The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-12-19
MAINE WON'T BE SOLD.
To Parties Who Wish to Exhibit the
Battleship-PropOsition Defeat
ed By House.

Washington, Dec. 16-Efforts to au-
thorize the sale OF the hull Of the bat
tleship Maine to private parties who
desire to exhibit at various ports OF
the United States, and charge an ad-
mission fee to visitors, were defeated
in the house of representatives today.
The urgent deficiency bill, carrying
ing an appropriation Of $250,000 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 s1,900,0O0 have
been received from exhibition interests
for the rear portion Of the hull, which
can be fitted up with bulkhead and
towed from Havana to the United
States.
To Sink Hull in Ocean.
Chairman Fitzgerald, Of the appro-
priations committee, admitted that it
is the present intention Of the govern
ment to tow the rear part Of the hull
out into the ocean and sink it, with
the naval honor that goes to a gallant
battleship.
II believe it would be better for the
peopla to get what We can for the
ship" declared Representative Macon,
of Arkansas, who opened the fight for
the sale of the hull. There are plen-
ty of novelty seekers and Con2y Is
landites who would gladly take the old
carcass where it is, and pay a good
price for it, in order to get it over
here, and charge so much per look at
it, or sell pieces of it to curio hunters
at so much per curio.''
Mr.. Macon's proposal to cut out the
appropriation to complete the work
on the Maine was defeated.
would not tolerate making a public
show of that old vessel" said Mr.. FitZ-
gerald. There are some things that
are sacred to the people, and among
them are the remains OF. men or of
vessels lost in defense of the nation.
I would deplore the American govern
ment attempting to make profit out
of this ship, merely to crafty the idle
curiosity of any people of the Unit
ed States"
Offers of Nearly S1,0O0,O0O Made !!
Representative Sisson, of Missis-
sippi, who was one of the committee
of congress that recently visited the
wreck and inspected the work, then
attempted to secure the adoption of
an amendment authorizing the war
department to invite bids from pri- 1
vate parties for the rear portion of
the hull, to be used for exhibition pur-
poses. He said General Bixby, in |
charge of the work at Havana, stated |
that several tentative offers had been
received from the United States, some
of them approaching s1,OOO,O00. !;
Mr.. Sisson said he did not consider
it as opposed to the desires of the !!
American people to provide for pub
lie exhibition of the wreck of the l
Maine under private auspices. i
Z would have no objection to hav-
ing it towed I'D the Mississippi river
and exhibited to my Children de- 4
clared Mr.. Sisson. !
The house refused to sanction any
sale of the Maine. The bill as passed
would permit the secretary of the navy
to give a portion Of the wreck to the !
city of Havana for a public monu-
ment, such request having been made
by the president of Cuba, and would
authorize the secretaries Of war and "
navy to grant other portions as souv- !;
enirs to cities, patriotic societies or |
survivors or heirs CT survivors Of the /
vessel. i