Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-21
LEGAL SNAG Struck
Typographical Error May De-
lay Raising the Maine.
FORMAL OPINION AWAITED
Trouble Due to Mistake in Mention.
ing Date in Bill.
DOUBT OVER ANOTHER POINT
Officials Uncertain Whether They
Must Report Plans to Congress
Before Lifting Wreck.

Possibly, perhaps, maybe, the wreck OF
the battleship Maine will sometime, some
how, be raised from the mud OF Havana
harbor and the bodies Of the American
sailors who perished on board her will
find a final resting place In their native
land. War Department oflcials have
Just raised another bubble on two tech
nical points which, IL sustained by the
Attorney General. will put of the COM
mencement Of the work OF raising the
warship until after Congress has met
again.
It is quite likely that when the news OF
this latest obstacle reaches the ears o.
Representative William Sulzer of New
York he will blaze with righteous indig-
nation, and will endeavor to have the
intent and purpose of Congress carried
out without delay.
It was Mr.. Sulzer who kept alive the
agitation which caused Congress at the
session just ended to appropriate $3oO.Ooo
for the work of raising the wrecked yes
sci, and when he left the city few
weeks ago there seemed to be Absolutely
nothing which could prevent the immedi-
ate commencement of the work.
But War Department officials have
found two obstacles, and they seem deep
ly concerned about them-isc much con-
cerned that they have deci0ed to hold up
the work until the Attorney General shall
have rendered an opinion.
Two Appropriations Made.
Congress at its recent session made two
appropriations for the work Of raising the
battleship. The first act, which was ap-
proved May 8, provided that the Secre-
tary of War and the chief of engineers
are hereby authorized and directed to
provide with all convenient speed for the
raising or removal of the wreck OF the
battleship Maine from the haroor OF
Havana, Cuba and for the proper inter-
ment of the bodies therein IN Arlington
cemetery"
This act carried with it an appropria-
ton Of 100000. Shortly after It's pas
sage the army engineers reported that
the sum OF $1O0,OOU was not sufhcient 70
S2DOOOO was inserted in the urgency de-
iciency bill. The clause making provi-
sion for this appropriation set forth that
it should be expended for raising or re-
moving the wreck OF the Maine . IN az
cordance with the provisions OF the act
approved May 10. 1910"
The act referred to was approved May y
and not May 10. 1t was clearly the intent
of CONGRESS to refer to the act OF May
8, but the War Department officials have
formally decided that nothing can be done
until the Attorney General ofhcially sets
forth whether or not the $2OO.OOO shall
be considered as applying to the 100000
already appropriated by the act of May
g. A palpable typographical error has
been made, but the War Department
wants an opinion on it.
Another Technical Point.
There is still another slight technical
point which the Attorney General has
also been asked to decide. The officials
want to know whether, under the terms
of the act, they are merely to provide"
for the raising Of the 1hack. and then
report to Congress aY to the plans de-
cided upon. and await further authorize
ton before commencing the work, or
whether the act authorizes them to go
ahead with the work.
Should the Attorney General decide
that these purely technical objections
have real weight nothing can be done
toward remedying them until Congress
conyenes again next December, and the
work of raising the Maine would be
put back for practically year.
Congress was strangely inactive in the
matter of providing funds for the rails
ing of the Maine until the last session.
Representative Sulzer had talked for
twelve years on the matter, in season
and out and finally he forced the hands
of Congress. and obtained the appropr1-
alton needed.