Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-12-17
CONGRESS AND CUBA.
THE NOW UPPERMOST TOPIC IN
BOTH HOUSES.

Senator Morgan Would Welcome War IL
1t Is Secessary-His Resolution Calling
For Documents Adopted-Loud's Bill
Relative to Second Class Mail Matter.
WASHINGTON, Dec 16.-Senator Morgan
of Alabama held the attention of the SEN
ate and well filled galleries for an hour by
his earnest advocacy of q strong and de-
cisive policy in dealing with the Cuban
question. The prominence of Mr.. Morgan
in the Cuban debate of last session, when
he had charge of the Cuban resolutions
reported from the committee on foreign
relations, gave special interest to his speech
He spoke in dispassionate style, although
his words had directness and severity in
picturing the horrors existing in Cuba
such as is seldom heard in the senate Mr.
Morgan spoke freely of the possibilities OF
war, welcoming 1t, If necessary to guaran-
tee the protection of American citizens.
He asserted that Spain s bankruptcy would
prevent the collection of any indemnity
for wrongs The senator questioned the
wisdom of the presidents position that
the granting of belligerent rights would
be "untimely."
At the close of Mr.. Morgan's speech his
resolution was adopted requesting the sec
retary of state for papers and information
relative to the Competitor prisoners and
other American citizens held in Cuba by
the Spanish authorities.
The question of passing the bill grant.
ing Nancy Allabach n pension, the veto OF
the president notwithstanding occesioned
considerable debate. Mr.. Cockrell express
ed surprise that Mr. Palmer of Illinois
should be in charge of movement to over
fhaar ia
swcred that he directed his course as a SEN
ator without reference to the president
The bill was finally passed over the veto
-yeas, Al nays, II.
MIR. Allen of Nebraska introduced a
resolution for the appointment of a com
mittce of nine senators to investigate tho
extent to which the money was used i'll
the recent presidential election.
The Loud Bill In tho House.
The house entered upon the considera-
ton Of the Loud bill to amend the law
relating to the transmission of second
class mail matter. The bill has been wide.
ly discussed in the public press and has
met with tho most intense opposition from
certain quarters. 1t denies the right of Sc
rial novels t. admission to the malls Mt
the newspaper cent per pound rates, do
MES to newspapers the sample copy prlvi-
lege, prohibits the return of unsold pub
LEGATIONS at pound rates and makes some
other changes in the present law designed
to correct existing abusod. A change in
the second class mail matter law has been
repeatedly urged by successive postmaster
generals. 1t was estimated that the abuses
of the law had cost the government $780,,
600, 600 in the last ten years Mr. Loud Of
California, the author of the measure,
brought it forward, quite unexpectedly to
a majority of the members of the house.
The opposition, led by MIR. Quigg of New
York, inaugurated fllibuster and at
tempted to prevent its consideration by ad-
journing, but the house stood by Mr.. Loud
on two votes, defeating the opposition by
"a vote of 1874 to 102 and 141 to S3. The op-
position, however, are hopeful of defeating
the measure when it is put on its final
passage. MIR. Loud made an opening
speech on the measure, during which he
declared that the bill would save the gov
ernment $20,000000 annually. He also
said that it had received the Endorsement
of the Newspaper Publishers association
and was only opposed by those who par
ticipated in the bounty obtained under
the present law.
Mr.. Woodman (Rep.) of Illinois intro
duced joint resolution directing the pros
ident to intervene in Cuban affairs. The
resolution, after reciting General Macco's
reported assassination and Spanish cruel
ties in Cuba says that the president has
that the carry out the wishes OF the people
failed to honor of the United States is at
stake, and that history gives no precedent
on which to base hope that Spain will
change to compliance with civilized war
fnra