The herald., 1897-04-09
After One More Speech
on Cuba
THE FLAG A DISGRAcED RAG
UNLESS IT SHELTERS EVFEE
CITIZEN
The Bankruptcy Bill Is Debated, Bus
Neither Question Is Brought
to a Vote
Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, April S.-The senate
today heard Morgan for the third sue
cessive time today on his resolution de-
claring that state of war exists in Gu
ba. He was severely critical of Spain'R
methods against American prisoners and
went over in detail the circumstances
in the Competitor case. Mr.. Morgan
said he would close his speech at the
next meeting of the senate. when he
would present letter from one OF the
Cuban officials of the eastern province
oc the island, showing the complete civil
system of government now maintained
by the Cubans.
Nelson of Minnesota spoke for tive
hours on the bankruptcy bill. opposing
the pending Torrey bill as excessively
harsh and designed as a collection agency
fer large creditors and urging his sub
stitute as a measure drafted in the in
terests of thousands of poor debtors
struggling to get on their feet.
Mr. Chandler offered a resolution,
which was agreed to, as follows:
Resolved, That the committee on in
terstate commerce be directed to in
vestigate the payments made by or
agreed to be made by the interstate
commerce commission for attorneys
fees; and also to inquire whether in any
cases the attorneys of the commission
have been also employed by railway
companies in similar cases, and further.
whether any additional authority from
congress is required for the employment
of counsel in any pending proceedings
which have been instituted by or on
motion of the commission.
The resolution OF Earle Is. c., Defn)
for the Reorganization of the senate
committees went over. Chandler pre-
sented an amendment to be urged when
the resolution is taken up. The amend
ment provides that on Tuesday, April
Goth, at 2 pm. the senate Will proceed
to appoint its committees.
In resuming his speech on the resolu-
ton declaring that a state of wal ex-
lists in Cuba, Morgan reverted to the
statement of Hale yesterday that the
number of American prisoners in Span
ish prisons was reduced to twelve. In
sarcastics tones, Mr.. Morgan SAID that
such releases as had occurred were LIE
result of supplication by our govern
ment and perhaps it would BE- sppro-
pirate to adopt vote of thanks to
Spain for not Staying these prisoners
outright Aside from the official Sesti-
mony as to the condition In Cuba. the
newspaper press had piled up mass
of testimony which established beyond
question that the war was being pros
ecuted by Spain contrary to all tho
rules of civilized warfare.
Morgan commented on a letter written
by Minister Dupuy de LONE to Miss
Clara Barton, relative to Red Cross
work in Cuba. In the course of the let
ter use is made of the expression dur
ing the present war"
This, declared Morgan, was an inad~
vertent admission by the Spanish min
ister, despite all his diplomatic cum
ming, that war was going on. And yet
congress and the president would not
recognize that as such statement OF
war which would assure to American
prisoners the treatment Of prisoners OF
war and not of insurrectionistS.
The United States having warned or
European nations from attempting con-
troll of Venezuela, said Mr.. Morgan, we
seemed to exert a sort Of guardianship
over that island against all Other ma
tions.
But" exclaimed the senator, 'suard-
ianship, If we have it, is like the guard
ianship of the devil over a condemned
soul. We are warning nations that they
must hold aloof Spanish warfare, Span
ieh dungeons and Spanish tyranny ex
ecuted against Cubans and against our
own people, without one word of pro-
test"
Morgan spoke of the Competitor ex-
pedition, and took up the case of young
owen Melton, one Of the Compe titor
prisoners, and followed the progress Of
his trial and his imprisonment incom-
municado in the Spanish dungeons
Young Melton, said he, was held today
in a loathsome dungeon, not because
guilt had been established, but because
he is a young American boy. He WAS
held in a miserable place in which at
times forty other prisoners were crowd
ed. Three pails of water were brought
to them daily to quench their thirst
from rations of dry Goldfish. Morgan
then reviewed the case of Rev. DR.. Diaz
While preaching at Havana bombshehs
had been thrown into his church, and he
and his brother were arrested ano held
for seventeen days incommunicado.
Morgan read from the laws and treat
les to show the unjustihable character
of Melton's imprisonment.
Then the senator exclaimed, with great
vehemence: Whether there are q
prisoners in Cuba or $4,000, or whether
it is one, in the person of Owen Melton,
this Arkansas youth. the nag OF the
United States, If 1t refuses 70 eheiser
him, is disgraced rag"
Morgan gave way at ocolck 70 -
bankruptcy bill, stating that be vonlo
conclude his speech at the next meeting
of the senate.
Nelson Of Mississippi, Republican, adj
dressed the senate on the bonkrsip<cy
bill. He said there was No rpblic de-