately to recover the remains of the officers
and men lost on the occasion of this most
deplorable catastrophe; to raise the ves-
sci or to save such parts of her armament
and equipment as may be practcable.'
To this the secretary adds: "The meager
information received respecting the nature
and extent of the injury sustained by the
hull of the Maine renders IL difficult to-
determine at this time whether there is
reason to hope that the vessel herself msy
be raised; but it seems probable. as she
lies within the protection of a harbor, and
is not wholly submerged, that much valu-
able property may be recovered il the
necessary action is taken without delay.
The vessel with her stores, guns mate
rial equipment fittings and apparte-
nances, cost approximately s., 000,0OO AS
an illustration to the value of single
items which may have escaped serious in
jury, Il may be said that the 10-inch guns
of which the Maine carried four were
worth, with their mounts, 1880 each.
Aside from the melancholy duty resting
upon the government to recover and to
bring to this country for burial IL this
may be done, the bodies Of officers and
men who lost their lives in this disaster,
II is believed that much valuable property
may yet be saved from the vessel In
any event, ii Is Of the most importance
that whatever is to be done in this mat
ter should be entered upon without delly
The sinking of the Maine win be made
the subject of immediate and exhaustive
inquiry, and Congress viii be fully advised
of the result of such investigation.
Mr.. Long states that in fixing the a1Ifn
asked for the department Is at this time
unable to estimate the necessary expenses
with any degree of accuracy, but he says
he has conferred with the bureau of con-
structlon and repair and that in case Of
the appropriation requested, only so much
of 1t as may be found necessary will be
expended in the work. The secretary en-.
closes a table showing the cost of num-
Der Of items Of the ordnance outfit Of the
vessel, all aggregating $502, ,152
Mr.. Allen, Pop, of Nebraska, thought
1t very desirable that a provision be in
serted In the resolution for the transporta-
ton and burial of the remains of those.
who lost their lives In the disaster
Mr.. Hale called attention to the fact that
reference was made to the transportation
of the bodies in the letter from the Secre-
tary Of the Navy In many cases, lie
said, 1t would be impossible to bring to
this country the remains of those killed
as the bodies were so badly mutilated and
the facilities for embalmlng so inferior IN
Havana that already the remains of many
of the dead were decomposing, and It would
be necessary, probably. to bury them At
once.
Mr.. Mason, Rep, of Illinois hoped that
provision would be made for the trans
portation of the bodies to the United
States, and for their burial in this coun-
ery. To that end he proposed an amend
ment to the resolution, as follows:
after the word thereof and before the
word and insert the following: And for
the transportation and burial of the re-
mains Of the officers and men so far as
possible"
The amendment was agreed to and the
resolution, as amended, was passed
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr..
Allen directing the copmittee on naval
affairs to make an immediate Investigation
Of the disaster to the Maine was then laid
before the Senate. 1t precipitated the most
spirited debate Of the Cuban question.
| Mr.. Chandler OF New Hampshire thought
that If the word immediate" be stricken
out and the matter be left within the dis
erection Of the committee, there would be
other objection to the resolution.
| Mr.. Mason proposed an amendment strik-
ing out all after the word resolved" and
| 10 insert the following: by the Senate
| and House of Representatives concurring,
that joint committee Of five, consisting
OF three members OF the House Of Repre-
= (Continucd on Sixth Page1