The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-17

Diverse Views of Members-SOme Al
Iege Treachery of Spaniards.


Iege Treachery of Spaniards.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.--The Maine incl
dent formed the principal topic of con-
sideration by the Senate committee for
eign relations at it's meeting to-day. The
affair was not officially before the COM
mittee, but it was nevertheless allowed to
displace almost all other business. The
opinion generally expressed by members of
the committee in this informal conference
were to the effect that the occurrence is
one of very serious import and that it may
result in grave complications unless Spain
can make it very plain that no Spaniard
was in any way responsible for it. A prom
inent member of the committee said after
the close of the meeting that Spain would
be expected to make an explanation that
would entirely clear up the mystery and
that if she did not this country would have
a right to demand such explanation Most
of the members of the committee refused
after the conference to express any opin-
oan concerning the occurrence. ut is too
serious to talk about at present" said
Senator Lodge, while Senator Culom said:
II can't see how the explosion could have
been the result of an accident and 1 think
the time is rapidly approaching when this
country must do something" Senator Clark
would only say: cit is singular that such
accidents happen at such opportune times"
The immense gravity of the situation, in
case later advices should show that the
disaster was not purely accidental was
admitted by all public men. Conservative
public men, in the face of the appalling
catastrophe. the meager information at
hand, and its possible consequences, there
fore declined to express any opinion at this
time. Chairman Hit, of the foreigE affairs
committee; Chairman Dingley, of the ways
and means committee and members of the
naval committee of the Housesall said they
preferred to await fuller information before
expressing themselves Mr.. Hit said it
would be well for the public to follow the
cue given by Captain Sigsbee, and suspend
Judgment until the cause of the disaster
was ascertained.
Ex-senator Butler. of South Carolina
who was a member OF the committee on
foreign relations during his service said
that 1t was decidedly strange that Amer-
lean vessels have visited every port of
the world and no accident befallen them,
but that as soon as a vessel visited Ha-
vana this great disaster should occur. Mr..
Butler was of the opinion that some bold
man had gone aboard the Maine and placed
a grenade with slow match where it
would explode the magazine. 1t was prob
able he thought, that many people had
been permitted to visit the war ship and
that some one of the visitors had carried
a grenade aboard.
SENATOR IIALES OPINION.
Senator Hale, chairman of the committee
on naval affairs, and a member of the com
mittee on appropriations, said that he had
just come from an interview with the sec
rotary of the navy and that he felt conf
dent that the Navy Department would insti-
tute thorough investigation into the dis
aster. ''There is no OCCASION said the SEN
ator, for Congress to take the matter up.
Surely something should be left to the de-
partment, and this is one of the things
which in my opinion should be so left. 1t
is. of course. impossible, from the tnforma-
ton received to say how the accident oc-
Cured but l feel confident that the facts.
when developed will show that 1t was an
accident The Maine was, OF course. pre-
pared for action in case action should be
necessary. and had therefore many yulner-
able points exposed. A battle ship Is little
less than volcano under the most favora-
BILE circumstances and when legislating for
the increase of the navy / always feel that
q war vessel may prove to be almost as
dangerous to those on board as to those
whom il might engage in hostile conflict.
For this reason am sure the affair in Ha-
vana harbOT VIII prove a genuine sensation
in naval circles aside from any political as
peCt." The senator expressed the opinion
that Congress would take steps TO prevent
the decrease of the navy, but did not under
take to say that there would be immediate
efforts to replace the Maine. He said that.
whatever could have caused the catastro-
phe he was sure that no friend OF Spain
could have been guilty OF such conduct. for
the reason that If there had been nu higher
motive the accident would have been very
foolish and foolhardy one. fFe said the
Maine had cost according 10 his recotlec-
ton, between s. 100000 and I000.U0u-
Senator Pasco said. 1T Is q deplOrable
occurrence. but 1t Is impossible to say
whether any one can be held reaponstple
or hlRmeworthy. Certainly most rigid In