Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-06
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, January G.
SENATE.

There were not more than dozen
Senators in the chamber to-day when
the chaplain offered his opening prayer
and the galleries were almost deserted.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy in relation to the cost of construc-
ton of armor plate was presented and
referred to the committee on naval
affairs.
An adverse report from the commit
tee on foreign relations on the claim of
John S. Waller, the negro ex-U. S. con-
sui at Madagascar, for damages by rea-
son of his arrest and imprisonment, was
presented and indefinitely postponed.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Hale,
and agreed to, calling on the Secretary
of State for q statement concerning the
action of the President or Secretary of
State, touching the recognition of
any foreign people or power as an in
dependent government and the CORES
ponding action of either branch of the
United States government.
The resolution offered yesterday by
Mr.. Call, democrat of Florida, in rela-
ton to the condemnation of Julio San
gully, an American citizen, by the
Spanish authorities in Cuba to per.
petual Imprisonment in chains, was
taken up, and Mr.. Call addressed the
Senate. His opening remarks were d.
rected, however, to the case of Charles
GOWN, and the report thereon of Con-
sui General Lee, which was presented
to the Senate yesterday. Mr.. Call dis
credited the statement of the Spanish Of
fcers as to Gown having died of wounds
received in battle, and asserted on the
authority ola person whose name he
declined to give, but who was person
of character, that Govin-a citizen of
the United States and who was in Cuba
as newspaper reporter-had been ar
rested, tied to tree and cut in
pieces with machetes by squad
of cavalry as it rode pass. The
statement, be said, had been die
tated by person who stood high in
the consideration of all who knew him,
who had received official recognition
by the American people in the shape Of
official promotion, and who had been,
or would be, member of the legisla-
tive branch of the government. Re-
verting to the case of Sanguilly, Mr..
Call read from a statement to the ef-
feet that Sanguilly, also an American
citizen, had been guilty of no ofeuse
whatever and that nothing had been or
could be proved against him. There
had been no evidence of any completely
Of Sangully with the insurgents, or OF
anv purpnse IN min them
These cases, Mr.. Call said, were
types of what were occurring to hun
: dreds of American citizens in Cuba.
What matters it," said he, that they
were natives of Cuba? What matters it
that they reside in the island of Cuba?
That is their right. The prisons of Ca
banas and Moro Castle are full Of
them. These prisons are stained with
the blood of American citizens. 1t only
required careful investigation of the
fscts by the Senate, in order that the
cover may be taken oil this scene Of
butcbery."
Referring to the objections coming
from commercial bodies that interior
ference might lead to war, Mr.. Gail
asked whether the God of business was
to be allowed to suppress the demands
of humanity. Lack of public spirit, be
asserted, was worse than the danger OF
war. There could be no prosperity in
a country where there was no sense Of
patriotism and no national honor. The
resolution was referred to the commit
tee on foreign relations.
The Senate then. at 1:30 p. M, went
into executive session.
After short executive session the
doors were again opened and legislative
business was resumed.
Senate bill to amend the act repeal
ing the timber culture laws was taken
up and passed, Mr.. Pettigrew, who re-
ported it from the committee on public
lands, explaining its provisions and
stating that it applied only to the lands
Of the great Sioux reservation.
House bill to provide for the appoint
ment by brevet Of active or retired Of
fcers of the United States army was
taken from the calendar, amended in
some slight particular and passed.
Senate joint resolution requesting
the government of Great Britain to par
don Mrs. Florence E. Maybrick as
an act of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS was re-
ported adversely last session-was
taken from the calendar and indefinite
ly postponed.
At 2 p. u. the unfinished busine
was taken up, being the House bill
providing for free homesteads on the
public lands in Oklahoma territory.
HOUSE.
Rising to q question of personal privi-
lege, Mr.. Grosvenor offered resolutions
calling upon the heads of departments
to explain why they had not responded
to resolution introduced by himself
in theH ouse on the Goth of May last
and adopted June 9Th, asking certain
information regarding the operation OF
the civil service law.
The resolutions we're adopted without
division.
The House went into committee Of
the whole, to further discuss the Loud
bill to amend the postal laws, by ex-
Guiding from second class matter
Sample copies" and serial novel publ
cations.
Mr.. Millikin and Mr.. Wagner OPP
posed the bill.
The bill was further opposed by
Messrs. Tracy and Morse.
Mr.. Bingham closed the general de-
bate against the bill. He did not be-
lieve that the Postoffice Department
should be maintained as money max
ing institution. The support of the
service, with its usual deficit, was q