The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-13
CUBA In THE SENATE
Committee on Foreign Re-
lations Preparing a
Sensational Report.
AMERICANS ARE STARVING
Results of Weyler's Military
Policy will the Presi-
dent Act /?
AMERICANS ARE STARVING

WASHINGTON, D. c., May Is, 1887
The Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
lations today had the Cuban question uil-
der consideration on the basis of the re-
port of the subcommittee appointed yes
terday to confer with the President ana
Secretary Sherman
The report was prepared by Senators
Davis and Foraker the Republican
members of the subcommittee, Senator
Morgan, the Democratic member, de-
clining to participate in it. The REPORT
consisted of a concise statement of the
contents of official reports from American
Consuls in Cuba, bringing the information
up to within a week of the present time
Thls report confirms the newspaper re-
ports as to the situation of affairs in the
island and goes even farther in depicting
a deplorable situation than do most of
the newspaper stories. Especial stress
IS laid upon the condition of American
citizens in the island. Of these IT is
positively stated that there are hundreds
in a starving condition and most wretch
edly clothed
Deaths of Americans from starvation
are daily reported. They are scattered in
all parts of the island and are shown no
consideration whatever because of their
American citizenship. They are generally
persons who reside on the plantations.
but who have been driven from their
homes to the towns or concentrates and
who, being among strangers and without
employment are compelled to subsist on
almost nothing. They are not allowed 10
return to their plantations, even to pick
berries or to secure the least article of
subsistence. They are theoretically un-
der the oare of the Spanish army. but
the army is without commissariat. They
have no means of leaving the island.
Their condition is pronounced wholly de-
plorable. The committee was especially
impressed with this recital and the opin-
ion generally expressed that the situation
should be remedied if possible.
Ii was considered as placing even a
worse aspect upon the question of our
relations to Cuba than the imprisonment
CT Americans of which there are now
comparatively few instances! The re-
port also indicates a generally wretched
condition of all the inhabitants of the
island because of the scarcity of food and
money, especially in the centres of popu-
Iatlon, and because also of the pressure
Oh the most malignant diseases, such as
yellow fever. smallpox and dysentery.
These diseases the natives withstand
with comparative ease,b they are especz
laliy oppressive to the Spanish soIdiery
Ihe reports indicate that the Spanish
army is not so strong now as it was a
year ago, largely on account of these
ravages while the indicate no diminution
OF the insurgent forces.
Inc reports upon which the sub-con-
mlttees brief was based were from va
rious Consuls, including Consul General
Lee They make no recommendations as
to American policy but merely give the
situation as they see it.
In view of the developments in tho
committee, Senator Morgan agreed not TO
press the consideration of his resolution
today but he will make an effort to have
the question made the unfinished bust
ness Monday at 2 O'clock
This acquiescence on the Alabama SEN
ator's part to temporarily delay is un-
derstood to beigiven under the impression
that 1t will ,result5in bringing to the
resolution the support of the entire com
mittee on Foreign Relations. This will,
OF course, materially. strengthen the
resolution in the Senate and it is be-
heved by its friends will expedite its
1t is now probable that the committee
will not make any formal report and that
the correspondence will not be given to
the public for the present.
The delay by the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations in taking no action nm
til Monday is for the purpose of giving
the President an opportunity to act
Representations have been made to the
President that there is necessity for i'm
mediate action. It has also been repre-
sented that the matter of recognition
ought to be by the Executive and not
by the legislative branch of the govern
ment.
The President has been urged also to
take steps looking toward the relief of
the starving Americans in Cuba. 1t is
the sbelief of members of the committee
that the President will take action be-
fore Monday, but if nothing is done by
that time there is no doubt that the
committee will urge the Morgan resolul-
ton in the STRONGEST terms poceihlo