The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-06-06

WASHINGTON, June 5.-Mr. Morgan
gave the senate spirited revival OF
the Cuban question today, after which
most of the day was spent in waiting
for correspondence on appropriation
bills.
Mr.. Morgan urged the adoption OF
his resolution calling on the president
for information in regard to the Amer
leans taken on the Competitor. and
now under sentence OF death in Ha-
vana. The senator said the presidents
action was a violation OF law. MT.
Morgan declared congress should not
adjourn without requesting the presl-
dent to send warships to Cuoa 10 ae-
mand the release of the American
prisoners.
On the suggestion of Mr.. sherman
chairman of rhe committee of foreign
relations. the senate went into secret
session, and after a few arguments by
Mr.. Morgan, his resolution was placed
on the calendar, preliminary move
ment equivalent to postpon1ng actlon.
After a brief period of fflibustering
the immigration bill was made the I'M
finished business of the senate, al
though the debate on it was not be-
gun.
The question of electing senators by
the people was discussed by senators
Mitchell, Perkins, Chandler, Palmer
and Hawley.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
Amendments to the joint resolution
for the reorganization of the Northern
Pacific were offered in the senate to-
day by Mr. Mitchell (Rep-, Ore) pro-
viding that the new company shall be
liable for the land tracts of the old
company, also for injuries to persons
and property.
Mr.. Morgan asked for action on his
resolution requesting the president for
information as to the capture of the
Competitor by the Spanish warship and
the condemnation to death of United
| States citizens, and whether any de-
mand had been made for the release
of the citizens The senator said that
while the case was one of gravity, in
| volving the unwarranted concentration
! to death of American citizens, yet no
information except through the press
reports and rumors had been received.
The executive branch had not given
! the slightest information on the sub
/ iect.
| Mr.. Morgan read the statutes requtr-
| ing the president to make demand for
| the release of the American citizens.
DUTY OF THE PRESIDENT.
He argued it was the duty of the
president under the constitution to
keep congress advised on the state of
the Union, and particularly on foreign
| affairs OF late a courteous custom had
| 10
requests on the president for informa-
ton, but this did not relieve the presi-
dent from the duty of giving full in
| formation. And it was only of late,
Mr. Morgan said, this failure of the
/ executive to give information to con-
gress had grown.
Some question was raised by Mr..
Sherman as to the propriety of the
Mr.. Morgan making public the use OF
the testimony of Lawrence before the
! committee on foreign relations.
The Alabama senators stoutly re-
Joined that there should be no such
concealment of facts from the coun-
| try.
Mr. Morgan said the testimony OF
Lawrence, who was present at the
Competitor trials at Havana, showed
the grossly irregular character of the
proceedings.
"And yet" declared the senator eth
president has paid no other attention
/ to the subject than if it had been tn
slaughter of some poor negro o
mulatto in the Cuban army
Mr. Morgan said he did not wan
committing to the president the sol
authority to demand or withhold tn
demand for the release of America
citizens and to recognize or withhold
recognition of belligerency.
Mr. Mills reminded Mr.. Morgan tina
Lawrence's testimony had shown tina
THE AMERICANS ON TRIAL
at Havana had not understood any o
the proceedings, which were conducte
in Spanish.
Yes Mr.. Morgan continued, "tha
testimony of Mr.. Lawrence shows tina
the entire trial was in the SPANS
language. When the American prison
er was told to stand up, he said, I
not understand what you have bee
saying. How am 1 to answer you? !
brief explanation was made. Then tn
sentence was pronounced on tina
American citizen"
The senator said occasional groan
and shrieks were heard from tn
stricken country telling of the terribl
butchery going on there.
some with the seals broken, detailin
4 the conditions prevalent there Befor
the senate adicurns it should knov
from the president what the situatio
there is. and whether American cit
zens are to meet death without Pre-
tes:.
Mr.. Morgan said he had great respec
for the office Of the president. 1t wa
an American characteristic to b
proud of the government But thi
was a government of law, not of
provisional will. The president is or
joined to
EXECUTE THE Law.
The senate had requested informatio
of the president and he replied that
was Incompatible with public interes
although section 2,00f of the statute
provided that when demand was mad
for the release of American citizens
"All facts relative thereto as soon a
practicable, should be communicate
by the president to congress"
! The senator declared that every da