Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-08-26
WRECK OF THE MAINE
Within Jurisdiction of The
Wdr Department..
One Reason why The Old Hulk Will
NOT Be Raised Entire at tne Ex-
penSe of The Government-Dyna-
mite VIII Do II.

/ Washington. Aug. 25.-It is more
/ than a year since the signing Of she
prou3col which gave the United States
control over Cuba. The wreck of the
Maine has been lying in Havana har-
Dor al this time, and apparently no
body connected with the government
has given, it thought. When .he
Maine went down on the night Of Feb
ruaey Is, 1898, the first suggestion that
came to the navy department was 10
raise the wreck and ascertain from IN
examination OF Lhe hull OF the ship
exactly what was the direction of the
forces wirich caused the destruction.
But it was found impracticaible to do
anything of this kind while Havana
remained under Spanish rule. Now
the American authCcitiss are in con-
trol and inquiries have been made as
20 when thsy are going to do some
thing toward bringing the torn and
twisted mass of iron to the surface.
The inquiries have drawn attent-oa
to a curious condition of affairs. The
wreck of the Maine Is no longer in the
jurisdiction of the navy department.
Even if .he secretary Of the navy
wished to dc anything about it hs
would have no power. 1t would be
piece of presumption N him to under
take to raise the wreck or to attempt
an Investigation OF it. The harbor Of
Havana, with the cay and all the r5st
Of Cuba, is under the control of the
war department, and any steps which
may be taken would have 70
be taken by the military authori-
ties. The officials of the war depart
ment have not considered the ques-
ton. They appararsly s-e net aware
yet that the Maine comes no longer
under the navy One very high Off
Ger remarked ofTtand when he was
asked whether anything was to be
done about the Maine, '@Oh, that is a
navy affair It doesn't ccmS up here
at all"
1t is safe to say thst nothing will
be dcna toward raising the Maine or
destroying the wreck unless congress
legis,ates specially. So far as the
United States is concerned, it is quite
unnecessary to raise this wreck to as
certain the cause Of she exp-osi0n. |
That question is settled officially and
for all time by the report of the naval
court Of inquiry, OF which Captain |
Sampson was president For the ad- |
ministraticn to undertake. anything |
wish a view to examining the hull of |
the ship would be reflection upon
the work of the court of inquiry. 1t |
would simply be gratifying a cur:os-
ity which, while legitimate in private |
individuals, would be altogether un- |
becoming in the goVaEnment. The |
speedieSt way to reach the business |
would be to incorporate an appropria-
tion in the river and harbor bill for
the Improvement of Havana harbor, |
and provide for the removal of the |
wreck of the Maine on the ground |
that it is an obstruction to the harbor. |
This will probably be done some time |
perhaps after Cuba comes unre-
servedly into the possession cl6 the i
United States. There is no hurry |
about it. It IS believed by wrecking
experts that the only way il which |
the wreck can be raised is by means
OF coffsr dam, which wcu,d be an
expensive and wearis0ne operation.
It is probable that when the lime
comes for getting it cut of ths way It
will be blown to pieces with dyna-
mite