Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-04-15
THE ssTH CONGRESS- AT WORK

THE 55TH CONGRESS- AT WORK
SENATE. - Eighteenth day. = Much
bad blood was developed over the Gu
ban question and there were numerous
stormy passages. Mr.. Morgan, of Ala
bama, called up his resolution declar-
ing that a state of war exists in Cuba
and recognizing both parties as belli
gerents Mr.. Morgan declared that
instead of sending lawyer To Cuba TO
investigate the case of DIR. Ruiz, as
was contemplated, the administration
would do we'll to send ship of war to
Havana and demand redress. At an
other point Mr.. Hale, of Maine, ques-
toned Mr.. Morgan's statement that
Cuban prisons were stuffed" with
American prisoners, declaring that the
information reaching him 0Hale)
showed that no such condition existed.
Mr.. Morgan then hotly asserted that
he was in communication with the
Spanish authorities. Mr.. Hale indig-
nantly denied this. AT the conclusion
of the morning hour the Cuban resolu-
ton went to the calendar, but Mr..
Morgan gave notice of a motion To pro-
coed with the resolution to a final vote.
Most Of the day was given to the bank
ruptcy bill, Mr.. Stewart, of Nevada,
speaking in opposition, and the discus
sion drifted into the financial question.
HoUsE.-No session.
SENATE-Nineteenth day.-The Sen
ate upon receipt of President McKin-
leys message urging relief for the
flooded regions of the Mississippi valley,
passed a resolution appropriating $780,
900 to be Immediately available.
Later, however, a resolution passed by
the House was received. appropriating
$500 600 for relief in the Mississippi and
the Red River of the North regions,
and this was accepted in lieu of the
former resolution and was passed unan-
imously. Mr.. Morgan, of Alabama,
resumed his speech in support of the
resolution declaring that state of
war exists in Cuba, but did not con-
clude. HoUsE-Action was promptly
| taken on the Presidents message and
| joint resolution adopted authorizing
| the secretary of war to expend $780, 900
| for the relief of the food sufferers of
the Mississippi and Red River of the
| North valleys. The most interesting
feature of the session was a passage
between Rep. Simpson, the Kansas
Populist, and Speaker Reed. Mr.
Simpson holly criticised the speaker
for his inaction in Withholding the APP
poip tment of committees and prevent
! ing the progress of legislation. Mr..
Reed replied that he was merely the
instrument of the House and that his
actions were governed by what he con-
sidered the will of the majority, and
that the House had power to command
the speaker if it disapproved of his
course. The Republicans expressed
their approval by applaudng The
House then adjourned
SENATE Twentieth day.-Mr. Nor
! gan, of Alabama, spoke the third sue
cessive day on his resolution declaring
that state of war exists in Cuba. He
was severely critical of SPANS methods
against American prisoners, and went
over in detail the circumstances in the
Competitor case and the incarceration
of Owen Melton, an American, and one
| of the Competitor crew, in vile Span
ish dungeon and refusing him permits
sion to communicate with the u. 5.
consul Mr.. Morgan said in part,
"the United States has warned off
European nations from all control
over Cuba We seemed to exercise
a sort of guardianship over that island
against all other nations. But, that
guardianship. if we have it, is like the
guardianship of the devil over con-
demned soul We are warning nations
that they must hold aloof while we
stand by and see the inquisitorial
methods of Spanish warfare, Spanish
dungeons and Spanish tyranny, execut-
ed against Cubans and against our own
people without one word of protest.
Whether there are "a Amer
lean prisoners i'm Cuba or $4,000,
or whether it is one in the person of
Owen Melton, this Arkansas youth, the
flag OF the United States, if it refuses
to shelter him, is disgraced rag"
Mr.. Nelson, of Minnesota, spoke for
two hours on the bankruptcy bill, OPP
posing the pending Torrey bill as harsh
and designed as a collection agency for
large creditors, and urging his substi-
tute as measure drafted in the inter
est of thousands of poor debtors strug-
| Cling to get on their feet. House. -
No session.
Twenty first day.-No session of the
Senate. HoUsE.-There was no busl-
ness transacted and the day was spent
in political debate in a rather dull
manner.