The Portland daily press., 1897-05-20

"A MORNlNG, MAY ~
condolences he said, s'for I would not
receive any information that L could not
fioor''
1T is fair interposed Mr.. Elkins,
that some senators have this lnforma-
tlon and others are without 1T?
/ Charge that to the administration, not
to me-, responded MIR. Morgan.
Here Mr.. Vest came forward with a
series of questions.
"A committee of three senators visited
the state department to examine consular
reports on the status of affairs in Cuba
i Now, do / understand that an antecedent
i condition was imposed upon them, that
they should not make public the sources
OF this information"
"The injunction was laid on the mem
bers of the subcommittee that the names
of the consuls, and the place from which
the reports came, should not be given, !"
answered Mr.. Morgan.
docs the senator object to stating. !"
queried Mr.. White, "what officers of the
government made this request?'
Both of them, the President and the
Secretary of State, :" replied Mr.. Morgan
Mr.. Foraker of Ohio came into the de-
ptilc db tulS pol1t. lie nttQ Deen one OF the
| subcommittee to visit the state DEPART
ment. The creates care has been taken
/ TO give the comml ttee full information,
| he said, but SO far as he was concerned
| no restrictions had been placed on him,
except as to the use of names of consuls
and places, as such information might
/ lead to violence.
1 In addition Mr.. Foraker continued,
the state department. is now engaged in
preparing a full report with all papers
bearing on the Cuban question to submit
TO the Senate in response to the last in
quiry."
Mr.. Vest addressing Mr.. Foraker said:
call attention to the statement of the
/ gentleman from Alabama, that the Presi-
dent and Secretary of State desired that
names of consuls should not be given as
It would involve their assassination, is
that sop
Not in that language replied Mr..
Foraker. But it was suggested that the
disclosure of names might do more harm
than good ,and possibly lead to Violence .
And now we come to the serious ques
ton" continued Mr.. Vest, impressively.
Has the government sent gunboats to
see that our consular officials are protect
ed9 Must we be told that they may be
assassinated if their names are given?
That is the serious question. -
| Mr.. Morgan explained in detail how the
injunction of the secretary had been
! placed upon the committee At first, he
said, the Secretary of State had seemed
reluctant to go into the question. The
secretary at first proposed to read their re-
ports to the committee. Some dispatches
which had been in the hands of Assis-
| tant Secretary Rockhill, were brought in.
Then Judge Day, the new assistant
| secretary OF state came in and the state
ment was made that the informati on
was given in the strictest confidence, and
without authority to use the names and
places of consuls furnishing the inforlna-
tion The senator said he declined to re-
ceive the information on these conditions.
1t was then arranged that the committee
should meet the Secretary of State at his
| residence that evening, but Mr. Morgan
said he wrote a note to the Secretary say
ing he could not be put under the coudi-
tiOnS.
''As I understand, interposed Mr.. For
| aker, Zone of the main reasons against
giving names and places of our consuls
was that it might not cut off our sources
c. Information.
"May ask the SENATOR" questioned
Mr.. Vest again, addressing Mr.. Foraker,
''what he means by the statement that
our means of communication with Cuba
might be cut off, if the names of consuls
| was disclosed?'
| Mr.. Foraker said he meant that the
| department felt that there should be re-
serve in giving the sources of United
| States information. 1t was quite
| usual course.
"Will the edited report, coming from
| the State Department to the Senate, con-
| tain the names?' asked Mr.. White
'sYes, every scrap" answered Mr.
| Foraker, but | understand it will be sub
mitted in confidence to be considered in
executive session.
Mr.. Hoar pointed out that it was usual
| to withhold the names of consuls when
the disclosure might result in demand
| for their recall.
II am one of those senators who want
an early vote on this resolution?' Mr.
Hoar replied.
Mr. Gallinger spoke of the probable
conflict between the tariff bill and the
Cuban resolution. The tariff bill was
to be taken up last week, then this week
and next week.
The Cuban resolution had been here 40
days, but senators, bound by musty old
rules were not ready to vote. With the
| tariff bill coming up on Monday, he felt
that it was inadvisable to adjourn tomor-
row for a pleasure trip to Virginia. Mr..
Gallinger desired to record his earnest
protest against pleasure trips which
might delay the great measure coming
before the Senate on Monday.
! The motion of Mr.. Chandler that when
the Senate adjourn tomorrow it be until
Monday, prevailed, without division,
Mr. Gallinger answering in the negative
Mr.. Cannon of Utah was then recog-
nized for a speech, with an intense de-
nunciation of the ''Mad dog Weyler.
Mr.. Lindsay followed Mr.. Cannon. He
believed he said, that the United States
should have recognized the belligerency
OF the revolutionists year ago and that
the war would, have assumed civilized
form and the world been spared the
spectacle that was appalling it today.
The United States could not afford to
shrink from the consequences of recog-
milton. There was much interest mani
tested when Mr. Foraker of Ohio rose to
speak.
II want to say at the outset he an
nounced,' that | will vote for this reso-
luton or some resolution like it,.
In adopting the resolution, the Senate
should act strictly in accordance with in
ternational law. There could be no ques-
ton of recognizing the independence of
Cuba because no one claimed that indie