The Portland daily press., 1896-02-25
DOlNGS AT THE CAPITAL.
Senator Saffery Wants to Amend
Tariff Bill.
WIDOW OF WALTER GRESHAM
PENSIONED.

Senator Peffer Offers an Amendment to
Senator Lodges Resolution For an In
yestigation By the Finance Committee
in Regard to the Recent Bond Sales
Speaker Reed Announces His vetoes.
Washington, Feb. "a, In the Senate
today the bill granting pension
of $500 month to the widow
of the late Secretary of State Walter @.
Gresham. as brig adler general, with an
amendment reported by the pensions
committee. reducing the amount to 800.
was taken up. Mr.. Turpie moved that
the amendment be conourred in and he
addressed the Senate on the subject. The
committee amendment was agreed to and
the bill, granting Mrs. Gresham a PEN
sion OF 500 q month, was passed.
The resolution heretofore offered by
Mr.. Lodge for investigation by the
finance committee of all the facts and
circumstances connected with the sale Of
United States bonds for 1894 to 1895,
was taken up and substitute for it was
offered by Mr.. PETER, enlarging the
scope of the inquiry and directing it to
be made by select committee of five
Mr.. Lodge moved to lay the substitute
on the table but the motion was dis
agreed to. yeas l6; nays 81.
The discussion of the matter was still
going on when the vice President at 2
p. M, announced the closing of the
morning hour and laid before the Senate
the concurrent resolution relating to the
belligerenu rights of the Cuban insur-
gents.
In the Senate today Mr.. Lodge, Repub-
lican OF Massachusetts,, introduced bill
to reorganize the personnel OF the navy
Among other changes it creates "a reserve
list with waiting orders, pay to which
may voluntarily be assigned. The age of
commanders was fixed at forty-six and
the lower grades to forty years.
Mr.. Frye introduced bill amending
the laws relating to American seamen.
The bill WAS to license second and third
mates on sea-going steam vessels. 1t was
favorably reported to the Senate To-Day
and and placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Morgan, Democrat of Alabama. re-
sumed his speech on the Cuban question.
He reviewed the history Of Cuba, dwell
ing upon the, oruelty and oppression
practiced by the Spanish rulers and
soldiers on the people Of the island. He
quoted the statement of an accurate and
abls historian, that in the last ten years.
WdA Au SuUn3 U1l0 Op6sulSn IululSlSE hu-
mitted that in addition to 13, 800 Cubans
killed in battle, 43, 900 prisoners were put
to death.
When he first read that, he said he en-
Quirad of himself what Christia nifty had
been doing in the world if in this age it
were possible that such things could be
done in an island like Cuba, and "this
grand free republic could sit indifferent
ly by knowing the facts, and not un-
sheath tina sword and strike to death the
brutal monarch who inflicted them.''
Mr.. Call. Democrat of Florida read ex-
tt acts from pamphlet by Clarence King
rehearsing instances of horrible atrocities
by the Spanish troops in Cuba. Mr..
Morgan said the American people could
go no further in their forbearance with
out stain on their national honor and
without doing injustice to the govern
ment and the people of the United States.
He read extracts from reports of the
United States consuls in Cuba as to the
progress and prospects Of the insurgents
and summed them up by saying that the
uprising had gone TO an extent of great
public war and the likelihood was that in
the end the Cubans would achieve their
liberty.
When Mr.. Morgan took his seat with
| out fntahing bis speech, Mr.. White,
Democrat of California offered substi-
tute for concurrent resolution declaring
| that the Senate contemplates with
| solicttude and profound regret the suffer-
ings and destruction accompanying the
civil conflict now in progress in Cuba
and expressing the trust that the Execu-
tive Department will, at as early day as
the facts will warrant, recognize the
belhgerency Of those who are in arms
against Spain and that the good offices of
the United States may be prudently and
peacefully and effectively exerted to the
end that Cuba may be enabled to estab-
lish permanent government of her own
ohoioe.
The subject went over until tomorrow,
when Mr.. Morgan will continue his
speech.
This House bill to provide for an ex-
tension by five yearsof the time within
which suits may be brought to vacate,
and annual land patents to railroad com
panies was passed.
The Vice President announced his
signature to the urgency deficiency bill
and after an executive session the Senate
adjourned.
The Senate today confirmed the follow
ing nominations:
John Harlow of Missouri and VIM. g.
Rioe of New York, civil service commits
siOners.
VIM. M. Baldwin of New York, third
| assistant secretary of state.
IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Brewster, Republican OF New
York, today introduced in the House q
bill to protect the silver mining indus
try in this country by taking from the
free list of the tariff bill, silver bullion,
| silver coins and silver ores, making them
dutiable at 30 per cent advalorem.