The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1911-12-22
maine WRECK
NO SIDESHOW
PROJECT TO AUTHORIZE SALE
OF HULL FOR EXHIBITION
PURPOSE MEETS DEFEAT.
CITIES TO GET SOUVENIRS
Urgent Deficiency Bill, Providing
$250,o00 to Complete Work OF
Raising Ship, Passes the
House.

Washington, ID. C. - Efforts to au-
thorize the sale of the hull of the bat
tleship Maine to private parties who
desire to exhibit it 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 $250,000 to complete the
work of raising the Maine, after a
hard fight passed the house without
change
1t was admitted in the debate that
offers approaching $1,000,000 have
been received from exhibition inter
ests for the rear portion of the hull,
which can be fitted with a 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-
ations 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 Mississip.
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 $1,000,000. 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.
Il 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-
tion of the wreck to the city of Ha.
vana for a public monument, a re-
quest for it having been made by the
president of Cuba, and would author
ize the secretary of war and the sec.
retary 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
economy program. The reply from
the democratic side was by introduc-
tion of a resolution by Representative
Palmer of Pennsylvania, leader of the
economy board. to cut the annual
mileage allowance from 20 cents per
cratic forces split on the proposition
and the plan was voted down So 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 S5,000,000 in 1912, $4,000, 900 in
1913. $l5,0O0,000 in 1914. $4,000 900
in 1915 and s30000,000 in 1916. The
federal expenditures on each road Is
limited to one-half the total cost.
Predicts No Building Bill.
Democratic Leader Underwood of
the house predicted that the caucus of
the house Democrats would not author
lie public building bill at this ses-
sion, Notwithstanding the public build
ing committees recommendation for il.
Mr.. Underwood said the matter un-
doubtedly would be considered in eau.
Gus. To give everyone fair show, an
appropriation of from S25, 100000 to
$30,000,000 he said. would be necessary
and the Democratic leaders do not
want such bin TO clash with their
economy program.
Sugar Raise to Be Probed.
An investigation TO determine why
the price of sugar was increased sew
eral cents pound last summer was
begun by the house committee APP
pointed to investigate sugar condi,
finnS Letters were sent To all tho