The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-15

was adopted Without ClVlSlOn or DEBATE.
Mr.. Quigg (Rep.. New York;, a member of
the foreign affairs committee, was then
recognized. He first called up resolution
reported from the foreign affairs committee
calling upon the secretary of state, if not
incompatible with public interest. to trans
NIT to the House the correspondence relat-
ing to the discrimination of the German
government against the importation of
American beef, fruit or horses. 1t was
adopted without division. Mr. Quigg fol-
lowed this with the Cuban resolution. It
was the resolution offered by Mr. Williams
slightly modified, as follows
Resolved by the House of Representa-
tives, That the secretary of state be, and
he hereby is directed, if in his opinion not
Incompatible with the public interest, to in
form the House what information, if any
has been received at the Department of
State concerning the condition of the re-
concentrates in Cuba; whether or not they
have been permitted to return to their es-
tates: whether or not they or any consider
able number of them now on their es-
tates; whether or not any zones, or consid-
erable parts of zones, are now being culti-
waited by them. according to the reports re-
ceived at the Department of State from
| American consuls or consular agents; what
| steps, II any, are SnOWn Dy Sdid consular
reports to have been taken by the Spanish
government for feeding said reconcentrados
or for otherwise preventing them from
starving and suffering; whether or not the
Spanish government has given the neces-
sary military protection to enable the mills
to grind cane, and what progress has been
made i'll Span's effort to induce the Gu
| bans TO accept autonomy
Sec. 2. That the secretary of state be di.
rected, if in his opinion not incompatible
with the public interest. to send to the
| House copies Of all such reports from con-
sus. vice consuls and commercial agents
! OF the United States in Cuba as may shed
| light on the subjects above referred to, and
as shall give Information to the House and
to the country concerning the condition of
/ Cuba since The advent of the new regime
under General Blanco."
Mr.. Quigg made a brief statement, say
| ing that in December the President had
notified the House that the indefensible pol
| icy of concentration in Cuba had been aban-
| doned by Spain in Difference to the repeated
requests of our government, and that
moro peaceful and humane policy had been
adopted. The object of this resolution was
| simply to ascertain what had been done,
and what steps had been taken looking to
the acceptance of autonomy by the Cuban
people. Three months, he added, have
elapsed since autonomy had been promul-
! gated.
| In order to retain control of the floor Mr..
| Quigg asked for the previous question but
| yielded five minutes to Mr. Dinsmore (Dem.,
| Ark, the senior minority member of the
foreign affairs committee, who said the res
olution had been unanimously reported by
hka 1Fniff 20 flo
House and the country in the possession of
the real facts concerning the conditions of
the people OF Cuba, both in military and
private life. The press was full of stories
regarding the deplorable condition of the
reconcentrados and the suffering that pre-
vailed in Cuba, and the country was entitled
to the facts in order to determine what re-
sponsbility was placed on us to bring about
the conclusion of the war and thus end the
existing distress.
Mr.. DE Almond wanted to know why the
words '1f any" after the words what
progress" at the end of the first section
of the original resolution had been stricken
out. He wanted to know why the commit
tee conceded that any progress had been
made toward the acceptance of autonomy
by the people Of Cuba.
Mr.. Dinsmore replied that the words
stricken out did not change the sense of the
resolution. If no progress had been made
the State Department would 80 report
Mr.. Terry (Dem., Ark.) asked Mr.. Quigg
if the committee on foreign affairs had con-
sidered the De LONE incident
'"rhat is hardly a pertinent inquiry" re-
piled Mr.. Quigg, blandly.
1T is a pertinent inquiry in the minds of
the American people" exclaimed Mr.. Terry,
'and don't you forget it,"
1T is being considered by the proper au-
thorities," retorted Mr.. Quigg.
Mr.. Cooper CRep., Wis., called attention
to the fact that early in the session, dur
ing consideration of the diplomatic appro-
priation bill, Mr.. Hit, chairman OF the for
eign affairs committee, had stated on the
floor in explicit terms that Spain had aban-
doned the policy of concentration. He
wanted to know why this inquiry when the
committee knew from Mr.. Hits statement,
that the policy of concentration had been
reversed.
Mr.. Qugg responded that this resolution
would put the House in complete possession
of the facts
There was no effort on the part Of the
minority to contest the ordering OF the pre-
vious question, and the resolution was
adopted without a dissenting voice The
House then proceeded to consideration of
District of Columbia business.
Among the District measures acted on
favorably was one to investigate the price
and quality of gas in the District and tele-
phone charges in the District.
A joint resolution accepting the invitation
of the government of Norway to an inter
national fisheries exposition at Bergen
Norway, from May to September 1898. was
adopted. At 455 p. m. the House adjourned.
SEN AuI, pROCEEnINGS