Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-03-19

Washington, March 17.-There was
the usual full attendance in the senate
Monday by persons anticipating a
continuance of the Cuban dis
~ussion. Elkins rep, w Va) offered
resolution directing the committee on
foreign relations before vote is taken
on the resolution to make report to
the senate Of all material facts on the
subject; specifically whether war ex-
listed in Cuba and for how long;
whether the insurgents have adopted
constitution, organized a government
In what place the seat of government;
what places and ports are occupied by
the insurgents, how would recognition
affect our relations with Spain. On re-
quest Mr.. Sherman consented that the
resolution go over. Palmer (denI, lid
offered a resolution declaring that un-
limited coinage of silver by the United
States would subvert existing legal and
commercial values. At | o'clock Mr.
Lodge rep, Mass.) was recognized for
speech on immigration. He said that
the bill under discussion proposed to
make a new class of excluded immi-
grants, those totally ignorant. 1t was
found that illiteracy as a test would
bear most heavily on the Italians, Rus
SLAMS, Poles, Hungarians, Greeks and
Asiatics and very lightly on the Eng
lish speaking Germans, Scandinavians
and French immigrants. 1t would ex-
clude for the most part those who re-
main in cities and furnish large part
of the pOulatiOns of slums, not those
who go south and west where immi
grafton is needed He said if congress
had any regard for the American work
to restrict foreign immigration. From
Incoming skilled mechanics or trained
educated men with settled occupations
there is no danger.
Mr.. Sherman called up the Cuban
resolutions and Mr. Morgan (dem.,
Aia.), addressed the senate on them.
The senators said American people
had expressed their views on the Gu
ban belligerency and independence by
a great deluge of petitions and memo
rails. He read from Minister de
Lomes statement and commented on
it as he went along. The statement
said the insurgents had no fixed place
of organization, being driven from
place TO place. The senator asked
what permanent place our continental
congress held during the revolution. 1t
was driven about, and when the Brit
ish burned Washington fourteen men,
bers of congress were refugees in Viz
ginia, and yet the Spanish minister
raised the point that struggling peo-
pie must have permanent capital. AS
matter of fact, the senator insisted
the insurgents have capital as shown
by the reports from the newspaper
correspondents.
The senate judiciary committee re-
ported to the senate a substitut for the
house bill fixing the salaries of United
States district attorneys, marshals and
deputies AS a rule it raises the sal
aries
The vice president Monday laid be-
fore the senate the reply of the inter
state commerce commission to the
senate resolution asking information
concerning its customs, rules, regula-
tons and agreements and charges of
certain railroad companies. First the
commission reports that there is no
agreement or regulation in writing
other than the regularly established
tariffs and rate sheets between the rail
road companies whose lines extend to
or through the Missouri river points,
as TO what rate shall be maintained to
and from such points In proportion to
distances, the rates charged are higher
west than east Of the Missouri river.
Whether such differences in charges is
reasonable and warranted by the law,
is involved in several complaints before
the commission. The commission is of
the opinion that additional legislation
is required to better protect public in
terests.