Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-03
IN THE SENATE.
A Resolution Asking Information
from the Spanish Government Con-
cerning the Treatment Accorded
Certain American Citizens.

Washington. March 1.-The bill
passed by the Senate to-day for the in
crease Of the navy attracted considera-
BILE attention in view of the tension over
Cuban-Spanish affairs. In explaining
the measure, Mr.. Hale, of Maine, who
reported it from the Naval Committee,
said that while he did not believe the
United States would be involved in war
as a result of the present troubles, yet
he considered it desirable to give the
President authority in case of emer-
gency to call ont the naval militia and
charter private ships for naval trans
/ ports. The bill as passed authorizes
the addition of 900 enlisted men 10
the navy, the enlisting for not more
than two years of the naval militia
| forces i'm cases of emergency and the
chartering of transport ships in case OF
emergency The bill passed under the
! fve-minuete rule and by unanimous
vote. Another bill of general interest
passed. which establishes retired list
for the revenue marine service, similar
to the retirement system OF the army
and navy. Most of the day was given
| to the Senate calendar and many minor
bills were passed.
The Spanish-Cuban question came 10
the attention of the Senate soon after
the Senate opened to-day when Mr..
Cal Dem. Fla.) urged the adoption
of the following resolution:
Resolved. by the Senate. that the
/ President of the United States be re-
quested to demand of the government
of Spain a statement as TO the truth
of the charges made in a letter pub
| lished i'm the newspaper purporting 10
be from Mr.. Gomez. late editor OF the
la Tucha. a newspaper published IN
Havana, that he had been tortured
while confined in a dungeon in the bare
ground for two months in the penal
! cololNN of Spain, TO eXteort from MIN
! evidence against Julius Sanguilly,
naturaliZed citizen of the United States,
and subsequently killed the said Co
mez: also to insist on a full report or
the evidence and all the proceedings IN
the alleged civil trial of julius San
gully. i'm which it is charged that the
said Sanguly was condemned TO I'M
Drisonment for life at Ceuta on suspi-
cion only and without evidence; also
10 demand the release Of Charles Mich
elson and Lorenzo Betancourt. corre-
spondents of the New York newspapers,
who are charged only with entering
within the insurgent lines to obtain in
formation: also to demand OF Spain that
all American citizens who shall be cap
tured by the Spanish forces shall be
treated as prisoners of war, and be
accorded humane treatment, and to in
form the Spanish government that the
United States will in sist on TINS 'e-
mand.
Mr.. Call read from newspaper eX-
tracts the report of the barbarities COM
mitted upon Gomez and other notes set-
ting forth that the wife Of Gomez had
received a letter from him written in his
blood shortly before he died IN the
Spanish colony in Africa.
The Senator declared that Americans
serving i'm the Cuban army were being
shot to death without trial He de-
clared that the recent action OF 'ne
Senate should be supplemented by steps
10 secure humane treatment of prison.
ers taken by the Spanish troops.
Mr.. Sherman moved to refer the reso-
luton to the foreign relations commit
tee. which was agreed 10.
The bill TO prevent the desecrauon Of
the national flag was made the special
order for Friday next at 3 o'clock.
The House resolutions on Cuba were
reported and ON motion of Mr.. Lodge
were referred to the committee on for
eign relations.
At AS the Senate held brief exec
utive session, and then adjourned.