The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-13
CHANCE FOR CUBANS
SENATE MAY PASS THE MORGAN
BELLIGERENCY RESOLUTION.
-1
Important Papers Furnished by the
State Department Showing the True
Situation in the Island.
THRIFTY FEDERAL OFFICER
ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES by
TREASURY AUDITOR BALDWIN.
Bill ApprOpriating $1,5OO,OOO for u
New Public Building at Indianap-
Oils Passed by the Senate.
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, May 12.-The Significance
of tip postponement Of further discussion
on the Morgan Cuban belligerency resolu-
tions lies in the fact that the State Depart
ment has at last consented to turn over
to the Senate certain papers bearing on the
situation in the island which have hitherto
been withheld. Individual senator's have
seen these documents and are acquainted
with their contents. They are soon to be-
come public property, and, thus fortified,
the Morgan proposition would seem to be in
a fair way to speedy adoption. The friends
or the Cuban cause theorize that if the
oeligerency resolutions go through the
Senate, backed by official testimony Of the
sort that is on tap, the House will be COM
PEELED to act without delay, despite the
Iact that Speaker Reed and Chairman Hit
OF the committee on foreign affairs of the
last Congress, are both supposed to be on
posed to further Cuban recognition as mat
ters stand.
Ihe news which finds it's way into the
press IS at Variapce with the best private
information from Cuba. The public news
represents the insurrection as on it's last
legs Whlle there is late private and semi
onlclal information of seemingly reliable
character that Spain is getting ready to
give IN. Inc Morgan resolution with its
ouuset OF documents bearing on latest otti-
clal information which will come up to-
morrow may give renewed life and vitality
10 the Cuban agitation 1t has been dor
mant since the Graeco-Turkish war took
possession OF the stage. But now that that
httle affair is about ended, the opportunity
cd fnr
ment.
An Associated Press dispatch says: The
senate committee on foreign relations did
not conclude its consideration of the Cuban
situation to-day. 1t will meet tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock, but the subcomnoit-
tee, consisting of Senators Davis, Forakel.
and Morgan, which to-day was given ac-
cess TO the Cuban reports now held at the
state Department, probably will ask for
further time before submitting its ideas tn
the Iull committee The subcommittee was
hn hhnaoIe 10 go through all the reports that
nave been received from Consul General
Lee anC other consuls and officers in Cl1ha
Al the meeting tomorrow it is possible
that senator Morgan will consent to have
the resolution now pending in the Senate
10 go over without prejudice until the COM
mlttee can make its report. Ii is intended
tnat all the reports of consuls shall be sent
TO the Senate, but the Senate committee
VIII select certain documents bearing on the
condition of affairs in the island, and on
these make its recommendations and re-
port. rms report Will generaliZe the situd-
ton without making public such matters
as State Department officials and the COM
mittee think would be preiudicial to nersons
on the island.
One member of the committee who had
listened to the summary of the reports in
the department said that very serious
condition existed in Cuba, and that the in
qulry now being made by the committee
would result in bringing to light the exact
facts. Some structures were passed upon
members of the foreign relations commit
tee, who about year ago voted for a
resolution similar to the one now pending
and who now ask for time to consider the
matter with more deiberation. Speaking
of this criticism, Chairman Davis, of the
foreign relations committee, said: "At the
time the former resolution reported
Gomez was at the head of a large army
in the eastern end Of the island, and
Macfo was "a, at the mead OF another army in
the west. They could march from one end
to the other of Cuba. Campos had been de-
feated in great battle and was shut
within solid fortifications and confined to
a small territory around Havana Every
one knew that state of war existed. That
was year ago. Great changes have since
dispersed Gomez is at the head of but a
small force, certainly it is no such an army
as was reported then. There are conflict
ing statements to the strength of the in
surgents, and the control which Spain has
over the island 1t is right and proper that
the facts that have since reached the State
ate and the committee so that intelligent
action can be had
The Republicans of the committee do not
feel justified in pushing the administration
until it has had time to act. 1t has been
pointed out that only two months have
elapsed since the administration came into
power and it has scarcely had time to take
up and consider so important a matter as
that which had been presented. The pend
ing resolution, unlike Joint & resolution, @ viii
disapproye of it, This being the case the
Republican senators feel that they should
act in concert with the executive. 1t is not
that in case the Senate foreign re-
lations committee find, upon a thorough
examination of the reports in the State De-
that the resolution is 1ustlhed,
that any effort will be made to
prevent its passage. Members of
the COMMITTEES on foreign relations |
feel that the question which con
fronts the Senate is serious, and any action
that is taken by the Senate will have great |
weight with the administration. In case |
the resolution should pass both Senate and !
House there is no reason to believe that it |
would not be approved and that the United |
States government would thereafter con-
duct itself on the lines which 1t lays down.
Tonight the subcommittee met Secretary
Sherman at the latterS house ana had a |
long conference with him. The suggestion |
Is advanced that the President viii be IN
clned to wait for a report from MI. CaI-
houn who left Saturday for Havana be
fore making known definitely his views. Mr.. |
Calhoun went to Cuba primarily to In
VeStigate the causes attending the deatn OF
DR.. Ruiz but it is believed the president
will expect him to report generally as TO
affairs on the island so far as his observa-
ton goes, and that Mr.. Calhoun concIu-
sions will have some weight in determining
the President s action. Assistant secretary
Day. of the State Department, was at the
White House tonight and spent some
time with the President.