The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-09
FOR LIBERTY IN CUBA.
ALLEN OF NEBRASKA BEGINS THE
AGITATION IN THE SENATE.


Nc ohnra n Resoiuten Urging the Prompt
hecoEnition or Cuben Independenee-niiis
TO Project the Fur seals ana for Two Ad.
aitiennl ARTILLERY ReEimsnts Introduced.
WASHINGTON, Dec. s.-In the Senate to-day
Mr.. Davis tRep.. Mimi. Chairman OF the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, reported a bill
prohibiting the killing of fur seals by citizens Of
the United States in the North Pacific Ocean.
including Behring Sea and the Sea Of okotsk,
and asked for its immediate consideration.
The bill prohibits American citizens from
hunting seals in the Northern Pacific Ocean or
from equipping any vessels for such purpose,
under penalty of imprisonment for six months
and a fine not exceeding $1,000. together with
confscation OF the vessel. 1t further provides
that IL a vessel lie found within such waters with
sealing outfits or sealskins on board 1t shall be
presumed that such vessel was used in pclagio
scaling. Naval and revenue officers are au.
thorized to search vessels. The importation Of
sealskins captured in open waters Is prohibited
and tho skins are subject to confiscation. Tho
prohibition Is not TO apply TO tho authorized
killing of seals on tho Pribylov Islands or by
the Indians on the coast. The President makes
regulations to carry these into effect.
Objection was made by Mr.. Hale rep. Mel,
who said that it was a matter Of great impor.
tancc, and the bill went over and was ordered
printed.
Among tho bills introduced and referred were
additional regiments of artillery; by Mr.. CALM
ger (Rep.. N. H., regulating and defining the
civil service of the United States.
Mr.. Allen Pop, Neb.l offerodA resolution de-
claring 1t to be the sense OF the Senate that
Congress should, with all due and convenient
speed. acknowledge, by appropriate act, the
political independence of the republic Of Cuba"
and he addressed the Senate In its support. He
declared that he would not be content or salts
fed with q simple acknowledgment OF bclliger-
ent rights, but would demand absolute and un-
conditional political liberty. He was confident
that the American people would not be content
with the course advised by the present Admin
istration. as they were not with that Of tho last
Administration Tho Cubans, he said. should
have political RECOGNITION without further tenn
porizinR, and he would like to have his
views enforced by the presence Of q
feet Of American warships in Cuban waters.
He was ready to cast his vote for Cuban liber-
ty at any moment and he regretted the shilly-
employed by this powerful Government" There
was no certainty in tho doctrine announced
tho President was a conscientious man. but he
believed that he was the victim OF circumstances
over which he had no control and which robbed
him. In q large measure, of that freedom and en-
%terprise which should characterize the Chief FIX
ecutivc of n mighty nation" The Presidents
attitude would be a disappointment to the
American people. Mr.. Allen declared himself
also MS a "strong sympathizer with the strug-
giles OF the Irish people 70 liberate themselves
The resolution was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Relations, and then, Mt =. NJ, the
death Of Representative Wright OF Massacnu-
sets Iaving been announced, the Senate, as a
mark of respect, ad iourned till tomorrow.
In the House. Mr.. Walker tltcp., Mass.) moved,
and the House agreed thereto. that the Commit
tee on Banking and Currency he permitted to sit
during tho sessions of tho House. This was
pursuant to an order adopted by the committee
at ats meeting this morning.
sion Appropriation bill. and gave notice that he
would call it up for consideration tomorrow.
The report shows that items in the bill are ex-
act duplicates OF the estimates by the Pension
Commissioner save In respect of clerk hire Mt
agencies ,reduced from $3.50. 900 TO $500. 600,
stationery and other expenses lreduced from
$35 900 to $40. OO0). and rent trcduced from
$4,000 to S16,OsOl. The appropriations for the
current year were followed by the Commits.
rent. for which the appropriation this year is
S2G. 100. The report shows that in the years
1891. 1892 and 1893 the allowance of claims
reached high.water mark, the annual average
for that period being S167.7l7. In 1890 the al.
lowances were $685. 37. and in 1894, 1885,. 0S5.
The average annual value Of the pensions p'id
in tho year ending June 80 last was Sl3.3l7.
The navy possesses an independent pension
fund o; it's own, amounting TO SiIi ZOO, 900, tho
added TO the appropriations made by Congress.
AT 1919. there being no business before tho
House. on motion by Mr.. Dingley 1t adjourned
until tomorrow.