Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-02
CUBA THE CENTRAL FIGURE In the Proceedings of the United
 States Senate. MORGAN SPEAKS PLAINLY And Again Introduces Resolution Declaring a
 State of BeIligerency. ALLEN, OF NEBRASKA, APPEALS To the Senate to Interpose an Objection to Q Drumhead Court Martial of Gen.
 Rivera-India to Be Re-
 membered. ea
MORGAN SPEAKS PLAINLY
ALLEN, OF NEBRASKA APPEALS

Washington, D. C., April f.-immedif ately after the journal of the senate was read the tariff bill was received from the house and was referred to the com mittee on finance
 Mir. Hale, republican, of Maine, from the committee on naval affairs, reported a joint resolution authorizing the sec- retary of the navy to transport contri- buttons for the relief of the suffering poor in India and asked its immediate consideration. The joint resolution was read The preamble recites the existence of famine in India, causing thousands of deaths and the fact that generous people in the various states of the union have contributed wheat, fluor and corn for the relief of the poor in India and the joint resolution authorizes the secretary of the navy to place at the disposal of the collector of the port of New York any ship or vessel belonging to the navy that may be best suited for such service for the purpose of transporting to the famishing poor of India such contri- buttons; and also to charter and em- ploy suitable merchant vessel with a cargo capacity of from 2,000 to 4,000 tons for the purpose And it appropriateS the amount of money necessary. MT. Stewart, populist, of Nevada, while fav- bring the joint resolution declared that the evils caused by the famine in India were trifling compared with those caused by legislation in destroying the value of silver. The savings of the people of India were in silver; and therefore they could not meet the present emergency.
 Mir. Hale gave brief explanation of the matter, reminding senators of the fact that at the last session a similar measure was passed for the transporta- tion of contributions from San Francisco to India There were now contributions at the port of New York awaiting trans portation. What was well done, he re- marked, was done twice if done quickly.
 MT. Morgan said he was very much impressed with the excellence of the thought embodied in the joint resolution, and he hoped that the senator from Maine would not object if in the course of few days he MT. Morgan, should find oc- casion to offer similar resolution for the purpose of taking supplies to the island of Cuba to feed "those poor miserable Americans penned up in the villages and towns by the command of General Wey- Ter and exposed to starvation in order to subdue their spirit and make them loyal to Spain.' He hoped also that if a reso- lutioh were offered to relieve the people of Crete in the same way by disregarding the blockade which Great Britain and the other powers were now enforcing to starve the Cretans to death unless they submitted to tyrannical outrage, the sem ator from Maine would support 1t.
 MT. Hale-I will be very glad to meet those resolutions when they come natu- rally before us. This gift of the American people is not complicated with any poli- tics or any political conditions of the people to whom the gift is sent. They are suffering untold woes; and every little thing, or great thing, that we can do to alleviate those sufferings, every senator will, l am sure, be willing to do
 The joint resolution was then passed.
 MT. Allen, populist, of Nebraska of fered resolution reciting that the Cuban general, Rivera, is to be tried by drum head courtmartial and shot, declaring that fin the judgment of the senate it is the duty of the United States govern ment to protest to the Spanish govern-' ment against such violation of the rule, of civilized warfare.'
 MT Hoar republican of Massachusetts. suggested that the resolution should go to the committee on foreign relations. F
 Mr. Allen---I think it should be consid-. cred this morning. The matter is very important If the life of this man is to be saved it must be saved without delay. Of course we understand that the refer ence Of the resolution to the committee on foreign relations means its defeat and its destruction.
 "I do not understand" said Hoar. "that the power of life and death over persons on either side of the contest in Cuba is committed to the senate of the United States. And do not conceive that the dignity of this body is preserved by hasty- action on reports and rumors. I think that this whole matter requires the calm est and most orderly proceeding, and I object to Its consideration at the pres ent time. If the senator from Nebraska will allow this resolution to go to the committee on foreign relations I will not object. have never heard that the com mittee was accused of stifiing such mat ters in relation to Cuba"
 'The despatches from Cuba" Mr. AL len remarked "are to the effect that this general who was wounded and captured in battle, is to be summarily tried by a drumhead court martial and shot. If that is true, it is in violation of every known rule of modern warfare. It would be an act of barbarity which no civilized nation should submit to. And while understand quite as we'll as the senator from Massachusetts does that we have no official cognizance of this matter, I understand also that we have right to express it as the sense of the United States senate that an act such as is con- templated would be in violation of the rules of civilized warfare and would be absolutely barbarous."
 MT. Hoar repeated his opinion that the resolution should go to the committee on foreign relations, as should all reso-l lutions affecting the delicate foreign re- lations of the government. It was an affront to nation with which the United States was at peace to declare that whereas ii is rumored that that nation is about to commit an atrocity. we desire to protest against that atrocity. Such a resolution adopted by any European country about the conduct of the United States would, MT. Hoar said, "set our , whole people aflamc and rightly, I do not think that the cause of liberty in Cuba, or of humane conduct there Is pro, noted by that kind of proceeding If. instead of asserting our power and in fiuence as great liberty loving country. we had acted according to the usage of k countries in relation to each other, and lute1y futile and ineffective resolutions, the only effect of which were to get com- mendation for somebody from some