San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-02-22
TANGLED AFFAIRS.
CONGRESS WANTS CUBAN MATTERS
THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED,
Especially in the Gases Illustrated Amer
icans-Sen. Morgan Scores the Admin
istration Lees Patriotism.

The administration is determined to
have a full investigation of all the cir
cumstances surrounding the death of
DR.. Ricardo Ruiz, the American dem
tist who was recently found dead in
prison in Gunabacoa, Cuba. The
question of reparation, if the facts JUS
tify it, will follow the investigation.
The secretary has sent a cable dis
patch to Minister Taylor in Madrid in
forming him that DR.. Ruiz died under
suspicious circumstances and directing
him to inform the Spanish government
that the United States desires a full
inquiry into the affair. In the mean
time Consul General Lee is prosecuting
his inquiry and just as soon as his
report is at hand it will be considered
with a view to defining the policy of
the administration in the matter.
The only word received from Consul
General Lee is contained in two dis
patches, one informing the Depart
ment of DR.. Ruiz's arrest, and the Sec
ond announcing his death in the Guna-
bacOa Jail, under suspicious circum-
stances. This last dispatch called for
a reply in which COnul General Lee is
instructed to make a prompt and full
investigation, and another to Minister
Taylor states that the Ruiz incident
has considerably agitated public men
here and it is expected resolutions will
be introduced in both houses of Con-
gress calling upon the State depart
ment for all the facts in the case. The
present administration can scarcely do
more during the short time than to get
the investigation we'll under way. But
approaching how sensitive is the Amer
lean public upon this question of out
RACES upon our citizens, it will be the
purpose of Secretary Olney to see that
an absolutely fair and impartial re-
port is made by our representative in
Cuba.
While the Ruiz affair might ulti-
mately form the basis for a possible
rupture between the United States and
Spain, it is not likely to come during
the present administration. If the
new administration desires to depart
from diplomatic means for securing
better treatment of Americans, the
present administration will leave at
its disposal a fine fleet of war vessels
near Havana to back up any demand
that may be made.
1t was further denied at the White
House that any request has come from
Consul General Lee for warships or
that there was any intention of sending
warships to Havana.
The report of the Spanish investiga-
ton is expected to be set on foot, as a
result of Mr.. Taylor's representation,
is anticipated by the state authorities.
1t will be that Ruiz died from natural
causes and testimony to this effect
will be secured from the numerous wit
nesses that the authorities in Cuba are
able to procure and which will be suf-
ficient to Offset any evidence that may
be obtained for the United States.
State department officials say that
the case of DR.. RuiZs death is very much
like that of S. N. Lopez, an American
citizen, who Consul General Lee report
ed was a victim of Spanish brutality.
His report was laid before the Madrid
officials. In rebuttal the Spanish au-
thorities offered the report made by
their representatives.
General Lee could only make a bare
statement of the facts as he found
them and could not quote any person
as responsible for his information be-
cause of the fear that his informant
would be subjected to Spanish impris-
onment, which in the Ruiz case, was
to death.
On the other hand Spanish records
were filled with sworn statements by
men who General Lee declares were re-
spOnsible for the death of Lopez and
others, who the Spanish authorities
claimed had no interest in the matter
Against this mass of evidence General
Lees word was naught.
Whatever may be the result Of the |
in the Ruiz case, there |
is a pressing demand from Congress |
for more complete details in this and |
other cases of American prisoners in |
Cuba. Bitter complaints have fire. |
quently been made by members Of both |
of Congress that the State de-
partment had not kept the Legislative
branch of the government sufficiently
well posted concerning the treatment |
Americans have received in Cuba.
If an American citizen has been MUIR
1ered in a Cuban prison senators and
insist that the United
States should know it and that infor-
nation should not be confined to the
but should be commu-
heated to Congress and the country.
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, in dis
,ussing the treatment of prisoners in
Cuba, said to me tonight:
Il know nothing OF the Ruiz case be-
5ond what is in the newspapers.
very much discredit the report that
have been asked for or were
tent. The administration, in my
Judgment, has not only been negligent
N messing L. nl nirnr fnr i,nctinn IN | 1