Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-26
NAMES WRECK
NATIONS SCANDAL
MACON URGES GOVERNMENT
TO RAISE HULK OF DOOMED
SHIP TO THE SURFACE.
REGRETS THE
DELAY
Cuban Provisional Governor Charac-
terizes the Failure to Move OBJ
struction as DeporabIe
Neglect.

havana, CUBA, Jan. 25-lne
American battleships Maine and
Mississippi steamed into Havana
harbor shortly before eleven today
and were saluted from the
Cabanas fortress. Today is the
eleventh anniversary of the ar
rival at Havana Of the old battle
ship Maine and the Maine and
Mississippi anchored in plain view
of the wreck of the old Maine.
They will remain here for the
ceremonies attending the inaugu-
ration of Jose Miguel Gomez, as
president of the new republic on
January %.
Washington, D. c., Jan. 25.-"Na-
tional reproach' and international
scandal are terms used by Gov. Ma
gcon of the Cuban provisional govern
ment in characterizing the failure of
the United States to dispose of the
wreck of the Maine, which yet OBJ
structs the harbor of Havana.
In mis- annual report to the secretary
of war made public yesterday, the out
going provisional governor says: "The
sunken battleship is a serious menace
to the shipping of the harbor, as it
occupies a portion of the best anchor
age. The obstruction has increased
annually during the last ten years by
causing shoal.''
But more important than any OBJ
struction to navigation continues the
report lis the fact that this wreck, al
though it contains the bodies of sixty
three American seamen, or what is left
Of them. is apparently abandoned and
forgotten by the government and peo-
pie of the United States
Thousands of Americans and thou
sands of other nationalities annually
enter the harbor of Havana, and prob
ably not one omits to express regret
and censure for the deplorable spec
tacle. 1t has become a national re-
preach and an international scandal
Aleee Wish to Hide Wrecks Cause.
THE neglect to remove the wreck
is attributed by many, especially the
large Spanish contingent in Cuba, to
the fallacy of the popular belief that
the Maine was destroyed by a torpedo
or mine instead Of an interior eXplos
ion.
80 generally does this opinion pre-
vail that l believe the Cuban govern
ment was deferred thereby from deal
ing with the wreck as an obstruction
to navigation of it's coastal waters
and destroying it.
However, it, should be added that
the Cuban authorities We're also re-
| strained by a belief that the United
States would some time desire to at
tempt to remove it and preserve the
wreck as a whole, instead Of breaking
it up and removing it in the more in
expensive manner.
THE correspondence on file in the
department" state and the navy de-
partment at Washington shows that a
belief prevails in those departments
that it is necessary to secure, by a
treaty or otherwise, the consent Of the
republic of Cuba to the authorities Of
the United States entering the harbor
Of Havana and proceeding with the
work of removal. This permission, if
necessary, can be easily secured. and
the Cuban government would gladly
afford assistance in it's power to aC-
complish the desired result, not only
because of the injury to the harbor IA
cilities but also because of the prompt
| ing of patriotism and sentiment. l
earnestly recommend that the United
| States government take immediate
steps to accomplish the removal with
out further delay"
Work Done Under Magoon.
Gov. Magoon's report is his second
annual for the year ended December,
| 1908 The provisional administration
will come to an end with the Inaugural
ton of President Jose Miguel Gomez
next Thursday The report states that
| the provisional government Of Cuba
has proceeded satisfactorily.
| The provisional administration has
been able to meet not only the usual
and ordinary expenses Of the govern
ment but, in addition to discharge the
cost of the insurrection. large
amount of anterior indebtedness of the
| Cuban government. 1t has maintain
ed the rural guard. succeeded in ex-
tirpating an epidemic Of yellow fever
and done much for sanitation of cities
and towns of the island.
In addition the report shows the pro-
visional government has entered upor
and made substantial progress in the
| execution of q broad plan of public i'm.
| provements, including road and bridge
building, harbor improvements, water
works, the erection of courthouses
schools, and other public buildings.
Included In work done also are the
construction and reconstruction O.
government telegraph and telephone
systems and Improvement of the mai
| service.
The report sets forth that while II
the establishment of the provisional
government there was apparently $40,
coo, 900 in the Cuban treasury, yet o
this amount the Cuban congress hat
by special laws appropriated approx
imately 100000.
An examination of the treasur,
within a month of the establishment o
the provisional government showed al
estimated deficiency of 100000 afte
meeting existing obligations.
Cost of 1906 Insurrection.
In making this appraisement it wa
necessary to estimate the cost to Cub;
or the insurrection of 1906. Result
have shown that this estimate wa
something over s2,000,000, less tha1
what proved to be the actual cost o
this brief disturbance.
Former State Treasurer Bankrupt.
Boston, Jan. 25.-Former Stat