New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-16
DISPOSAL Of MAINE WRECK
Deficiency Bill Provides for Civ
ing Relics Away.
A MEMORIAL IN HAVANA
S250,00O Provided for Continu-
ing Work-Democrats See
Chance to "Retrench.'
lFrom Tho. Tribune Bureau.l

Washington. Dec 1.-THE House Whileu
away time to-day. taking two recesses III
order to give the Appropriations Commit
tee opportunity 10 complete tile urgent de-
ficlency bill, which was reported late thS
afternoon. The measure carries approx
mately s2,215O00. Alarmed over the con-
slant inroads OH the Democratic economy
plans. the committee at the eleventh hour
reduced by 100000 the deficiency appro-
priation needed by the Census Bureau to
complete the work ~ the thirteenth CEN
sus. Secretary Nagel and Director Durand
informed the committee that It would re-
auire 81 900. 900 20 complete the compila-
ton OF the census returns, but the Demo-
cratic committee decided that here II had
the first opportunity to ''retrench since
the Democratic House passed the SHERWOOD
s45 900, 900 pension bill.
The most important recommendation IN
the deficiency bill, which will be considered
Tomorrow. affects the disposal OF the
wreck Of the Maine, TO complete the raising
of which s250,000 additional is made avail
able. The bill permits the Secretary or war
and the Secretary Of the Navy 10 give a
norton of the wrecked vessel 20 the Re-
n,,bIic Of Cuba for the erection OF per
manent memorial in Havana. IL Is also
provlded-and this will cause q food OF
applications from souvenir hunting COM
rnunities-that the Secretaries Of war ana
the Navy may donate pieces Of the battle
ship or Of its equipment or the properly
found in IL 10 ANY municipality OF the
United states, or 10 any military or naval
association or society I'm the United States
or 10 the former officers and crew OF the
Maine, or their heirs or representatives.
The only conditions on which these
grants would be made are that the parts
can he recovered and removed without In
terfering with the general work OF re-
novel now being done by the War De-
partment; that the cost of securing them
be paid by the city or society getting the
relic. and that reasonable assurance be
given to the government that they would
be properly preserved and cared for and
not disposed of without the government $
consent The work Of raising the wreck
Is nearing completion. The money now ia
hand will be used up by the War Depart
ment By December 20 at the present rate
of work. and officials have advised the
Appropriations Committee that if the
wreck is TO be towed 10 the United states
an additional expense Of 800 d day will be
necessary.
President Taft and the Cabinet saw a
demonstration I'm the Cabinet room OF the
White House to-day Of how the Maine was
blown up I'm Havana harbor' Rear Ad-
miral Vreeland and Chief Constructor
Watts, of the navy, both members OF the
Maine investigating board, staged the
show model of the Maine. constructed
in Havana and brought to this country
by the board, was placed on the big ma
hogany table in the Cabinet room, and
Mr.. Taft and his advisers watched closely
while the two naval officers explained.
First the Maine was shown riding At
anchor In Havana harbor. Suddenly Ad-
mlral Vreeland pulled string or two and
the model was ruin in exact reproduction
Of the Maine as she lay on the bottom after
| the explosion.