The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-15
Stories of Atrocities Stun Into
Disbelief.
Popullst Senator Allen Created
Something of a Stir.
Wants Committee Appointed to In.
quirc Into Campaign Contributions.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-Rev. I. Dewitt
Taimsse. delivered the prayer at ,he
opening OF the Senate today. 1t was q
feeling and eloquent invocation for
divine blessing on the national law
makers and on the whole people. In the
absence of the vice president Mr.. FRYE
occupied the chair.
MIR. Hale (Rep.. Me-, presented the
report OF the appropriation committee on
the pension bill snd gave notice that he
would call it up tomorrow.
The House concurrent resolution for q
holiday adjournment from Dec. % to Jan.
8, was reported favorably and agreed to.
MIR. Morgan (Dem., Ala.,) presented the
credentials OF Edmund Winston, Pcfits
as senator from A'eosma for the term
beginning March 4 next, to-suceeed Ms..
Pugh.
Mr.. Palmer (Dem., Ill.,) called up one
of the pension bills heretofore vetoed by
the President, but yielded to Mr.. Nor
gan for spsech on Cuba.
Mr.. Morgan said: 1 will confine my
remarks to comments upon the facts
stated in the recent annual message of
the President aud the report of the Sscre.
tary Of State. am not able to discover
that the President has made any specific
recommendations or indication az to any
action he deems il proper or. .expeoient
for Congress to take with reference to
Spain or Cuba. nor that he has indicated
any course, except still patient waiting
that the executive proposes to take. Con.
gress. thus left to Its own Initiative.
must assume its own responsibility in .
matter Of the most erious gravity. Con-
gress must give to the statements OF the
Presidents message, undertaking accept
ancs as to matters that were committed
by the constitution to his especial charge.
When he undertakes to state the facts
that affect our relations with other
powers. we must accept these facts, un-
less the disproof of them 10 overpowsr-
Ing
This message is, therefore, of the most
impressive importapce, as statement Of
the leading facts and conclusions that
bear upon our duties iu respect 10 tho
conflict OF arms which has ragged over two
years in the Island OF Cuba. and II has
the support OF nearly all Americans. I
have not heard that Spain controverts
any statement OF the President's message.
The evidence that comes from private
sources relative to the condition OF Csba
and the horrors OF determination visited
upon the people OF Cuba admits of no
doubt as to its credibility, yet 1t presents
pictures 90 inhuman and 20 dfsgracetul
to the civilization of this age that it
stuns the mind into disbelief that such
things can be true.
Senator Morgan then went on to say
that IT was the duty OF Congress 10 take
such stops as should put an end to the
frightful work now going on In Cubs.
Something of a stir was occssionsd
when MIR. Alien (Populist, Neb.) offered
a resolution for a COMMITTEES of nine
senators 10 be appointed a committee OF
he use of money in elections. The resoiu-
tion directs that the COMMITTEES shall
thoroughly investigate the extent to
which money. II suy, was used in con-
nection with the recent Presidential cleo
ton and 10 inquire ether any sucn ex-
pendliures were excessive, or unlawful
nm d especially to inquire and ascertain to
what extent and for what purposes the
owners OF silver mines, gold n ines, the
bankers, tho manufacturers, the railrosos
or other corporations snd milllona.res OF
III classes made contrib utions,, and
what, II any were made. by persopA
Ind companies residing abroad.
The resolution further empowers the
proposed committee to send for pessons
mo papers, and directs . report by the
irst Monday Of December, tse7.