The herald., 1897-04-02

president the letters of Gen Gomez to
himself and Mr.. Cleveland, was pre-
sented and adopted without division. It
is as follows:
Resolved, That the president Is re-
quested to inform the senate, If in his
opinion it is consistent with the public
interests, whether letters have been re-
ceived by the present or the former chief
executive of the United States from
Maxine Gomez, the commanding gen.
eral of the revolutionary forces in Cuba
of the following tenor and effect Qetters
are recited); and the president is in like
manner further requested to inform the
senate whether there is any and what
evidence in the executive department
which shows that the persons or prop
erty of citizens of the United States
have suffered such abuses as are stated
in the foregoing letters which are al
legged in the public prints to have beer
written by Maxine Gomez, or any other
wrongs and abuses inflicted upon them
by either of the belligerent parties in
Cuba that could have been avoided by a
due consideration for our treaty rights
under the laws of nations and the re-
spect due to humanity.
"And also the president in like man.
ner is requested to inform the senate
whether the Spanish authorities in Gu
ba have refused to permit the consul of
the United States at Sagua lie Grande to
communicate with our consul-general
at Havana by the use of cipher dis
patches over the telegraph lines. and
whether any protest has been made
against such rulings"
The resolution of Mills Of Texas was
then presented and agreed to without
division. 1t is as follows:
Resolved, That the committee on for
eign relations are instructed to inquire
what, If any, relations the United
States has assumed toward the people
of Cuba by asserting and maintaining
the right to prevent the acquisition of
that island by any European power and
compelling its people to remain subject
to the domination of Spain and to report
by bill or otherwise"
Morgan came forward with a sort of
climax to the Cuban resolutions. He
presented a joint resolution recognizing
the existence of state of war in Cuba,
as follows:
Resolved, By the senate and house
of representatives, that a condition of
public war exists between the govern
ment of Spain and the government pro-
claimed and for some time maintained
by force of arms by the people of Cuba
and that the United States of America
will maintain a strict neutrality between
the contending powers, according to each
and all the rights of belligerents in the
ports and territory Of the United States"
The resolution was read several times
at the request of senators who appeared
to be greatly interested in 1t. The reso-
luton was laid on the table at Morgan's
request.
After this brief and lively session, de-
voted almost entirely to Qua, the SEN
ate at 1855 pm. went into executive
session and at SEQ pm. adjourned until
Monday.
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
The senate today In executive session
concluded its consideration of all amend
ments to the aritration treaty. The vot-
ing on additional amendments began
at oClOChp aAtSI tHEcc HOuES VI general
debate and In the hour and half which
followed, about a dozen propositions
were passed upon. Two only were
adopted, except some making verbal
changes. OF those adopted, one offered
by Senator Bacon exempts the claims
against southern states from the oper-
ations of the treaty and che other, intro
duced by Senator Morgan. eliminates
article s of the treaty.
Much of the debate q the day turned
upon these amendments. Their support
ers contended that under the constitu-
ton, state claims could not be made
the subject of negotiation under treaty
The point was also made that the claims
against the southern states were con-
tracted during the period of reconstruc-
tion and were not legitimate obligations.
1t was held, on the other hand, that un-
der the amendments already adopted, 1t
would be impossible to hold the southern
claims subject to the treaty. Senators
Gray and Lindsay presented the latter
view
Many Of the amendments voted down
were directed to putting Limitations on
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