The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1896-06-06
Morgan Speaks Concerning
the Competitor Case.
CONDEMNS 'cLEvELAND's APATHY
President Should Bestir Himself Co Save
the Prisoners-Justics Was Not
Given Them.

WASHINGTON, June 5.-Amendments
to the joint resolution for reorganization
of the Northern Pacific were offered by
Mitchell and Nelson, providing that the
new company shall be liable on the land
treaties of the old company and also for
injuries to persons and property.
Morgan asked for action on his resolu-
tion requesting the president for infor-
nation as to the capture of the Com
petitor by the Spanish warship and the
condemnation to death of United States
citizens, whether any demand has been
made for the release of the citizens.
The senator said, that while the case
was one of great gravity, involving the
unwarranted condemnation 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 subject.
Morgan read the statutes requiring the
president to make demand for the re-
lease of American citizens. He argued
that it was the duty of the president
under the constitution to keep congress
advised on the state of the Union and in
particular on foreign affairs. Of late a
courteous custom had arisen to adopt
resolutions making the requests on the
president for information, but this did
not relieve the president from the duty
of giving full information, and it was
only of late that this failure of the ex-
ecutive to give information to congress
had grown.
Some question was raised by Sherman
as to the propriety OF Morgan making
public use of the testimony of Lawrence
before the committee on foreign Iela-
tions. The Alabama senator sharply
rejoiced that there, should be no such
concealment of facts from the country.
Morgan said the testimony of Law
renee, who was present at the Com
petitor's trial. at Havana, showed the
grossly irregular character of the pro-
ceedings.
"And yet" declared the senator, ''the
president has paid no more attention to
the subject than if it had been the
slaughter of some poor negro or mulatto
in the Cuban. army"
Morgan said he did not want commit
ted to the president the sole authority
to demand or withhold the demand for
the release of American citizens, and to
recognize or withhold recognition of bell
ligerency. Mills reminded Morgan that
the testimony had shown that the Amer
leans on trial at Havana had not under
stood any proceedings, which were o
Quoted in Spanish.
eyes," Morgan continued, that testi-
mony of Mr.. Lawrence shows the entire
trial was in the Spanish language.
When the American prisoner was told
to stand up he said: L do not under
stand what you have been saying. How
am to answer you?' A brief explana-
ton was made. Then sentence was
pronounced on that American citizen.''
The senator said that occasional groans
and shrieks were heard from the strick-
en- country, telling of the terrible butch
cry going on there.
He had received letters from Cuba,
some with the seal broken, detailing the
conditions prevalent there. Before the
senate adjourned it should know from
the president what the situation there is,
and whether American citizens are to
meet death without demand.
Morgan said he had great respect for
the'ofice of president. 1t was an Ame-i-
can characteristic to be proud of.the Gov
HIGHEST of all in T T.eaven;no, D.,