The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-15

washington, Feb. 14.-Chere was
considerable excitement among the
members of the house before assem-
bling today. owing to an imperative
summons sent out late last night by
one of the subordinate officials of the
house 70 each Republican member, i'm
pressing the urgent necessity of his
presence at the session today. All that
was definitely known at first was that
something in regard to Cuba would be
brought up in the house. although I'M
der the rules this was District of Co
lumDia day The galleries were crowd
ed. Among those in the gallery were
Senior Queseda and several other Gu
bans connected with the junta.
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE.
1t turned out that Chairman Hit, of
the foreign affairs committee, was
merely to call up some resolutions re-
ported by his committee, calling upon
the state department for general infor-
nation, one of which related to Cuba,
and the notice had been sent out as
a precautionary measure to prevent the
possible defeat of the resolution by the
opposition. a proceeding which would
be in order if the previous question
We're voted down.
Mr.. Quigg (Rep. n. ", a member
of the foreign affairs committee, called
up the Cuban resolution. 1t was the
resolution offered by Mr.. Williams,
slightly modified, as follows:
WILLIAMS RESOLUTION.
Resolved, By the house of represent
tatives, that the secretary Of state be.
and hereby is directed. if in his opin-
ion not incompatible with the public
interest, to inform the house what in
formation, if any, has been received at
the department of state, concerning the
present condition of the reconcentrados
in Cuba; 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
considerable parts of zones are now be-
ing cultivated by them according to the
reports received at the department of
state from American consuls or con-
sular agents, and what steps Gf any
are shown by said consular reports),
have been taken by the Spanish gov
eminent for feeding said reconcentra-
does, or for otherwise preventing them
from starving or suffering; whether or
not the Spanish government has given
the necessary military protection to en-
able the mills to grind cane and what
progress has been made in SPANS eff
fort to induce the Cubans to accept
autonomy.
Section 2.-That the, secretary of
state be directed, if in his opinion not
incompatible with the public interest,
to seEd to the house copies of all such
reports from consuls, vice-consuls and
commercial agents of the United
States in Cuba as may shed light upon
the subjects referred to, and as shall
give information to the house and coun-
try concerning the condition of Cuba
since the advent of the regime under
General Blanco."
WHAT STEPS TAKEN.
Mr.. Quigg made a brief statement,
saying that in December the president
has notified the house that the indie
feasible policy of concentration in Cuba
had been abandoned by Spain in refer
ence to the repeated requests of our
government, and that a more peaceful
and humane policy HAD been adopted.
The object of the resolution was Simply
10 ascertain what hal been done AMI
what steps had been taken towards the
acceptance of autonomy by The Cuban
people. Three mo : rs. he added. nave
elapsed since autonomy had been pro-
IGulgated.
In order to retain control Of the floor,
..fr. Quigg asked the previous question,
more Dem. Ark.), the senior minority
ms mber o. the foreign affairs commit
tee. who said the resolution mad been
unanimously report ri by the commit
tee. Its purpose was to put the house
and the country IN the possession IF
the real facts concerning tie condition
of the people of Cuba both in military
and private life. Thu press was full OF
stories regarding the deplorable condi-
nf "a mr. no cfr
ing prevailing in Cuba, and the country
was entitled TO the facts, in order to
deteriu.ne what responsibility 3 WAS
placed upon us to bring about the con-
olIsion OF the war and thus end the
existing distress.
IT IS PERTINENT
MIR. Terry Dem, Ark asked Mr..
Ouigg if the committee on foreign al
fairs HAD considered the DE Lone in
cident.
THAT is hardly pertinent inquiry
replied Mr.. Quigg blandly.
1T is q pertinent inquiry, demanded |
by the American people" exclaimed Mr.. |
Terry, and don't you forget it..
1T is being considered by the proper |
retorted Mr. Quigg.
Mr.. Cooper CRep., Wis., called atten-
ton TO the fact that early in the ses-
sion, during the consideration of the |
appropriation Dill, Mr. Hit, |
chairman of the foreign affairs commit |
tee, had stated on the floor in explicit |
terms that Spain had. abandoned the |
policy of concentration. lie wanted ~
know why this inquiry was raised, /
when the committee knew. from Nh |
Hits statement. that the policy of |
had been reversed
Mr.. Quigg responded that this reso-
luton would Put the house in complete
Of the facts.
There was no effort on the part of |
the minority to test the order of the
previous question, and the resolution
was adopted without dissenting vote
The house then proceeded to the con-
sideration of district of Columbia mat