The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-20
ADVISABILITY OF PROVIDING I'M
MEDIATE RELIEF FOR DEsTI-
TUTE AMERICANS.
message 70 CONGRESS Probable.
Final Decision Postponed TIL Re-
ports From Cuba Are Had-Span-
ish Minister Says Such Desti-
tuition Is Unavoidable.

tirely to the consideration of the Cuban
question. The meeting occurred an hour
earlier than usual, owing to the import
-ance of the question to be discussed and
the fact that the president and the cab
met were to leave for Philadelphia at
12:45.
The cabinet discussion of the Cuban
situation today was upon the ACCESSIBILITY
of asking congress, to provide immediate
relief to the Americans who are, accord
ing to the reports received from Consul
General Lee, penned up in the cities and
in actual danger of starvation. 1t had
no bearing upon the policy of administra-
ton toward Spain or the Cuban insur-
gents, except incidentally, but dealt with
the direct and immediate question of re-
lieving destitute Americans on the island
Secretary Sherman laid before the cab
met some of the most important docu-
ments in the state department about the
situation and before the meeting was
over, Judge Day, the assistant secretary
of state, personally took to the White
House some additional papers, for which
the secretary was sent. Every phase of
the matter was discussed, the advisable
ity of asking congress for an appropria-
ton, Spain's attitude, the methods for
distributing relief if it should be decided
to enter upon it, the necessity or advisa-
bility of having a warship accompany
food supplies. But the final decision of
the session was postponed till Consul Gen
eral Lee and other American consuls in
Cuba, and probably Mr.. Calhoun, make
their reports by cable to the department.
They have been requested to cable the
latest facts as to the existing situation.
These reports will be here probably when
the president and cabinet return tomor-
row night and if it is decided to send q
special message to congress early next
week, these, with the other facts in the
possession of the state department, will
be made the basis for the request to con-
gress. 1t seems imminently probable now
that such q message will be sent to con-
gress, but hardly before Tuesday, as
there would be no time to prepare a mes
sage before that day unless Mr.. Nc
Mckinley devoted Sunday to the task.
The Spanish minister, Dupuy de LONE
called at the state department shortly
time with Assistant Secretary Day rel
alive to the reported intention of this gov
eminent to send relief to American suf
ferers in Cuba. The minister gave as
surance that the Spanish government
would be in entire sympathy with any
benevolent movement and would lend
every assistance to it. 1t was recalled
by the minister that four months ago
he had written to the officers of the Red
Gross society giving in behalf of his gov
eminent full authority for extending aid
to the sufferers in Cuba. Since then,
however, no steps towards relief have
been taken.
The Spanish minister does not question
the existence of misery and suffering in
the island, but declares that it is such
only as accompanies instruction and war,
heightened in this case by the low tropic
country. 1t is said the conditions have
existed for months and have been we'll
known. As TO the severity of the suf-
fering, it is said that it consists mainly
in the lack of adequate food, medicine
and nursing for the sick and destitute.
The statements that people are dying in
the streets are not admitted at the le-
cation, but are discredited, and as to the
Americans, it is said there are a num-
Der of well-to-do Americans in Cuba who
would relieve any distress on the part
of their fellow cOuntrymen.
The manner of sending relief to Cuba.
if it shall be decided upon by the presi-
dent and congress, has been discussed
is felt that the dispatch of vessel would
be inadvisable. 1t is said that the quick
est and surest way would be to send re-
lief by ordinary freight routes, which
have facilities for reaching the various
jpOrts and interior points in Cuba. The
'centers of suffering are widely separated.
so that relief vessel to any one port
would encounter many difficulties and
dangers in giving speedy relief to the
people needing it.
The fact that the senate was not in
session today and that comparatively few
senators were at the capitol had quiet
ing effect upon the situation in regard to
Cuban affairs. There was still. how
ever, much interest in the course that the
matter may take on Monday.
Senator Morgan said today that the
message of the president, if it should APP
ply only to relief measures in the way of
food and clothing, would not cause him to
deviate from his purpose of pressing his
of war, as he had given notice that he
would do so before it was assumed that
the president would send in such mes
sage.
The friends of the Morgan resolution
will not antagonize measures contem-
plating temporary rt.ief but they are
not disposed to accept such measures in
place of more general and far reaching
declaration. The opposition also probably
will acquiesce in resolution appropri-
ating money to relieve immediate wants.
Senator Hale, who is generally recog-
nized as the leader of the opposition to
all motions looking to general declara-
ton in Cuba's interest, is absent from
the city, but Senator White, who also OPP
poses such measures as a rule, said to-
day that while there were such objec-
lions to extending our charity to such
an extent he would, be disposed to offer
Some of the pro-Cubans take the posi- |
ton that any such action in Cuba will |
be merely to aid the Spanish cause. as
they will practically amount to contri- |
button TO Spain. Hence there is posi- |
bility of opposition even to the proposed
charity.
IN