Evening star., 1897-04-01
Some Lively Debate on Them in
the Senate.
HE Case OF GENERAL RIVIERA
Proposition to Send a Vessel With
Contributions.
o I II f r. BU SIN YES 8


today There were 10 formalities as to It's
| reference. and without motion or comment
| the presiding officer. Mr.. Hobart referred
| the tlll to the committee on finance
| Mr.. Hale MeD secured immediate con-
| sideration for joint resolution directing
| the Secretary of the Navy to use a gov
| erime2t vessel or charter a private vessel
| for the transportation of contributions Of
grain. etc, to the famine-stricken people
| of India.
Mr.. Stewart CNevD took occasion to speak
| Briefly on the decentralization OF silver in
| india, brought about by England, as one
| OF Inc chlef causes OF the present Lament
| able condition of affairs in India
| This led 10 a somewhat unexpected state
| ment by Mr. Morgan Of Alabama which
| caused a temporary furry. lie began hy
remarkirg that this resolution proposed
| an appropriation from the United States
| treasury ter the aid OF the suffering peo-
pie of India
| Mr. Hale endeavored TO explain that this
was done merely to move contributions al
4 ready given by the generosity of the
American people. Goods were now await
| ing shipment at New York and other
points.
| A Vessel for Cuba.
Proceeding. Mr.. Morgan said he fully
| recognized the nobility OF these benefac-
| ioas. He had approved serding corn to
| ireland and TO Russia. These humane
/ movements brought the world together in
sentiments of good will. But" continued
| Mr.. Morgan, Il shall hope to secure the
| support of the senator from Maine Hafc,
when L introduce a resolution to send sup-
plies 10 the suffering people OF Cuba who
are penned up in that island through the
| harsh policies OF General weyler" Mr.
Morgan expressed the further hope that
Mr. Hale would be found among the sup
porters OF a resolution for sending sun
| plies TO the people penned up in Crete.
through the tyrannical action of the Eu-
ropean powers
Mr.. Hale Responded that these ouestions
would he met as they arose. There was no
politics in this resout on IL voiced the
general sentiment of godspeed TO the relief
Tor these poor people. The resolution was
then agreed to without division.
spirited debate followed on several new
! phases of the Cuban question
Gen. Rfvcra's Case.
Mr.. Allen tNeb) presented a resolu
ton reciting that Gen. Rivera of the Cuban
forces had been captured by the Spanish
ana was about to be tried by drum-head
court-martial and shot, and protesting
aga-ns, such trial as contrary TO the rules
OF Civilized warfare. Mr. Allen asked for
| immediate consideration of the resolution
MI. Hoar tMass) suggested that the reso-
| luton go to the committe. on fSraisn -
tions. -
Mr.. Allen would not consent to such n
reference. If the life of this man was "a
oe saVei, ne said, there must be speedy ac-
non There was no time for the slow pro
cedure of :his committee
MI: hoar said II did not comport with the
dignity Of this body to rush forward on
.iiese subjects The question of life ami
ueatn In Cuba was not in the keepin, OF
the Senate. There should be decorous ana
orderly procedure on these international
questions, and he would object TO the reeo
iuuoh uhiess IL was allowed to go TO The
committee.
Although debate was not I'm order Mr.
Allen continued to urge the critical char
acter of the Rivera case. The dispatch-
es from Havana, he said, showed that Ri
vera was 10 be tried by military drum
mead court-mar,ial and shot IL tru. This
would be violation of every precept of
Civilized warfare, and il should not be
e1ornlenanced 1,,i, by civilized governments.
while 1t might be true, as Mr.. Hoar had
SAID, that IL was not for the American
congress TO intervene, yet surely the
american Congress had the right to ex-
press its own Judgment and condemnation
OF an acton contrary to civilized war
fare Mr.. Alien said he did not want this
resolution stifled by being committed ia
the 'caverns of the foreign relations com
mlttee. The senator closed with some
sarcastic references TO the fatherly care
winch Mr. Hoar bestowed OH him.
Mr.. Hoar's Spirited Reply.
This aroused Mr. Hoar TO a spir,i.ad re
ply. He had not intended to offer advice
10 the Nebraska senator, he said If h.
had ADVICE to give he would not throw
it away" Then turning to the general
Cuban question, Mr.. Hoar said that IL
woCld be a clear affront to any nation
With which We We're al peace 10 recite In
a resolution by the American Congress
that whereas such nation was about TO
commit an atrocity Congress protested
Such resolution by one of the European
nations toward the United States would
set cur people af1ame Mr. Hoar express.
ed The earnest belief that Cuba would have
been free had it not been for these intem-
perate and Intellectual resolutions prod
ding and "goading" Spain.
Inc only result OF such resolutions was to
secure commentator for some one in th.
newspapers.
He believed that President Gran; would
nave brought about the freedom of Cuba
II his plan had not beer overcome nv in
temperate resolutions and demonstraiioOs
III the original resolution of Mr. Cameron
rendering in a friendly way the sugges-
uons OF the United States, had been adopted
and the case left there, probably good
would have Resulted. But instead of that The
many intlamma;ory resolutions presented
and urged had done infinite mischief Mr
Hoar closed with a decisive objection 10
the present consideration Of the resolution.
and IL went over. Other Cuban resolu-
tions follow ed in rapid succession.
The Gomez Letters
Mr.. Morgan's resolution requesting The
President for the letters of General Gomez
to himself and Mr.. Cleveland was pre-
scented and adopted without division
1t is as follows: Resolved, That the
President is requested to inform the SEN
ate, If in his opinion 1t is not inconsistent;
with the public interests. whether letters
have been received by the President or
the former chief executive OF the United
States from Maxine Gomez the command
ing general of the insurrectionary forces IN
Cuba, of the following tenor and effect
Getter recited).
And the President is in like manner.
further requested TO inform the Senate
whether there is. any and what evidence
in the executive departments which shows
that the psfscEs or property of citizens CT
the United States have suffered such abuses
as are stated in the foregoing letters vhicn
are alleged in the public prints TO have
been written by Maxine Gomez. or any
other wrongs and abuses inflicted unon
them by either of the belligerent parties IN
Cuba that could have been avoided by
due consideration for our treaty rights or
our rights under the laws of nations or
the respect due to humanity
And. als1. the President, in like manner
is requested TO inform the Senate whether
the Spanish authorities in Cuba have re-