The record-union., 1896-06-06
Morgan Speaks on His Resolution Relating
to the Competitor Affair.
Derires Information on the Subject
From the President.
Says Congress Should Not Adjourn
Without Learning the Facts, and
Without Authorizing the President
to Send Out Ships of War TO DE
maud and Secure the Release OF
the Condemned Men.

the Condemned Men.
WASHINGTON, June 5.-The reso-
luton offered last Tuesday by Morgan
of Alabama, requiring the President OF
the United States to communicate 10
the Senate all facts and proceedings
relative to the trial by court martial,
sentence and Imprisonment or cltlzens
of the United States who were captured
on board the American vessel Compel
itor in Cuban waters, was taken UP IN
the Senate to-day, and its adoption
urged by Morgan. The resolution
omitted the usual phrase, IF not IN
compatible with public interests, and
was based upon Section 2OO1 of the
Revised Statutes, which makes 1t the
duty of the President whenever any
citizen of the United States has been
untustly deprived of his liberty by any
foreign Government to demand forth
with the reasons for such imprlson-
ment; to demand the release of such
citizen if his Imprisonment is wrong
full: to use such means not amounting
tC acts of war, as he may think neces-
sary and proper to effect the release,
and to communicate all proceedings to
Congress as soon as it is practlcaple
Morgan in speaking to his resou-
tion, said the Competitor incident oc-
CURED in the middle Of May, but the
Senate had not yet had the slightest
information on the subject from the
Executive Department of the Govern
ment. THE only information which
the Committee on Foreign Relations
had on the subject was from the pub
lie prints and from the testimony or
Mr.. Lawrence before a subcommittee,
and which he would have published in
the Record A resolution of the
Senate last month had asked the Pres
ident to send copies of the correspond
ence on the subject, and the President
replied on the 23d of May that, in his
Judgment, it was Incompatible with the
public service to furnish copies of the
correspondence, and that he was con-
strained to refrain from doing so.
Morgan said Congress should 4.yt ad--
journ without learning the facts of the
Competitor matter from the President,
and without authorizing the President
to send out ships of war to Cuba to de-
mand and secure the release of Amer
ican citizens.
At the close of Morgan's speech
Sherman said the situation was one
which should not be debated in pub
lie, and he moved that the galleries
be cleared. That motion was agreed
to, the galleries were cleared and the
doors closed and the debate was con-
tinued in secret session.
The doors were reopened at 1:05
O'Clock, and a motion was made by
Lodge (Rep) of Massachusetts to have
the immigration bill taken up, but 1t
was evident that the Cuban question
had not been definitely settled in the
secret session, for there was motion
made to allow Morgan to continue his
remarks That motion again provided
a demand to have the galleries cleared
and the doors closed. That demand
was enforced, and the Senate again
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 a majority of the Sen
ate shall vote to take it up.
After the doors were opened for the
second time Lodge renewed his motion
to take up the immigration bill, but IT
was laid aside temporarily in order to
permit Mitchell CRep) of oregon to ad-
dress the Senate on his joint resolution
for constitutional amendment for the
election of Senators by direct vote. He
said. however, that he would not ask
action upon ii until next session.
The proposed reform was also advo-
Gated by Perkins OF California.
Chandler Rep) of New Hampshire
made an argument against it, declaring
1t to be an accession to Populistic ten
denotes.
The proposed reform was advocated
by Palmer Dem.) of Illinois, who said
in the course of his remarks: ION new
issues I have the misfortune to differ
with the political machine of my State.
The machine has the control of that and
other States. The machine is against
me. / defy the machine. 1t remains to
be seen whether the machine is stronger
than the people" He said that a most
salutary result from popular election OF
Senators would be freedom from ma
chine control.
Hawley Rep) of Connecticut ex-
pressed his entire dissent of the propo-
sltion, and the joint resolution was
postponed until the second Monday in
December
Morgan was very emphatic in ex-
pressing his views. He considered II
absolutely necessary before Congress
adjourns to aid the President in sending
ships OF war to Cuba to secure the re-
lease of those American prisoners. He
was go earnest in this and other declar-
ations Of like character, and the mat
ter itself was such a serious intefna-
tional one, that Sherman of Ohio
Chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Relations, suggested that the debate
should not be continued in open session
The galleries were accordingly cleared
the doors closed and Morgan finished
his speech in secret session.
He spoke until the morning hour ex-
pired, and then, under the rules. tht
resolution went to the calendar, from
which it cannot be taken up without 6
majority vote of the Senate.
The immigration bill was taken vi
with the understanding that fina
vote should not be taken on it unit
Monday, as its most active opponent
Gibson of Maryland. was absent OF
official duty as one of the visitors tt
the Annapolis Naval Academy
The proposed constitutional amend