The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-11
DID MIR. MORGAN, FOR FAILURE
TO GIVE DATA ON THE COM
PETITOR CASE.
TWO MORE DEMOCRATS UNSEATED.
In House-Empty Seats Counted to Get
Quorum-Senate Cuban Debate
Got So Heated that Il Secret
Session Was Necessary.

gave lHe senate u fplTllth revival vi wv
Cuban question today, after which
much time was spent in waiting for con
ference agreements on appropriation bills
Mr.. Morgan urged the adoption Of his
resolution calling on the president for in
formation of the Americans taken on
the Competitor and now under scntenc,
Vt death at Havana. The senator as.
serted that the presidents inaction was
violation of the law.
Mr.. Morgan declared that congress
the president TO send warships TO Cuba
10 demand the release of the prisoners
On the suggestion of Mr.. Sherman,
chairman of the committee on foreign re-
lations, the senate went into secret SEES
sion, where, after further argument by
Mr.. Morgan, his resolution was placed
on the calendar.
The privilege of eecting the members
of the senate by popular vote was dis
cussed by Messrs. Palmer, Aldrich,
Hawley and Chandler.
Mr.. Palmer denounced the machine in
his state and announced his defiance of
the machine"
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington, June 5.-Amendmcnts 10
the bill for the reorganization of the
Northern Pacific We're offered by Mr..
Mitchell Rep.) of Oregon and Mr. Mel
son tRep.) of Minnesota, providing that
the new company should be liable ON the
land warrants of the old company and
for injuries to persons or property.
Mr.. Morgan tDem) of alabama asked
for action on his resolution requesting
the president for information as to the
capture of the Competitor by Spanish
warship and the condemnation to death
of United States citizens, and whether
any demand had been made for the re-
lease of United States citizens.
The senator said that while the case
was one of the greatest gravity, in
volving the unwarranted condemnation
to death of American citizens. yet no in
formation was available except through
press reports and rumor. The eXecu-
tive branch had not given the slightest
information on the subject
Mr.. Morgan read the statutes requir-
ing the president to make II demand for
the release of an American citizen. He
argued that the duty of the president,
under the constitution, was to keep CON
gress advised on the state of the Union
and particularly on foreign affairs
Of late courteous custom had arisen
TO adopt resolutions making requests on
the president for information, but this
did not relieve the president from the
duty of giving full information.
And il was only of late days, Mr. Nor
gan said, that the failure of the presi-
dent TO give information to congress had
grown up.
When some question was raised by
Mr. Sherman MS to the propriety of Mr..
Morgan asking public use of the test-
mony of Mr. Lawrence before the COM
mttee on foreign relations, the Alabama
senator sharply rejoned that there
should be no such conccalment and
hiding of facts from the country.
Mr.. Morgan said the testimony of
Lawrence, who was present at the Com
pettor trials at Havana. showed the
grossly irregular character of the pro-
ceedings.
And yet" declared The senator. "thc
president rays no more .tch,iun To the
subject ;san though it had been hut the
slaughter of some poor negro or mulatto
in the Cuban army"
Mr.. Morgan said he did not want con-
gress to leave Washington. thus commit
ting to the president the whole authority
to recognize or withhold recongition of
belligerency.
Mr.. Mills reminded Mr.. Morgan that
the Lawrence testimony had shown that
the Americans on trial at Havana had
not understood any of the proceedings,
which were conducted in Spanish.
yes" Mr.. Morgan continued, the
testimony of Mr.. Lawrence showed that
the entire trial was in the Spanish Ian
guagc. When the American prisoner
was tod to stand up, he said: - do not
understand what you have been saying.
How am to answer youT \ brief cS
plaraticn was made, then the sentence
of death was pronounced on that Ar'cli-
can citl'ur,
The senator said occasional groans
and shrieks were heard from the strick
en- country, telling us of the terrible
butchery going on there, but so far as
authentic and official information was
concerned it was withheld. He had re-
ceived several letters from Cuba. some
with the seal broken. detailing the CON
ditions prevailing. Before congress adj
journs il should know from the president
what the situation in Cuba is whether
it is true that several hundred men are
penned in single small house, whether
these American citizens were to meet
death without demand for their re-
lease.
Mr.. Morgan said he had great respect
for the president. it was an American
characteristic to be proud of their gov
ernment but this is government of law, |
not of private will. The president is |
enjoined to support the law. The senate |
had requested information of the presi- |
dent and he had replied that it was in |
compatible with the public business, al |
though section 200l of the statutes pro-
vides when Il demand was made for the |
release of an American citizen, that all |
facts relative thereto shall as soon as
practicable be communicated by the |
president to congress.
The senator declared that every day /
of confinement of American prisoners at |
Havana was day of dishonor. He did |
not know what caused the delay and in
action. Possibly the Americans would |
be so humble as to sue Spain for pardon: L
but congress, which was the sole power,
should not leave without authorizing
that power to be used if necessary. In
the event that these American prisoners
are not released and delivered. concluded
Mr.. Morgan. we should authorize the
president to send ships of war to Cuba
and make war sufficient to secure their
release.
As Mr.. Morgan closed. Mr.. Sherman
rose quickly and stated that the proceed
ngs were of such character as to come
within senate rule 50. requiring secrecy.
the presiding officer. Mr.
Dlott Iiraotad Tho 90 lIar;ae o., hN olao rol |