The herald., 1898-02-15
when the senate would be prepared to
take a vote.
IN THE HOUSE
An Innocent Cuban Inquiry Causes
Some Excitement


members when the House assembled to-
day. The excitement was due to an inn
perative summons sent out last night
by one of the subordinate officials in the
House to each Republican member I'M
pressing the urgent necessity of his pres
ence at the session today. All that was
definitely known at first was that some
thing in regard to Cuba was to be
brought up in the House. although un-
der the rules this was District OF Co
lumbia day. The galleries were crowded
Among those in the galleries were
Senor Quesada and several other Cub
ans connected with the Junta.
1t turned out that Chairman Hit. or
the Foreign Affairs Committee, was
merely to call up some resolutions re-
ported by his committee, calling upon
the State Department for general in
formation relating to Cuba and the not
ice had been sent out as precautionary
measure, to prevent the possible defeat
of the resolution by the opposition,
proceeding which would be in order IL
the previous question were voted down.
Immediately after the reading of the
journal, Mr.. Royce Rep). of Indiana,
presented the unanimous report of the
Committee on Elections, No. ?, in the
case of Vanderbury versus Long, from
the Second oregon District, in favor OF
the sitting member, and it was adopted
without division or debate.
Mr.. Quigg CRep.) of New York, q
member of the Foreign Affairs Commit
tee, was then recognized,
He first called up resolution reported
from the Foreign Affairs Committee,
calling upon the Secretary of State, if
not incompatible with the public inter-
est to transmit to the House the cor
respondence relating to the discrimina-
ton of the German government against
the importation of American beef, fruit
and horses. 1t was adopted without di-
vision.
Mr.. Quigg followed this with the
Cuban resolution. 1t was the resolution
offered by Mr.. Williams, slightly modi-
fed. as follows:
Resolved, BY the House of Repre-
sentatives, that the Secretary of State
be, and hereby is. if not in his opinion
inconsistent with the public interest, re-
quested to inform the House what in
formation, if any, received at the De-
partment of State concerning the pres
ent condition of the reconcentradoS in
Cuba, and whether or not they have been
permitted to return to their estates
whether or not they or any consider
able number of them, are now on their
estates; whether or not any zones or con-
siderable parts of zones are now being
cultivated by them, according to the re-
ports received at the Department of
State from American Consuls or Con-
sular Agents, and what steps, if any,
are shown by said Consular reports to
have been taken by the Spanish govern
ment for feeding such recUncentrados
or for otherwise preventing them from
starving and suffering; whether or not
the Spanish government has given the
necessary military protection to enable
the mills to grind cane and what pro-
gress has been made in Spain's effort
to induce the Cubans to accept auton-
omy.
"Resolution g. That the Secretary of
state be directed if in his opinion not
incompatible with the public interest, to
send to the House copies of all such re-
ports from Consuls, Vice-Consuls and
Commercial Agents of the United States
in Cuba, as may shed light upon the
give information to the House and coun-
try, concerning the condition of Cuba
under the present regime Of General
Blanco.
Mr.. Quigg made a brief statement,
saying that in December the President
had notified the House that the inde-
fensible policy of concentration in Cuba
had been abandoned by Spain in defer
ence to the requests of our government,
and that q more peaceful and humane
policy had been adopted. The subject
of the resolution was simply to ascertain
what had been done'and what steps had
been taken towards the acceptance Of
autonomy by the Cuban people. Three
months, he added have elapsed since
autonomy had been promulgated.
In order to retain control of
the floor, Mr. Quigg asked the
previous question, but yielded five
minutes to Mr.. Dinsmore Dem.) os
Arkansas, the senior minority member
of the Foreign Affairs Committee. who
said the resolution had been unanimous
" reported by the committee. Its pur-
pose was to put the House and thc
country in the possession of the real
facts concerning the condition of Cuba
both in military and private life. The
press was full of stories regarding the
deplorable condition of the concen-
trados and the suffering that prevailed
in Cuba, and the country was entitled
to the facts in order to determine what
responsibility was placed upon us tC
bring about the conclusion of the wal
and thus end the existing distress.
Mr. De Almond wanted to know why
the words IF any after the word.
what progress" at the end of.the frs
section of the original resolution, haC
been stricken out. He wanted to know
why the committee conceded that any
progress had been made toward the az,
ceptance of autonomy by the people OF
Cuba.
Mr.. Dinsmore replied that the words
stricken out did not change the sens,
If the resolution. If no progress hat
been made the State Department vii
so report.
Mr.. Terry (Dem.) of Arkansas, askat
Mr.. Quieg II the Committee on Foreign
Affairs had considered the De LONE in
cident.
THAT Is hardly a pertinent inquiry,
replied Mr. QuiGg, blandly.
1T is pertinent inquiry in the minds
of the American people" exclaimed Mr.
Terry, "and don't you forget it,.
TT is being considered by the prope
authorities" retorted MIR. Quigg.
Mr.. Cooper 0fep.) Of Wisconsin, caliet
attention to the fact that early in th