The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-01-07
HIGH HANDED METHODS
0fSpaniards in Cuba Described by
,n Eminent Authority.
PITIFUL CONDITION OF PRISONERS
The Loud Bill to Amend the Law Relat-
ing to Second Glass Mail Matter Passed
the House by Vote Of 144 to 1O5-Sam-
pie Copy Privilege Prohibited.

WAsHINGToN, Jan. THE speech Of
Senator Call, of Florida, on Cuba, yester-
day served as the medium of making pub
lie letter giving graphic description Of
the Cabapas fortress at Havana, and the
surroundings of the American citizens
imprisoned there The circumstances
surrounding tho letter attracted marked
interest to 1t, as Mr.. Call said it came
from public man of high standing in the
United States who would shortly occupy
place In the legislative branch of the
government. This led to the impression
that the letter was~from Senator-elect
Money, whose recent visit to Havana has
attracted attention, but later Mr.. Call re-
moved this impression by saying that the
writer was prominent man from q
northern state and Republican. This
exempted Mr.. Money, who is Missis-
sippi Democrat
The character of the writer was In
dicated from his frequent references to
visits In company with Consul General
Lee. The letter dealt with the immediate
present, and described visit made by the
writer and General Lee to Cabanas fort
ress on the morning of Dec. 30. 1t told of
the pitiful condition of the prisoners, some
of them Americans, including Julio San
gully and young man who was the COM
panion of Charles Gown, the American
newspaper correspondent, killed in Cuba.
The recital of those prisoners was given in
full
The writer also gave the particulars Of
another arrest which had not thus far
been reported. He said that while at Gem
eral Lee office on the Monday previous
(Dec 2S) he saw son Of Dr.. Battencourt,
an American citizen, who had been prac-
ticing dentistry at Havana for tho last
year. The son, also an American citizen,
stated that his father had mysteriously
disappeared on Saturday night He was
traced to the Cabanas fortress, where the
son, on paying fifty cents to Spanish Of
fetal, was allowed to send in food, and
later, on paying Sl.50 to the official, was
allowed to send cot to his father
No charge WAS preferred against DR..
Battencourt but 1t appeared that while
listening to Il band concert in front of the
Hotel Ingeterra on Saturday evening the
doctor heard that some one had circulated
the report that he sympathized with Cuba.
He set off to find the author of the report
and contradict it. That was tho last seen
of him, and it was supposed the false
rumor had led to his arrest and close con-
1lnement Mr.. Call referred also to letters
received from the wife Of one of the sail
ors on the ship Competitor, now imprls-
oned at Havana.
During the day tho senate passed house
bills amending the laws relating to tim
TN, thar zjt hpn &c tf,o
tive or retired officers of the army or navy.
The joint resolution requesting the
British government to pardon Mrs. Flor
ence May brick was indefinitely postponed.
The bill exempting settlers on public lands
from paying the original government
price fixed on lands was debated, Mr.. Pet
tigrew of South Dakota and Mr. Carter of
Montana speaking in It's favor, but final
vote was not reached.
The Loud bill, to amend the law re-
lating to second class mail matter, was
passed by the house yesterday by vote
of IA to l05 The opposition to the bill
made strong fight against it, The state
ments made on the floor as to it's effect in
certain particulars were very conflicting.
The most important provision Of the bill
denies the serial publications admission
to the malls at one cent per pound rates
The bill also denies to newspapers the
Sample copy" privilege and the privilege
enjoyed by newstleaers Of returning un-
sold publications. at the second class ratio
The only other important change in the
presentlaw provides that publishers whose
publications are admitted us second class
matter shall be required before depositing
such mail matter in the postotfice to sep
arats the same into United States mail
sacks or bundles by states, cities, towns
and counties, as the postmaster general
shall direct.