Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-06-05
FIFTY-FOUR7H CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, June 5.
SENATE.

w SSh14N04O4NS
SENATE.
A resolution to amend the rules so
as to have the general appropriation
bills referred to the several committees
having the subject matter IN charge
was offered by MIR. Proctor and REFER
red.
Amendments to the resolution as to
the reorganization of the Northern Pa.
cific Railroad Company-in reference
to the lands of the company-were Oh
fered by Senators Mitchell and Nelson
and were referred.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Morgan
in relation to United States citizens cap
tured on the American vessel Competl-
tor in Cuban waters and sentenced to
death or Imprisonment, was laid before
the Senate, and Mr.. Morgan made an
argument in support of the resolution.
The only information, he said, which
the committee on foreign relations had
on the subject was from the public
prints, and from the testimony OF MIR.
Lawrence before sub committee, con-
sisting of Mr.. Davis and himself, and
which he would have published in the
Record.
A question was raised by Mr.. Turpie,
member of the committee on foreign
relations, as to whether that testimony
should be made public, as it had not
vet come before the committee. The
point was endorsed by Mr.. Sherman,
chairman of the committee, who said,
however, that personally he had no OBJ
lection to its being made public.
"Very WE'LL" Mr.. Morgan said in a
fault-fnding tone, ''if the committee
wants delay or wants any hiding OF
facts, or any concealment from the
country, all very WELL"
II have no objection to Its being
made public" Mr.. Sherman explained,
"if the Senator from Alabama thinks
that it ought to be-"
Mr.. Morgan proceeded with his
speech.
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 the
23d of May, that, in his Judgment, it
was incompatible with the public SER
vice to furnish copies of the correspond
| ence, 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. "There is so much obscurity as to
the situation" Mr.. Morgan, continued,
"on account of Spanish censorship of
the press and of the telegraph, that
of course the whole world is in the
dark as to what transpires in Cuba"
Further on in his speech, Mr.. Morgan
said: 81 want to know from the Presi-
dent of the United States what the sit
uation is before this Congress adjourns
and goes home. / have the utmost
reverence and respect for the Office of
chief executive of the United States
That is an American characteristic. 1t
is one in which I really rejoice. At
the same time this is country of law.
No man can move in the executive de-
partment, the legislative department
or the judicial department except I'M
der the restraint and direction of law.
When we get this information from the
President the oommittee on foreign re-
lations will know whether it is nee
essary to report to the Senate.
Mr.. Morgan went on to say that he
deprecated the sending to Cuba of arms
and munitions of war by American
citizens; because that was violation
of law. But it was physical, political,
and moral impossibility to prevent it.
The people had fretted SO long at the
enormities of Spanish barbarities in
Cuba that they had become FESTIVE and
were unwilling to obey their own laws
which were overriden by the instincts
and sympathies of common humanity.
Mr.. Morgan said that Congress should
not adjourn without learning the facts
of the Competitor matter from the Pres
ident and without authorizing the
President to send out ships of war to
Cuba to demand and secure the release
OF American citizens. At the close of
Mr.. Morgan's speech, Mr.. Sherman said
that the subject was one which should
not be debated in public; and he NOV
ed that the galleries be cleared.
That motion was agreed to; the gal
leries were cleared, and the doors
closed; and the debate was continued in
secret session.
Mr.. Morgan was still speaking, in
secret session, when the morning hour
expired, and Mr.. Lodge claimed the
floor on motion to take up the immi-
grafton bill.
The doors were thereupon opened
and the struggle for precedence was re.
newed in open session, MIR. Lodge still
yersisting in his effort to have the i'm
migration bill taken up; but it was evil
dent that the Cuban question had not
been definitely settled in the secret ses-
sion, for there was motion made to al
low Mr.. Morgan to continue his re-
marks. That motion again provoked
demand to have the galleries cleared
and the doors closed. This demand
was enforced, and the Senate sgain
went into secret session.
In secret session the Morgan resolu-
ton was ordered to be placed on the
calendar, so that it cannot be taken up
again unless majority of the Senate
shall vote to take it up.
After the doors were opened for the
second time, MIR. Lodge renewed his
motion to take up the immigration bill;
but obstructive tactics were resorted to,
and quorum id not vote. The last
vote on the motion was yeas %, nays s.
During the course of the discussion,
Senators Sherman and Lodge, who had
tuoito6 ,,pon tho procidant oo n ,,h