The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1897-05-22
A SPECIAL MESSAGE.
President Asks Congress to Aid
Destitute Americans in Cuba.
Sugar Beet Seed Exhausted-senatoriaI
Sugar Speculation May BE Investi-
gated-Statesmen as Chess
Players-CapitOl Notes.

WASHINGTON, May 1s.-After long
conference with Secretaries Sherman,
| Gage, Alger and Long and Attorney
| General McKenna, during which Sen
ator Davis, chairman of the senate for
eign relations committee, was admit
ted, the president sent the following
| message to congress, which was read
at the opening of the session of each
house:
To the Senate and House OF Representatives OF
the United States:
Omcial information from our consuls in Cuba
establishes the fact that large number Of
American citizens in the island are in q state Of
destitution. suffering for want of food and med
icines- This applies particularly to the rural
districts OF the central and eastern parts
The agricultural classes have been forced
from their farms into the nearest towns. where
they are without work or money. The local
authorities Of the several towns, however
kindly disposed, are unable to relieve the
needs OF their own people and are altogether
powerless to help our citizens.
The latest report of ConSul-General Lee esti-
mates that from 600 to 800 Americans are with
out means OF support. 1 have assured him that
provision would be made at once to relieve
them.
To that end 1 recommend that congress make
an appropriation of not less than $4,000, to be
Immediately available for use under the direc-
tion OF the secretary of state. 1t is desirable
that part of the sum which may be appro-
prldteQ Dy congress SnOulu III Jne ulSCTellOu Vi
the secretary of state, also be used for the
transportation OF American citizens who, de-
string to return to the United States. are with
out means to do so. WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, May II. 1897.
Sugar Beet Seed Exhausted.
WASHINGTON, May 1S.-The sugar
beet seed which the agricultural de-
partment has been distributing is prac-
tically exhausted, about 10000 pounds
having been sent out to farmers in
about four-fifths of the states. The
seed has been distributed in packages
of from an ounce to half a pound, pure
ly for experimental purposes. The
beets grown from the seed will be an
alyzed and the saccharine matter de-
termined to ascertain where beets can
be profitably grown for the production
of sugar. These experiments it is be-
lieved, will be of immense value, as the
beet undoubtedly can be produced with
profit in many states Wherever 1t
can be so produced it will give the
farmer a new crop.
Senators May Ise Investigated.
WASHINGTON, May 1S.-The charges
recently made in some newspapers that
a number of senators had used infor-
nation obtained by them by reason of
their official position, of the proposed
action of the republican members of
the finance committee on the sugar
schedule of the tariff bill, to make
large profits in speculating in sugar
stocks, may lead to another investiga-
ton, for the charges have been made
with considerable detail by response
BILE parties and they are the subject of
considerable comment about the capi-
tol.
Farm ExnOrt ROuntiea.
WASHINGTON, May 1s.-A number of
silver republican members of the senate
and house met at Senator Pettigrew's
house last night and decided to
support a proposition providing
for an export bounty on agricul-
tural products. They take the
position that by this system only
can the farmer secure benefit to COM
pensate him for import duties on other
articles and will support proposition
for an amendment to the tariff bill
providing for the bounties.
Usage Indians Protest.
WASHINGTON, May Is. = Five full
blood Usage Indians from Oklahoma,
headed by Chief Big Heart, are in the
city to protest against the payment to
the tribe of 81, 900, 900 of their trust
funds, as asked for by other members
of the tribe. They say that their per
capita income from leases, rents and
the interest on their funds is S212,
which is sufficient for all their pur-
poses.
To Push Dairy Interests.
WASHINGTON, May ia-The agricul-
tural department is engaged in some
practical experiments with view to
extending our butter market abroad.
IL
in the United States is one of the favor
ite schemes of Secretary Wilson who
believes that the farmers of the coun-
try can be greatly benefited by the
sale of the incidental products of the |
farm.
Statesmen Chess Rivals.
WASHINGTON, May 17.-NeXt Monday |
the house of representatives will play |
its championship game of chess by |
cable with the British house of com
mons. Bodine, of Missouri, heads the |
American representatives. His three |
associates will be John +. Shafroth, of |
Colorado; L. Irving Handy, of Della
ware, and Richard Pearson, of North |
Carolina.
No Universal Postage Stamp.
WASHINGTON, May 15.-The move
ment to secure the adoption of a uni
versal postage stamp by the postal con-
gress has collapsed. There were too
many difficulties (the chief being that
of currency fiuctuations) in the way of
adopting such stamp, and the gen
eral committee. after considering the
subject briefly, abandoned it as i'm
practicable.
Two Nominations of Note Made.
WASHINGTON, May ls.-The president
has sent the following nominations to
the senate: Frank A. Vanderlip, of
Illinois, to be assistant secretary of the
treasury and Brighten. Zenas r. Bliss
to be major-general.