The record-union., 1896-01-21


WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.-Major-
General Nelson A Miles, commanding
the United States army, states that he
has heard nothing of the extraordinary
rumor telegraphed from Florida that
the State militia has been ordered out
at the request of the President of the
United States, as preliminary to the
probable recognition of the Cuban in
surgents Any such order would neces-
sarily pass through General Miles
hands.
Secretary Lamont had not reached
the War Department up to noon to-day,
therefore no authentic denial could be
obtained from him, but all the other
leading officials of the War Department
united in discrediting the sensational
rumors sent out.
The statute of the United States
which empowers the President to call
upon the militia of the States in certain
emergencies was passed the 2Sth of
February, 1885 It's leading provisions
were Incorporated in Section 1,642 of
the Revised Statutes, as follows:
whenever the United States are in
vaded or in imminent danger of inva-
sion from any foreign nation or Indian
tribe, or of rebellion against the author
ity of the Government of the United
States, it is lawful for the President to
call for such a number of militia of the
State or States most convenient to the
place of danger as he may. deem neces-
sary"
Inasmuch as this section requires the
President to be first informed of i'm
minent danger of invasion" before talk
ing action, and inasmuch as no official
of the War Department, through whom
the orders must be sent, has received
the slightest intimaticn of an intention
on the part of the President to call on
the Florida militia or to request that
they be held in readiness, the whole
story is set down as an imaginary pro-
duction.
RESORTING TO THE TORCH.
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Jan. TO- (via
Key West, Fla, Jan. 20.)-The guerril-
las of Guantanamo have set fire to sew
eral houses in the Singer Iron Mining
Company village, and have stolen much
property belonging to the said company.
Mr.. Singer, the manager, has applied to
the American Consul here and also pre-
sented protest to the Governor asking
for redress.
RAILROAD ACROSS THE ISLAND.
HAVANA, Jan. 20-The railroad
across the island of Cuba, having for
its terminal Havana on the north and
Batabano on the south. was opened
yesterday The correspondent of the
United Press was one of the passengers
on the first train to run over the road.
AT stations along the line the residents
had assembled and greeted the train
upon its arrival with much enthusiasm.
The insurgent leader AIaceo, with his
command, is said to be west Of Quivi-
can. General Sabos Mari is going TO
Porto Rico, having been appointed 10
succeed General Gamir, Governor of
that Province, who died of yellow fever
yesterday.
THE FLYING SQUADRON.
LONDON, Jan. 2O.-The United Press
has the authority of the admiralty for
the statement that no information
whatever regarding where the flying
squadron is going or where it is not
going, has been given to anybody.
The London newspapers tomorrow
will print the following communication
which has been issued to them by the
port from washington of alleged tele-
graphic correspondence between United
States Secretary Of State Olney and
Lord Salisbury respecting the move
ments of the British fleet, we are Off
cially informed that no communication
has passed between her majesty's Gov
ernment and the Government of the
United States upon any naval ques-
ton"
FAVOR RECOGNIZING REBELS.
WASHINGTON, JAN 2O.-The Senate
sub Committee on Foreign Relations
charged with the investigation of the
Cuban situation, of which Senators
Sherman, Morgan and Lodge are the
members, this morning discussed the
matter referred to them for an hour
and a half. 1t can be said that these
Senators are unit in their opinion as
to what, under certain conditions,
should be done. They are each in favor
of the recognition of the insurgents as
belligerents, but they have been unable
to convince themselves that the time
has come for such a resolution, or that
the insurgents have accomplished that
which will justify the United States in
taking such steps.
Beyond this there is also the facr
which has been fully and carefully dis
cussed, that recognition of the insur-
gents is that that act belongs solely to
the function of the Executive Com
mittee. The President may, when he
deems the time opportune. grant this
recognition without the Intervention of
Congress, mad it is thought by some to
be the best policy to leave it in the
hands of the President
Tt is believed, however, that this SUBJ
committee will report material prog
ress when the full committee meets on
Wednesday. If they are confronted
with the convincing fact that the insur-
gents have not done that which justi-
fes the passage Of a resolution by Con-
gress asking the President to grant the
recognition asked, the committee will
probably do the next best thing, and
order a favorable report on resolution
declaring the sympathy of this Govern
ment with those in rebellion against the
Spanish Government, and expressing
the strong hope that they may ulti-
mately triumph.