Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-09

Washington, D. C., April S.-The sen ate today heard Morgan, of Alabamua, for the third successive day on his reso- lution declaring that a state of war ex- isted in Cuba. He was severely critical of Spains method 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 prov fnce of the island showing the complete civil system of government now maln- tained by the Cubans.
 MT. Chandler offered a resolution, which was agreed to, as follows:
 Resolved, That the committee on in terState commerce be directed to inV2S- tigate the payments made or agreed to by the interstate commerce commission for attorneys fees, and also to inquire whether in any case the attorneys of the commission have also been employed by railroad companies in similar cases; and further, whether any additional au- thority from congress is required for the employment of counsel in any pend- ing proceedings which have been insti- tuted by or on motion of the commission.
 The resolution of MT. Earle, democrat, of South Carolina, on the reorganization senate committees, went over MT. Chandler presenting an amendment to be urged when the resolution is taken up. The amendment provides that on Tues day, April 20, at D. m., the senate will proceed to appoint it's committees.
 The Morgan resolution declaring that a state of war exists in Cuba was then taken up without objection, and MT. Morgan resumed his speech in support of it. The senator reverted to the state ment of MT. Hale yesterday that the number of American prisoners in Spanish prisons was reduced to twelve In sar- castle tones, MT. Morgan said that such releases as had occurred were the result of supplication by our government, and perhaps it would be appropriate to adopt a vote of thanks to Spain for the staying of these prisoners outright. Aside from the social testimony as to the condition in Cuba, the newspapers had piled up mass of testimony, which established beyond question that the war was being prosecuted by Spain contrary to all rules of civilized warfare.
 Mir N"gan commented on a letter written tv Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish minister. to Miss Clana Barton relative to the Fed Cross work in Cuba. In the course oe the letter is made the expres- sion. "arring the present war; This, declar76 MT. Morgan was an inadvertent admission by the Spanish minister, de- spite all his diplomatic cunning, that and the president would not recognize that state of war which would assure to American prisoners the treatment of prisoners of war and not of insurrection- ists.
 MT. Morgan said the question of protec- ting Americans imprisoned in Spanish prisons could not turn on numbers, whether seventy-four or twelve were in prison. Suppose, instead of seventy-four it had been only one, who could say that the United States government would maintain it's dignity by standing hy while one American citizen was hald by Spain in violation of treaty provisions and contrary to every principle of civil iDation and justice. The United States had wsrned off European nations from alll control over Cuba. said MT. Morgan.