The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-13
THE SENATE AND CUBA.
The Subcommittee Now Examin-
ing State Department Reports.
NEWSPAPER REPORTS CONFIRMED


Washington. May 13.-The senat
committee on foreign relations did no
conclude its consideration of the Gu
ban situation yesterday. 1t meet
again today, but the subcommittee
consisting of Senators Davis, Forake
and Morgan, which yesterday was Civ
| en- access to the Cuban reports, nov
| held at the state department, probably
| VIII ask for further time before sub
mittlng their ideas to the full com
| mittee.
The Subcommittee was unable to gt
| through all the reports that have beer
received from Consul General Lee ant
other consuls and officers in Cuba. Il
is possible that Senator Morgan viii
| consent to have the resolution now
pending in the senate to go over with.
| out prejudice until the committee car
make its report. 1t Is intended thai
all the reports of cOnsuls shall be sent
TO the senate, but the senate commit
tee will select certain documents bear
| ing on the condition of affairs in the
island and on these make it's recon-
mendations and report This report
VIII generalize the situation without
making public such matters as state
department officials and the committee
think would be prejudicial to persons
on the island.
Some questions have arisen as to the
effect the report of he committee or the
Information at the state department
may have upon the resolution now
pending in the senate. Members of
bp ! tor Jr
ion on the subject, but enough Is
known to justify the conclusion that
instead of weakening the resolution
its friends will find cause for insisting
that there is strong reason for pass
ing it. The object of the foreign rela-
tions committee, which has deprecated
nasty action, and suggested that the
resolution be referred to the committee,
is that the senate should not act in the
premises until there is more informa-
tion at hand.
The opponents of the resolution have
declared that the newspaper reports
Of the conditions in Cuba are not
based upon facts and greatly exaE-
gerated. Those who have become ac-
quainted with the reports in the state
department are Of the opinion that the
reports in the press have been in the
main correct. One member of the
committee who had listened to the
summary of the reports in the depart
ment said that a very serious coudl-
tion existed in Cuba. and that the in
quiry now being made by the commit
tee would result in bringing to light
the exact facts.
Some structures were passed upon
members of the foreign relations COM
mittcc who about year ago voted for
a resolution similar to the one now
pending, and who now ask for time to
consider the matter with more delib-
Grafton. Speaking of this criticism
Chairman Davis, of that committed
said: AT the time the former resolu-
tion was reported Gomez was at the
head of a large army in the eastern
end of the island and Maceo was at the
head of another army in the west.
They could march from one ~ad to the
other of Cuba. Campos had been de-
feated in great battle, and was shut
within solid fortifcations and onincd
to a small territory around Havana.
Every one knew that a state of war
existed. That was year ago. Great
changes have since taken place. Ma"oo
is dead and his army dispersed. Co
mez is at the head of but small force.
Certainly 1t is no such army as was re.
ported then. There are conflicting
statements as to the strength of the
insurgents and the control which
Spain has over the isla7d. 1t is Yi,;h.
and Vi oper that the facts that have
since leached the state department
should be laid before the senate and
the committee, so that intelligent ac-
ton can be had" Mr.. Davis says that
the sympathy with struggling Cubans
Is as great as ever
Another member of the committee
said that the senate was practically
without official information for nearly
year. The senate would not be JUS
titled in acting upon information a
year, or even six months old. What it
wanted was the facts as they had~be
reported from time to time and up to
date.
The Republicans Of the committee
do not feel justified in pushing the ad-
until it has had time to
act, 1t has been pointed out that only
two months have elapsed since the ad-
came into power, and it
has scarcely had time to take up and
so important a matter as that
which has been presented. The pend
ing resolution, unlike joint resolu-
ton, will require the executive either
to approve or disapprove of it. This be-
ing the case, the Republican senators |
feel that they should act in concert |
1. l.,
that, in case the senate foreign re-
atons committee find upon n thorough
examination of the reports in the state
department that the resolution Is jus
.iflad, any effort will be made to pre-
vent its passage.
Members Cf the committee on for
eign relations feel that the question
which confronts the senate is serious,
md any action that is taken by the
;enate will have great weight with the
In case the resolution
should pass both senate and house
here is no reason to believe that it
would not be approved. and that the
United States government would there
lfter conduct itself on the lines which
I lays down.
Captain Romeyn's Charges Ignored.
Atlanta May 13.-General Wesley
ierrtt has issued an order refusing to
ppoint a court martial to try. charges
gainst Lieutenants O'Brien and Bam-
ord, preferred by Captain Romeyn.
ieneral Merritt states that the charges
row out of a feeling Of personal spite,
nd that military tribunals could not
e made vehicles of private revenge,
IN the charges against Lieutenant
sanford, which grew out of his con-
uct with reference to his reported
Engagement to Miss Nina Romeyn,
eneral Merritt states that they are
OF O. proper subject for a court of in