The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-06-05
MORGAN SAT UPON.
Senate Turns Down a Be1li-
cose Resolution Against
Spain.
ABOUT TBE COMPETITORS CREW
Partisan Capital Manufactured in
the House Out Of Civil Ser
vice Discharges.

sence of both President Stevenson
and the President pro tenn of the SEN
ate (Mr. Frye, of Maine), the Chair was
taken today by Mr.. Platt eRep.. Comm.
resolution to amend the rules so as
TO have the General Appropriation bills
referred to the several committees hav-
ing the subject matter in charge was of
fered by Mr.. Proctor (Rep., Vt), and
referred to the Committee on Rules.
Amendments to the joint resolution as
to the reorganization of the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company-in reference
to the lands of the company-were Of
fered by Senators Mitchell Rep... Ore.)
and Nelson (Rep., Mimi and were re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee.
The resolution offered last Wednesday
by Mr.. Morgan Dem., Ala), in relation
to United States citizens captured on the
American vessel Competitor in Cuban
waters, and sentenced to death or i'm
prisonment, was laid before the Senate,
and Mr.. Morgan made an argument in
support Of the resolution.
The Competitor incident, he said, oc-
CURED in the middle of May, but the
information on the subject from the
Executive Department of the Govern
ment Under the statute it was made
the duty of the President to demand
forthwith the reasons for the imprison-
ment of Americans under foreign COVE
ernment and to demand their release if
such imprisonment appeared wrongful.
The only information which the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations had on the
subject was from the public prints and
from the testimony of Mr.. Lawrence
before a subcommittee, consisting of
Mr. Davis Rep., Minn) and himself,
and which he would have published in
the Record.
A question was raised by Mr.. Turpie
Dem, Ind.), member of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, as to wheth-
er that testimony should be made pub
lie. as It had not yet come before the
committee. The point was endorsed by
Mr. Sherman (Rep., Ohio, Chairman of
the Committee. who said. however, that
personally he had no objection to its be-
ing made public.
Very well,' Mr.. Morgan said, in a
fault-finding tone IF the committee
wants delay or wants any hiding of facts
or any concealment from the country, all
very well.'
Il have no objection to It's being made
public Mr.. Sherman explained, '.if the
Senator from Alabama thinks that ii
ought to be-
Mr.. Morgan proceeded with his speech.
He quoted further from the Act re-
ferred to, providing that in case such
release from imprisonment is unreason-
ably delayed or refused, the President
shall take such means, not amounting
to war, as he may think proper to effect
it.
A resolution of the Senate last month
had asked the President to send copies
Of the correspondence on the subject
and the President had replied, on ene 2Sd
of May, that, in his Judgment, it was
Incompatible with the public service to
furnish copies of the correspondence,
and that he was constrained to refrain
from doing SO.
Mr.. Morgan claimed that the Senate
was entitled under the mandatory law
referred to, to request the President
again to furnish the information asked for.
When received. it would be a sufficient
predicate on which to act. The PreSi-
dent had no right under the statutes TO
withhold the informa ton. The Senate
had right to know whether American
citizens had been tried by Spanish
tribunal; whether sentence of death had
been passed upon them; whether the Pres
ident had made a demand for their re-
lease, and what the reply to that demand
He did not want Congress to leave
Washington with this matter in the hands
of the President. He wanted Congress to
perform it's duty to these American citi-
zens in Cuba under sentence of death un-
der a false Spanish accusation. The. testi-
mony to which he had referred showed
what tho proceedings of the court martial
that tried one of the prisoners mad been.
They had been conducted in the Spanish
language. and when the accused was. re-
quired TO stand up and answer he said he
knew nothing of what was going on
Thereupon, after short explanation, he
had been sentenced to death: "Taat was
done" Mr.. Morgan exclaimed. while we
he'd a treaty with Spain which forbid alb
solutely any such proceeding against an
American citizen-at least in time of
ns h ss ega and ban suqs Is an altitude o
peace. 1t never has been disturbed. We
have not recognized that war exists in
Cuba
Minn) interposed, Spain has never pro-
claimed martial law against these belli-
gerents, in relation to forbidding inter-
course from outside.
situation,' Mr.. Morgan continued, ION
account of . Spanish censorship of the
press and of the telegraph. that of course
the whole world is in the dark as to
what transp,res IN Cuba. We hear the
groans and shrielSs and outcries Occa-
cionally some missive is sent out by
private persons to the outside world
that informs us of the butcheries going
on in that terrible place, but so far as
authentic information is concerned.
either relating to what is transpirng in
Cuba in the massacre of human beings,
or relating to the legal status there we
have to rely. in some measure, on mere
rumors as we gather them from the press
and other sources.
Further on, in his speech, Mr. Morgan
said:--"I want to know from the Presi-
dent of the United States what the stu
alton IS before this Congress adjourns
and goes. home Are we going to ad-
iourn next Monday or Tuesday, and leave
these men in Jail in Havana? I have the
utmost reverence and respect for the
Office of Chief Executive of the United
States That is an American Character
fstic 1t is one in which really rejoice.
sat the same time this is a country
of law No man can move i'll the execu-
tive department. the legislative depart
ment or the judicial department except
under the restraint and direction of law
This is a country of law-not country
ruled by the private will of any of the
departments. The President of the Unit
ed States is enioined by the Constitution
20 execute faithfully the law. When we
get this infornG ton from the President
the Committee on Foreign Relations win
know whether it is necessary to report
to the Senate. 1t may turn out that the
Spanish Government has receded from its
claim of right: or it may turn out that
We will be humiHated by having the
Jurisdiction and power or the Spanish