Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17
Disposition of the Wreck of
BattIeship Maine.
PLAN OF THE ENGINEERS
House Declines to Interfere With the
Program Adopted.
MEMBERS CLASH IN DEBATE
Item in Deficiency Bill Provokes
Discussion of Character Classed
as White Hot.

The wreck OF the hattlesElip Maine now
heing raised from the bottom of Havana
harbor, VIII be given honorable burial in
the deep This has been the plan of
the engineers in charge of the work from
the very first. but it was only last even
ing that the House Of REPRESENTATIVES. bv
voting down several propositions to dis
pose of the hulk of the historic vessel in
various ways declined TO interfere. and
the original plan Will be carried out.
During the debate there was a sharp
verbal clash between Representa- ives Sis
son Of Mississippi and Mann of Illinois
The urgent deficiency appropriation bill
which was passed by the House at pm.
yesterday. carries an appropriation of
S1N,ED for continuing the work on the
Maine. The item was not allowed with
out "a good deal of discussion, but when
it came to vote the sentiment of t.e
House was practically unanimous in ia
vor of the deep burial scheme
Representative Macon of Arkansas who
thinks that the government has sp.nt>too
much money in the salvage OF the wreck
OF the historic vessel, wanted the addi-
uonai quarter of a million terminating
S9~,'sD IN all arpropriate6-stricken from
the bill. lie proposed that the wreck be
soid TO a company that has offered al
hlbiting the hulk at Coney Island.
Resented by Chairman Fitzgerald.
Representative Fitzgerald of New York
chairman of the House appropriations
committee, resented the suggestion.
There are some things he said. re-
plying to Mr.. Macon. that the people
of this country hold sacred and among
them are the dead bodies of men and
the wrecks Of ships that go to destruc-
ton i'll the service of the country
Wild applause followed Mr. FITZGERALD s
brief speech, and Mr.. Macon was the
only member who voted for his propo-
stiOn.
Later Representative S;sson of Missis-
sippi became involved in a heated argu-
ment with Minority Leader Mann. Mr.
Sisson had followed Mr. Macon with an
other proposition that the wreck of the
Maine be melted up and sold as souye-
Mrs.
Il am surprised" said Mr.. Mann, that
any one would offer such an amendment.
am more surprised that having proposed
a sale of the remains of the Maine in or
der to raise money, the gentleman did
not include in his proposition the selling
battIeship. Both might bring a large
sum of money.
Makes Angry Retort.
Mr.. Sisson bounced out of his seat to
reply. He was red in the face and
choking with rage.
Il may have been guilty of a great
many indiscretions, he said, but I
trust l shall never get to be as brutal
as the gentleman from Illinois. The re-
mark he made when he wanted to know
why l had not put into this amendment
sale of the bones of these sailors is
absolutely gratuitous. 1t emanates evil
IDENTIFY from desire to wound and not
for the purpose of aiding the discussion.
He should not submit member who is
endeavoring to perform his duty, as he
sees it, to that sort of insinuation and
insult when it is offered. l have always
been willing and ready to take care of
myself but the rules of the House will
not permit me to do and say those things
which are necessary.
Might See Him Later.
IF the gentleman from Illinois wishes
to reflect upon me and my motives, then
| can only say that there are times On
numerous occasions he has seen fit and
proper not only by his words, but by his
manner, to be offensive to members Of this
becoming in the gentleman from Illinois
to make this sort of an insinuatiOn when
he is protected by the rules of the
House
Mr. Sisson had scarcely taken his seat
when Mr.. Mann secured the floor for the
purpose of remarking, with white heat
emphasis, that he did not have anil need
for the protection of the House rules
The Sisson motion was overwhelmingly
defeated and the incident closed.