Evening journal., 1897-01-07
senatnr can on Cnba.

WASHINGTON, Jan. TN the senate the
speech of Senator Call of Florida on Cuba
served as the medium for making public
letter giving n graphic description of the
Cabanas fortress at Havana and the sur
roundings of the American citizens i'm
prisoned there The circumstances sur
rounding the letter attracted marked in
terost 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 gov
crninent This led to the impression that
the letter was from Senator Elect Money,
whose recent visit to Havana has attract
ed attention, but later Mr.. Call removed
this impression by saying that the writer
was a prominent man from a northern
state and Rcpul lican. This exempted
Mr.. Money who is a Democrat from Mis-
sissippi. The character of the writer was
indicated from his frequent references to
visits in company with Consul General
Lee. The letter dealt with the immediate
present and described a visit made by the
writer and General Lee to Cabanas fort
ress seven days ago-viz., on the morning
of Dec 30. 1t told of the pitiful condition
of the prisoners, some Of them Americans,
including Julio Sanguilly and young
man who was the companion Of Charles
Gown, the American newspaper CORE
spondent killed in Cuba. The recital OF
these prisoners was given in full. The
writer also gave the particulars OF another
arrest which had not thus far been report
ed. He said that while at General Lees
Office on the Monday previous (Dec. 2s)
he saw a son of DR.. Battencourt, an Amer
lean citizen, who had been practicing den
tistry 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
Cahanas fortress, where the son, on pay
ing 80 cents TO a Spanish official, was al
lowed to send in food. and later, on pay
ing 81. 80 to the official, was allowed 10
send a cot to his father No charge was
preferred against DIR. Battencourt but il
appeared that while listening to band
concert in front of the Hotel lngleterra on
Saturday evening the doctor heard that
some one had circulated the report that he
sympathized with Cuba. He set of 70 lind
the author Of the report and contradict Il.
That was the last seen of him, and 10 was
supposed the false rumor had led TO his
arrest and close confinement. Mr. Call re-
ferred also to letters received from the
wife of one of the sailors on the ship Com
petitor now imprisoned at Havana
the senate agreed to his resolution asking
the secretary Of state for all correspond
ence in the case of Julio SanRuilly.
During the session the senate passeS
house bills amending the laws relating t
timter culture and authorizing breyets Il
active or retired officers of the army o
navy.
The Joint resolution requesting the Brit
ish government to pardon Mrs Florenc
Maybrick was indefinitely postponed.
The bill exempting settlers on publ
lands from paying the original govern
ment price fixed on the lands was debated
Mr.. Pettigrew of South Dakota and Nh
!, Carter of Montana speaking in its favor
but a final vote was not reached
The Loud Bill Pass Il.
The Loud bill to amend the law relatin
TO second class mail matter was passed b
the house after two days of debate by
vote of l44 to 1O5. The opposition to th
bill made a strong fight against It, Ih
statements made on the floor as TO its ei
feet in certain particulars were very col
.aictlpg The most important provision {
the hill denies the serial publications ad
mission to the mails at cent per poun
rates IL is as follows: THAT nothin
herein contained shall he so construed a
TO admit to the second class rates publici
tions purporting TO be issued PERIODICAL
and to subscribers, but which are merel
books, OF reprints Of books, whether the
be issued complete or In parts, wheth'
they be bound or unbound, whether the
b. sold by subscription or otherwise,
whether they purport to be premiums
s,pplements or parts OF regular newsp'
pers or periodicals " =,
The bill also denies TO newspapers u
sample copy" privilege and the privilei
enioyed by newsdealers of returning III
sold publications at the second class rate
The only other important change in u