Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-12-22
MAINE WREcKNOT
FOR SIDE SHOW
PROJECT TO AUTHORIZE SALE
OF HULL FOR EXHIBITION
PURPOSE MEETS DEFEAT.
CITIES TO BE GIVEN SOUVENIRS
Urgent Deficiency Bill, Providing
$25o,o00 to Complete Work Of
Raising Ship, Passes the
House.

Washington, Dec. 18.-EHorts to au-
thorize the sale of the hull of the bat
tieship Maine to private parties who
desire to exhibit 1t at various ports OF
the United States, and charge admis-
sion fee to visitors, were defeated in
the house Of representatives. The urg-
ent deficiency bill, carrying an appro-
priation Of S250,000 to complete the
work of raising the Maine, after a
hard fight, passed the house without
change.
It was admitted in the debate that
offers approaching 100000 have
been received from exhibition inter
ests for the rear portion of the hull,
which can be fitted with bulkhead
and towed from Havana to the United
States. This sum would more than
cover the 100000, the cost of clear
ing the wreck out of Havana harbor.
Chairman Fitzgerald of the appropri'
atoms committee said the govern
ment would tow the rear part of the
hull into the ocean and sink it with
full honors.
Representative Sisson of MISSISSIPPI
pi attempted to procure an amend
ment authorizing the war department
to invite bids from private parties for
the rear portion of the hull, to be
used for exhibition purposes. He said
General Bixby, in charge of the work
at Havana, stated that several tenta-
tive offers had been received from
the United States, some of them ap-
preaching 100000. Mr.. Sisson
said he did not consider it as opposed
to the desires of the American people
to provide for a public exhibition OF
the wreck of the Maine under private
auspices.
Sisson Has No Objection.
"I would have no objection to hav-
ing it towed up the Mississippi river
and exhibited to my children" de-
clared Mr.. Sisson.
The bill as passed would permit the
secretary of the navy to give a por-
| ton of the wreck to the city of Ha-
vana for a public monument, re-
quest for it having been made by the
president of Cuba, and would author
| ize the secretary of war and the Sec
rotary of the navy to grant other por.
tions as souvenirs to cities and pa
triotic societies or survivors of the
vessel.
A request for an additional $4,000
for the expenses of the house of rep
resentatives and an attempt on the
part of the economy committee" of
the house to cut in two the mileage
of senators and representatives threw
the house into debate on expenses
that is considered prophetic Of the
sessions that are to come.
Republicans again charged the dem
ocrats with having lost track Of their
economy program. The reply from
the democratic side was by introduce
ton of a resolution by Representative
Palmer of Pennsylvania, leader OF the
economy board, to cut the annual
mileage allowance from 20 cents per
mile to 10 cents per mile. The demo
cratic forces split on the proposition
and the plan was voted down Sc to
1873
Exactly $S0,000,000 is proposed to
be appropriated by congress during
the next five years for good roads un'
der a bill introduced by Representa-
tive Prouty of Iowa, who advocates
national and state cooperation in
road construction and maintenance
He proposed that congress appropri
ate and apportion among the various
states s5,OOOOOO in 1912, $1O,OOo,000 in
1913, s15,O0O,O0O in 1914, $2O,000,00C
In 1915 and $3O,0OO,0O0 in 1916. The
federal expenditures on each road is
limited to one-half the total cost.