The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-09

Washington, April S.-The senate to-
day heard Mr.. Morgan, of Alabama,
for the third successive day on his
resolution declaring that a state Of
war exists in Cuba. He was severely
critical of SPANS methods against
American prisoners, and went over in
detail the circumstances in the Com
petitor case.
Mr.. Morgan said he would close his
speech at the next meeting of the
senate when he would present let
ter from one OF the Cuban officials OF
the eastern province of the island,
showing the complete civil system of
government now maintained by the
Cubans.
OPPOSED THE TORREY BILL.
Mr.. Nelson, of Minnesota, spoke for
two hours on the bankruptcy bill, OPP
posing the pending Torrey bill as ex
cessively harsh, and designed as col
lection agency for large creditors, and
urging his substitute as a measure
drafted in the interests of thousands
of poor debtors struggling to get on
their feet.
Mr. Chandler offered a resolution,
which was agreed to. as follows:
Resolved, that the committee on
interstate commerce be directed TO
investigate the payments made or
agreed to be made by the interstate
commerce commission for attorneys
fees and also to inquire whether, in
any case, the attorneys of the COM
mission have been also employed by
railway companies in similar cases;
and, further, whether any additional
authority from congress is required for
the employment of counsel in any
pending proceedings which have been
instituted by or on motion of the
commission.
The resolution of Mr.. Earl (Dem. S
c., for the reorganization of senate
committees went over, Mr.. Chandler
presenting an amendment to be urged
when the resolution is taken up. The
amendment provides that on Tuesday,
April 20, at 2 p. m. the senate will pro-
coed to appoint its committees.
MORGAN RESUMES.
In resuming his speech on the reso-
luton declaring that a state of war
exists in Cuba Mr.. Morgan reverted
to the statement of Mr.. Hale yester
day, that the number of American
prisoners in Spanish prisons was re-
duced to II. In sarcastic tones, Mr..
Morgan said that such releases as had
occurred were the result of supplica-
it would be appropriate to adopt
vote of thanks to Spain for not Staying
these prisoners outright. Aside from
the official testimony as to the condl-
ton in Cuba, the newspaper press had
piled up a mass of testimony which
established, beyond question, that the
war was being prosecuted by Spain
contrary to all the rules of civilized
warfare.
WAS INADVERTENT.
Mr.. Morgan commented on letter
written by Dupuy de LONE, the Span
ish minister, to Miss Clara Barton,
relative to Red Cross work in Cuba
In the course of the letter use is made
of the expression during the present
war"
This. declared Mr.. Morgan, was an
inadvertent admission by the Spanish
minister, despite all his diplomatic
cunning, that war was going on. And
vet congress and the president would
not recognize that as statement OF
war which would assure to the Ameri-
can prisoners the treatment of prison
ers of war, and not of insurrectionists,
existed.
THE United States had warned off
European nations from attempting
control of Venezuela said Mr. Nor
gan. I'VE seemed to exercise sort of
guardianship over that island against
all other nations. But" exclaimed the
ser ator, guardianship, if we have it,
is like the guardianship of the devil
over a condemned soul. We are warn
ing nations that they must hold aioof
while we stand by and see the inquisi-
torial methods of Spanish warfare,
Spanish dungeons and Spanish ty-
ranny, against Cubans and against our
own people, without one word of pro-
test"
COMPETITOR EXPEDITION.
Mr.. Morgan spoke of the Competitor
expedition, and took uD the case of
young Owen Melton, one of the Com
petitor prisoners. and followed the
progress of his trial and hie ir'-7-ieN~'-
ment incommunicado in the Spanish
dungeons.
Young Melton, said he, was held to-
day in a loathsome dungeon. not be-
cause guilt had been established, but
because he is a young American bow
He was held in a miserable place in
which at times 40 other prisoners were
crowded. Three pals of water were
brought to them daily to quench their
thirst from rations of dried fish. Mr..
Morgan then reviewed the case of Rev.
Dr. Diaz. While preaching at Havana
boubshells had been thrown into his
church. and he and his brother were
arrested and held for seven DAYS in
communicate.
GROWS VEHEMENT.
Mr.. Morgan read from the laws and
treaties to show the unjustifiable
character of MeItons Imprisonment.
Then the senator exclaimed, with great
vehemence:
Whether there are "a prisoners in
Cuba, or "A, 000 or whether it is one in
the person of Owen Melton, this Ar
kansas youth, the flag of the United
States. if it refuses to shelter him,
is a disgraced rag.
THEN BANKRUPTCY.
Mr.. Morgan gave way at 2 o'clock to
the bankruptcy bill, stating that he
would conclude his speech at the next
meeting of the senate.
Mr.. Nelson, (Rep. Mimi, addressed
the senate on the bankruptcy bill. He
said there was no public DEM; II, for
the drastic machinery provided by the
Tcrrey bankruptcy bill. When the
measure came up the other day, he
received a shower of kilograms favor
ing it. evidently inspired by interested
parties in Washington, but the men
who wanted a harsh collection system,