Evening journal., 1897-05-18
CUBAYETTHE THEME
Crowds Besiege the Galleries to
Listen to the Discussion.
SOME DISTINGUISHED LISTENERS.
The Relief of Starving Americans There
the First object TO BE Attended
to-The House Takes Up
the Question.


Washington, May 1s.-Cuba again en-
crossed the attention Of, the senate. The
public interest In the subject was shown
by the great crowds which besieged
the galleries. Among the occupants Of
the diplomatic gallery were Sir Julian
Pauncefote, the British ambassador
and Minister Hatch of Hawaii, and in
the reserve gallery was General Dan
Sicxles, ex-United States minister to
Spain. Neither the Spanish legation nor
the Cuban bureau in Washington was
represented in the galleries so far as
could be- observed.
Two phases Of the subject were pre-
sented. First came the question of re-
lief to destitute and starving Ameri-
cans in Cuba This was presented in
the presidents message as soon as the
session opened. Immediately following
the reading Of the message Mr.. Davies,
chairman of the committee on foreign
relations, presented a favorable report
on the joint resolution originally intro
duced by Mr.. Callinger appropriating
$4,000 for relief of American citizens in
Cuba. There was only one brief speech
from Mr.. Galinger-and then the res
olution went through by unanimous
vote
The second phase of the subject was
when the Morgan resolution declaring
that q condition of war existed in Gu
ba was taken up Mr.. Wellington, the
new senator from Maryland, came for
ward for his initial speech in the sem
ate. making a vigorous protest against
the resolution on the ground that II
threatened war with Spain. He said the
first duty of congress was to pass the
tariff bin The senator condemned Gin
goism' and gave his Endorsement to
President Cleveland's conservatism on
the Cuban question.
Mr.. Daniel of Virginia spoke in favor
Of the resolution. He first presented an
argument on the right Of congress on
the subject and closed with the vigorous
assertion that 1t was a calamity great
er than war for a nation to withhold
justice through fear of war.
Subjects Before the House.
The house confronted the Cuban ques-
tlon, made a party issue of it and adj
journed until Thursday without taking
any action. President McKinleys mes
sage recommending an appropriation to
relieve suffering Americans in Cuba
was received without any demonstra-
tion. and on it's heels Mr.. Hit. former
NAeAAA man VI AAlt ANA IA1l NAAAAA4AAA-
tee, asked unanimous consent for con-
sderation Of bill to appropriate $50.
600 in response to the presidents re-
quest.
Mr.. Bailey Of Texas asked for consent
to consider in connection with the bill
an amendment embOdying Senator Nor
gan's resolution for recognition Of the
Cubans as belligerents. Mr.. Dingley
would not consent to consider the
amendment, nor Mr.. Bailey to consider
the bill without the amendment, so for
time the question was side tracked.
Then the house devoted two hours to
debate on the conference report on the
feature Of the Indian appropriation bill
opening to settlement the gilsonite
lands on the Uncompaghre Indian res
ervation in Utah, refused to accept the
compromise agreed on by the conferees
and asked for another conference with
the senate on the bill.
In the meantime the senate resolu-
ton. practically Identical with Mr..
Hits bill had been sent TO the house,
and Mr.. Hit asked unanimous consent
for its consideration. The deadlock be-
tween Mr. Dingley and Mr.. Bailey was
re-enacted, and while Mr.. Bailey was
endeavoring to get consent for the con-
slderation Of the two Cuban PROPOSE
tions together Mr.. >Dingley put in a
motion to adjourn. This motion was
carried by vote of 30 to Il, 1S answer
ing present, but not voting
1t was practically a party alignment,
only three Republicans-Messrs Cooper
of Wisconsin, Linney of North Carolina
and Marsh of Illinois-voting against
the adjournment and all the Democrats
and the Populists. except Mr. Baker of
Illinois. voting the same way. Under
the rule for biweekly sessions recently
adopted the adjournment carries the
question over until Thursday.
Compensation For Carrying Mails.
In compliance with a resolution of in
quiry the postmaster general sent to
the senate a statement in regard TO the
compensation paid to the Southern Rail
road company for the transportation OF
mails since 1894.
The report shows that since January
last the compensation on the division
between Washington and Lynchburg
Va. per mile was as follows: S69S fol
transportation, S215 for postal cars anC
1925 for special facilities.
The postmaster general says that th'
Weighing Of mails on this line last yea,
was conducted with more than usua
care and that all officers and employees
of the railway mail service who ha,
anything to do with it were instructe,
fully as to their duties and required L
make reports of any unusual amount O
mail matter received by them.
No report was received, and the di
vision superintendent is quoted as say
ing that the mails received during tn
weighing were of precisely the sam
character as those received at othe
times.
He adds: Regarding the weighini
which has just closed on that portion O
the road between Washington and Dan
vile, 1 have to state that no mail
which did not properly belong upo
that line were received during the en-
tire period of weighing"