The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-15
STRONG RESOLUTIONS
Senate Foreign Committee Acts on the
Case Of Competitor Capiiyes.
THE FACTS BROUGHT OUT AND REVIEWED
sPnin's Delay ana Dental OF Justice
Severely Criticized = Resolution
Proposes TO Authorize the prcsi-
dent 10 Enforce ~ Dcmnnu for the
Ncicase oEtiic Mcn.
Washington, d. e., July II.


Senator Davis. chairman Of The COM
mittee on foreign relations, to-day re-
ported from that committee the follow
irS joint resolution:
That the President be empowered to
Lake such measures as III his Judgment
may be necessary TO obtain the release
from the Spanish Government of One,
Alelton, Alfred o. La'borde and William
Ilider, and the restoration of the schoon-
cr Competitor to her owner :,lIfl to Sc
cure this, he is authorized and request
cd to employ such means on exercise
such power as may be necessary.
The report raciteS all the facts that
nave been brought out in the Competi-
tor case. her ownership, capture and
citizenship Of the three mem named
IN the resolution, together with the pro-
ccedinGs thus far had by the Spanish
authorities. the triad, sentence, etc. The
report charactcr2es il a. mockery trial.
The aflidavits OF the parties are cited
10 show that they were cocrccd into
Spanish waters, in which case they were
not aincDablc to Spanish jurisdiction.
They were not subject to piracy ana in
tended no act of depreciation on the high
seas. nor were they subject to- the span
ish authorities on account Of alleged re-
Dcllion.
The report then says:
Irrespective OF any of the forCroi,, r.
considerations, the conduct of Spain, as
heretofore Detailed constitutes such de-
lay and denial OF justice and such an
actual inii!ction OF injuries upon these
men rs 10 make it the duly Of this gov
cFlinent TO demand rcparatton there fol.,
irrespective Of any act which these prts-
one1Es may have committed up to tho
gate OF their capture. Among the acts
or rcparation which ought TO be demand
ed should he the release OF these cap
tiYeS. ."-=--..s ss..,-s l..s. -,
Secretary Eytlrts Is quoted 10 sustain
this position. The report declares that
rio rights Of the men have been vio,at-
cd and continues:
IhcY have trieN and sentenced TO
o"2th by a summary naval co,lrt-mar-
tl;s! in 4 proceeding which has been an
nnl!ed 10y the appellate courts Of Mad
rld. uDon tho ground thai such a. court
nar'ial had 40 jurSdict!on Whatsoever.
over them. Ten months have elapscd
since TINS death sentence was annulini
and they have not again been broue.h, (,
10 lria! LII the meantime they have
hecn subjected to protracted preliminary
examinations preparatory To their trial
by another court martial which differs
from Inc first only in the fact that it is;
less summary and more formal in It's
'HiiiltGLSF t1on InC nrSt.'
the report says that the men at the
hrst trial did not know until after the
testimony for the prosecution was in
thai. an interpreter was present ana the
only translation made TO them was; a I
The close or the SanSulrary proceedings
Whcn they We're asked if tncy had nny-
thing to say. and necessarily they could
have little to say, yet one Of them pro-
tested that he had not understood one
word OF the proceedings against him by
which life was adiudgcd forfeitcd
with these protests" continues tho
report the trial ended and the defend
ants We're Immediately sentenced ia
Death. 1t is now fourteen months since
they We're arrested during all Of which
time they have hecn held III the Cal2ana.;
fortress tS prisoners.
Motion and Lnborle are unruestion
ably ctizcns Of the United States. Glider
is 4 British subject, but he was n sailor
upon an American vessel when taken.
was acted as is mate and it is the
opnion of your committee that he is en-
titled TO be protected by this govern.
mcnt I!e was serving under the flag
and HE is entitled to be prot ected hy II.
In cur opinion, these acts of DELAY
and denial Of Justice and OF the infliction
OF Injustice vit!ate AMI make void any.
right which Spain had in the begini,ine,
OF this transaction TO ii ocecd crininail,-
against any OF these men. 'Tl;is govern
mcnt should demand that they be set a +
liberty and that tao Composition lie re-
stored TO nor owner rs there S no rvi-
delice that tho owner knew anv1hir {,
about the divergence Gf tha vessel fro,n
It's regular voyage tc 1.cInGnti, Fla