The Mena weekly star., 1897-05-19
SPECIAL MESSAGE.
The President Asks Congress to Assist
 Destitute Americans in Cuba
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS.
The Senate Passes Resolution Appropriat- ing S5e.OCO for Destitute United States Citizens in Cuba-The House Side
 tracks tiIe Resolution.

WASHINGTON, May Is. After long conference with Secretaries Sherman, Gage, Alger and Long and Attorney General McKenna, during which Sem ator Davis, chairman of the senate for eign relations committee, was admit ted the president sent the following message to congress, which was read at the opening of the session of each house:
 To the Senate and House Of Representatives of the United States:
 Oficial information from our consuls in Cuba establishes the fact that 8 large number of American citlzenS in the island are in a state of Restitution, suffering for want of food and med ieines. This applies particularly to the rural districts of the central and eastern parts.
 The agricultural classes have been forced from their farms into the nearest towns, where they are without work or money. The local authorities of the several towns however kindly disposed are unable to relieve the needs of their own people and are altogether powerless to help our citizens.
 The latest report of Consul-General Lee esti- mates chat from 60O to 800 Americans are with out means Of support have assured him that provision would be made at once to relieve them.
 To that end recommend that congress make aa appropriation Of not less than S50 0e9 to bs immediately available for use under the diree- tion of the secretary of state. It is desirable that part of the sum which may be appro- prfated by congress should, in the discretion Of the secretary of state, also be used for the transportation of American citizens who, de- string to return to the United States. are with out means to do SO WILLIAM MCKINLEY Executive Mansion May F. ls97
 Mondays Congress.
 WASHINGTON. May IS. Immediately after the reading of the journal in the senate Secretary Pruden, of the white house staff, presented the presidents message on Cuba. 1t was taken to the clerks desk and read with the closest attention from senators and spectators. Following the reading of the message Mir Davis, chairman of the committee on foreign relations, favorably reported with amendments the resolution introduced by Mir. Gallinger last Thursday appropriating $50, 900 for the relief of destitute citizens of the United States in Cuba. Mir. Davis asked for immediate consideration of the resolution and there was no objec- tion. The only speech made was that of Mir. Gallinger, who spoke briefly. The resolution was then put on it's passage and without division is passed unanimously, there being no response to the call for the nays.
 Senator Hoar reported from the ju- dietary committee in favor of taking no action on the Chapman resolution, as Chapman has made no application for pardon. Without debate the re- port was adopted and the resolution went to the table.
 The resolution directing the commit tee on Pacific railroads to investigate whether any lands have been fraudu- lently issued to the Union Pacific rail- road and the resolution efa.lllliiiiii 5fi the president for information as to the authority by which the proposed sale of the Union Pacific railroad has been agreed on between the executive and combination of purchasers were adopted.
 In the house Mir. Hit asked for the immediate consideration of bill to appropriate S50,0 ,000 for the relief of destitute Americans in Cuba, but MT. Bailey said that he must object, unless anamendment embodying Senator Nor gan's resolution for recognition of the insurgents be added. Mir. Dingley ob- lected to the amendment. whereupon Mr- Bailey objected to the bill and the Cuban question was sidetracked. The house then adjourned until Thursday.