The record-union., 1897-04-09
Severely CriticiseS Government Methods
Against American Prisoners.
Their Release the Result OF Suppllca-
ton by the United States
Takes Up the Case of Young Melton,
One of the Competitor Prisoners,
and Asserts That He is Confined IN
aLoathsome Dungeon, Not Because
His Guilt has Been Established, But
Because He is an American Boy.

Because He is an American Boy.
WASHINGTON, April S.-The Senate
to-day heard Morgan for the third sue
cessive time on his resolution declar-
ing that a state of war exists in Cuba.
He was severely critical of SPANS
methods against American prisoners
and went over in detail the circum-
stances in the Competitor case. Morgan
said he would close his speech at the
next meeting of the Senate, when he
would present a letter from one Of the
Cuban officials of the eastern province
of the island, showing the complete civil
system of government now maintained
by the Cubans.
Nelson of Minnesota spoke for two
hours on the bankruptcy bill, opposing
the pending Torrey bill as excessively
harsh and designed as collection
agency for large creditors, and urging
his substitute as a measure drafted IN
the interests of thousands of poor debt
prs struggling to get on their feet.
Chandler offered a resolution, which
was agreed to, as follows:
Resolved, That the Committee on In
;erstate Commerce be directed to inves-
tigate the payments made by or agreed
to be made by the Interstate Commerce
Commission for attorneys fees; and also
TO inquire whether in any cases the at
torneys of the commission have been
also employed by railway companies in
similar cases, and further, whether any
additional authority from Congress is
required for the employment of counsel
in any pending proceedings which have
been instituted by or on motion of the
commission.
The resolution of Earle Cd of South
Carolina for the reorganization of Sen
ate committees went over.
Chandler presented an amendment to
be urged when the resolution is taken
up. The amendment provides that on
Tuesday, April Goth. at o. m, the
Senate will proceed to appoint it's COM
mittees.
In resuming his speech on the resolu
ton declaring that a state of war exists
in Cuba, Morgan reverted to the state
rnent of Hale yesterday that the num-
Der of American prisoners in Spanish
prisons were reduced TO twelve. In sar
castle tones Morgan said that such re-
leases DIS nave OCCuIIGd " CIt the IGSUIl
of supplication by our Government, and
perhaps, it would be appropriate to
adopt a vote of thanks to Spain for not
Staying these prisoners outright. Aside
from the official testimony as to the con-
dition of Cuba, the newspaper press had
piled up a mass of testimony which es-
tablished beyond question that the war
was being prosecuted by Spain contrary
to all the rules of civilized warfare.
Morgan commented on a letter writ
ten by Minister Dupuy De Lone to Miss
Clara Barton, relative TO Red Cross
work in Cuba. In the course of the let
ter use is made Of the expression during
the present war" This, declared Nor
gan, was an inadvertent admission by
the Spanish Minister, despite all his
diplomatic cunning, that war was going
on. And yet Congress and the President
would not recognize that as a statement
of war. which would assure to the Amer
lean prisoners the treatment Of pris-
oners of war. and not of insurrectionists,
existed. The United States had warned
off European nations from attempting
control of Venezuela. said Morgan. We
seemed to exert a sort of guardianship
over that island against all nations.
But" exclaimed the Senator, guar
dianship, if we have it, is like the guar
dianship of the devil over a condemned
soul. We are warning nations that they
must hold aloof, while We stand by and
see the inquisitorial methods of Span
ish warfare, Spanish dungeons and
Spanish tyranny executed against
Cubans and against our own people
without one word of protest"
Mr.. Morgan spoke of the Competitor
expedition, and took up the case of
young owen Melton, one of the Com
petitor's prisoners, and followed the
progress of his trial and his imprison-
ment incommunicado in the Spanish
dungeons. Young Melton, said ne, was
held to-day IN a loathsome dungeon,
not because guilt had been established,
but because he IS n young American
boy. He was held in a miserable place,
in which at times forty other pris-
oiers were crowded Three pals OF
water We're brought 10 them daily TO
Cuench thirst from rations of dry cod
fish.
Mr.. Morgan then reviewed the case
of Rev. DR.. Diaz. While preaching at
Havana bombshells had been thrown
into his church. and he and his brother
were arrested and held for seven days
incommunicado Mr.. Morgan read from
the laws and treaties to show the I'M
unsuitable character of Meltons i'm
prisonment.
Then the Senator exclaimed with
great yehemence: Whether there are
seventv-four prisoners in Cuba or "A, :
600. or whether it is one, in the per-
son Of owen Melton, this Arkansas
youth the flag of the United states, II
IT refuses to shelter him, is dis
graced rag
Mr. Morgan gave way at O'Clock 10
the bankruptcy bill, stating that he
would conclude his speech at the next
meeting of the Senate.
Mr. Nelson (R) of Minnesota ac-
dressed the Senate on the bankruptcy
bill. He said there was no public de-
rand for the drastic collection ma
chinery provided by the Torrey bank
ruptcy bill When the measure came
up the other day he received shower
of kilograms favoring it. evidently m
spired by interested parties in WASH
ington, but the men who wanted a
harsh collection system, who loaned