Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-07

! WASHINGTON. January G.-The speech
of Senator Call, of Florida on Cuba, to-
day, served as medium for making pub
! lie letter giving a graphic description
of the Cabanas fortress at Havana, and
| the surroundings of the American citi-
zens imprisoned there The circumstances
surrounding the letter attracted marked
( interest to it. as Mr.. Call said it came from
a public man of high standing in the
United States who would shortly occupy
place in the legislative branch of the
government The letter dealt with the
immediate present, and described visit
made by the writer and Gen. Lee TO Ca
banas fortress only seven days ago, VIZ:
on the morning Of December 3O 1t told of
the pitiful condition of the prisoners,
some of them Americans. including Julio
Sanguilly and a young man who was the
/ companion of Charles Gown. the Ameri-
can newspaper correspondent killed IN
Cuba. The recital of these prisoners was
given in full. The writer also gave the
particulars of another arrest. He said
that while at Gen. Lees Office on the Mon
of DR.. Betancourt an American citizen,
who had been practicing dentistry at
Havana for the last year. The son. also
an American citizen. stated that his father
had mysteriously disappeared on Saturday
night. He was traced to the Cabanas
fortress. where the son, on paying fifty
cents to Spanish official, was allowed to
send in food, and later on paying $l.5O to
the official was allowed TO send in a cot
to his father. Mr. Call referred also to
letters received from the wife Of one the
sailors on the ship Competitor, now i'm
prisoned' in Havana.
During the day the Senate passed
House bills amending the laws relating to
timber culture and authorizing brevets
TO active or retired officers Of the army
or navy.
The joint resolution requesting the Brit
ish government to pardon Mrs. Florence
Maybrick was indefinitely postponed.
The bill exempting settlers on public
lands from paying the original govern
ment price fixed on the lands was debated.
Mr.. Pettigrew. of South Dakota, and Mr..
Carter. of Montana. speaking in its favor,
but aefinal vote WIS not reached.
to second-oass nail matter was passed
by the House to-day, after two days de-
bate. by a vote of 14i to 1O5 The opposi-
tion to the bill made a strong fight against
it, The statements made on the floor as
to its effect in certain particulars were
very conflicting The most important
provision of the bill denies the serial pub
lications admission to the mails at one
cent per pound rates. II is as follows:
THAT nothing herein contained shall be
construed as to admit to the second-class
rate publications purporting to be issued
periodically. and to subscribers. but which
are merely books or reprints of books,
whether they be issued complete or in
parts whether they be bound or un-
bound. whether they he sold by subscrip-
tion or otherwise. or whether they purport
TO he premiums or supplements or parts
of regular newspapers of periodicals.
The bill also denies to newspapers "the
sample copy" privilege and the privilege
eiioved by news dealers of returning un-
sold publications at the second-class rate.
The only other important change in the
present law provides that publishers
whose publications are admitted as second
class matter shall be required before de-
posting such mail matter in the postoiiice
to separate the same into United States
mail sacks or bundles by States, cities,
towns and counties as the postmaster gen
eral hall direct
Mr. Grosvenor. (Rep., Ohio) created
slight furry at the opening of the session
of the House to-day by securing the adop-
ton as a question of privilege. of res
olution calling on the several departments
for statements as to why they had failed
to comply with a former resolution the
House had passed at his Instance on
June 5th requesting information Of the
several departments relative to the ad-
minlstration of the civil service law. He
made sarcastic comments on the matter.
The resolution calls for information as
to the number OF employees in each de-
partment who have died. resigned or been
removed snce March 4th. 1898. the number
appointed under the civil service rules
and the number not appointed under such
rules. who are now covered by the eX-
tension of the civil service rules.
General debate on the Loud bill to
amend the law relating to second class
mail matter was then resumed.
Rep.. Penna); Tracy, (Rep.. MOI; Morse,
(Rep.. Mass) and Bingham, Rep,
PennaO. made brief speeches against the
bill the latter calling attention TO the vast
sums expended by the government for the
general welfare. the thousands Of tons Of
mail matter carried free under franks for
the information of the people, the millions
OF dollars expended for the development
Of commerce. the vast sums expended at
the centennial. worlds fair. and other eX-
positions for the enlightenment OF the peo-
ple. Cheap rates for books were, he ar
eued. a part and a necessary part Of the
governments general scheme for the ed
ucation of the people.
Mr.. Loud closed the general debate in
advocacy of his measure.
He replied to many Of the arguments
advanced against the bill and closed with
an earnest appeal for its passage.
The bill was then read far amendment
under the five minute rule.
Mr.. Tracy. Rep, Mo- offered an amend
ment. the purpose Of which was 10 permit
the transmission as second-class matter
Of seriel publications and books when sent
As parts of regular newspapers.
Mr.. Loud said the amendment would de-
feat the purpose Of the bill.
Nr. Moody. (Rep., Mass), made n very
bitter attack on the opposition to the bin.
The Tracy amendment was Withdrawn
when the committee rose at four o'clock
and the vote was taken on the engross-
ment and third reading OF the bill.
This was test vote on the bill. The
motion was carried: 144-105. The opposi-