The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-08
The Sum of 100000 Made
Immediately Available.
OUR CUBAN PRISONERS
MIR. MORGAN PLEADS FOR THEM
AGAIN.
BUT RESOLUTION GOES OVER
Mr., HaIe's Continued -B!ooded
Opposition--M Morgan Pressing
His Plea for Beiigerency---
Those Now in Prison.

Those Now in Prison.
Washington, April Cuba and the
flood sufferers divided attention in fhe
Senate to-day. The reading of the Pies
ident's message urging Congressional re-
lief for the devastated regions of the
Mississippi river was followed by the
introduction Of a joint resolution appro-
priating $4,000 to be Immediately avail
able for the flood sufferers. After brief
debate the resolution was passed by the
unanimous vote Of the 60 Senators pre-
sent. The plans were changed, however,
when the House resolution approprlatlng
100000 for the Mississippi river and req
river of the north was received. Inns
was accepted in lieu of the former reso-
luton and was passed unanimously. 1t
was quickly enrolled and dispatched to the
President. Mr.. Morgan, Of Alabama,
resumed his speech in support OF the
resolution declaring that state of war
exists in Cuba.
The resolution of Mr.. Hale, (Dem.,
S. c., for the reorganization of Senate
committees went over without losing its
place. This cleared the way for the
Cuban question, Mr.. Morgan continuing
his speech begun yesterday in support OF
his resolution. Mr.. Morgan referred to
General Weyler's orders herding together
people in the towns and villages Of Cuba,
for the purpose Of starving them. How
long he asked, was this Captain General
to continue in power, issuing new orders
day after day as his within or caprice
might dictate, resulting in the utmost
harshness against American citizens in
Cuba? No such outrage had ever been
attempted by one civilized nation toward
another as that which now held up its
naughty head and enforced these per-
sonal DEGREES against American citizens.
Mr.. Morgan reiterated his statement
that the Spanish prisons were filled with
Americans, and showed a message from
the President some time since, giving a
detailed report from the State Depart
ment as to the imprisonment of "a Amer
lean citizens in Cuba, and yet, in spite
Of this communication from the Presi-
dent, the Senator from Maine (Hale) had
denied the truth of the statement that the
Cuban prisons were filled with Ameri-
cans.
Here Mr.. Hale interposed.
Il did not deny that there were cases
of Americans in prison in Cuba" said
he. what denied was that the prisons
were filled with Americans. Since yes
terday / have called at the State Depart
ment and have found that there are just
twelve Americans in prison in Cuba.
OF these the Secretary of State expects
that there are four who will liberated
very soon, three were captured with
arms in hand; the others are the Com
petitor prisoners"
As Mr.. Hale closed, the presiding Of
ficer announced that the hour of 2 O'Clock
having arrived, the bankruptcy bill was
before the Senate.
Mr.. Hale moved an executive session.
Mr.. Morgan had not heard the an
nouncement, and was disposed to hold
the floor. He finally yielded, saying he
would go on tomorrow.
At 2 o'clock the Senate went ito ex-
ecutive session, and at 2:20 adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington, April THE sessions Of
the House of Representatives are to
constitute the record Of that body this
week while it is waiting for the Senate
to reconsider the tariff bill. The
first session was held to-day,
the second will be held Saturday. The
only business transacted to-day was the
adoption of the Joint resolution author
izing the Secretary of War to expend
100000 for the relief of the flood suf-
ferers of the Mississippi valley.
The food resolution, in addition to ap-
propriating 100000, authorizes the Sec
rotary OF War to employ the government
steamers and other boats on the Missis-
sippi in transporting and distributing the
supplies, and also such other means as
he might deem necessary for the purpose
Of distributing supplies contributed by
the government or individuals. During
the debate on this question the Presi-
dents message on the same subject was
received and read. The most interest
ing feature Of the session was passage
between Representative Simpson, the
Kansas Populist, and Speaker Reed.
Mr.. Simpson gave voice to the Speakers
temporary policy of inaction, which has
been smouldering in some quarters, by
speaking to a question Of privilege. He
finished q fiery denunciation Of the
Speaker by demanding that he appoint
the committees of the House at once,
and gave notice that he would prevent
any more attempts to do business by
unanimous consent. Several Republican
members attempted to stem the tide Of
Mr.. Simpsons attack, but Mr.. Reed
seemed to desire to hear it, and declined
to interfere. He listened calmly to the
speech and then with his usual GOODNESS
and lucidity, replied as follows:
"The House will perceive that the gen.
tleman from Kansas (Mr. Simpson,,
has made no proposition whatever upon
the subject. He has simply stated his
own views, and the chair has thought per-
haps it was best that the matter should
be stated and that the House should con-
slider it. So far as the power of the
Speaker is concerned, every one who has
made the subject matter of considera-
tion understands that his power is solely
the power of the House and the House
can at any moment change the action
which it's representatives see fit to in
dulge in. The House has the power at
ell times and while the rules of the
House require certain committees to be
appointed, there has always been allow
al tO the chair a Taa soma hla amount of