The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-15
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
House Adopts Resolution Of Inquiry
as to the Success of Autonomy
In Guba.

WASHINGTON, Feb. H-There was
considerable excitement among the MEM
hers OF the house before assembling to-
day owing to an imperative summons sent
out late last night by one Of the subordl-
nate officers OF the house 10 each Repub-
lican member. impressing the urgent ne
cessity OF his presence at the session to-
day. All that vas definitely known at
frst was that something IN regard TO
Cuba was 10 be brought up in the house
although, under the rules. this was Dis
trlct OF Columbia day. The galleries
were crowded. Among those In the gall
iery were Senior Quesada and several
other Cubans connected with the Junta.
Ii turned out that Chairman Hit of
the foreign affairs committee was merely
10 call up some resolutions reported by
MS committee, calling upon the state de-
partment Tor general information. one Of
which related 10 Cuba, and the notice had
been sent out as q precautionary meas
are TO prevent the possible defeat of the
resolution by the opposition, proceed
ing which would be in order if the pre-
fious question was voted down.
Immediately after the reading of the
journal. Royce tRep) of Indiana present
sd the unanirNous report OF committee on
elections no. in the case of Vanderburg
VS.. Tongue. from the Second Oregon dis
trict. In favor OF the sitting member and
1t was adopted without division or de-
bate.
Quigg Rep) Of New York. member
OF the foreign affairs committee was then
recognized. He first called I'D resolu-
ton reported 10 the foreign affairs COM
mlttse, calling upon the secretary of
state, II not incompa tible with the public
interest, 10 transmit TO the house the
correspondence relating 10 the discrimina-
ton of the German government against
the importation OF American beef fruit
and horses. 1t was adopted without diyi-
sion.
Quigg followed this with the Cuban
resolution 1t was the resolution offered
by Williams. slightly modified as follows:
Resolved. BY the house of representa-
.iVes. taat the secretary of state be and
hereby Is desired, IL in his opinion IL is not
Incompatible with the public interest to
INFORM the house what inforna ton, If any,
mas been received at the department OF
state concerning the present condition of
the reconcentrados I'M Cuba, whether or
not they have been permitted 10 return to
their estates. whether or not they or any
considerable 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 10 the
reports received al the department of
state from American consuls or consular
agents. and what steps. II any are shown
by said consular reports 10 have been taken
by the Spanish government for feeding
said reconcentfadoes or for otherwise pre-
venting them from starving and suffering:
whether or not the Spanish government
has given the necessary military protec-
ton 10 enable the mills TO grind cane and
what progress has been made in SPANS
effort 10 induce the Cubans TO accept au-
tonomy.
Section . That the secretary of state
be directed II in his opinion IL IS not in
compatible with the public interest. to
send to the house copies Of all such re-
ports from consuls. vice consuls and COM
mercal agents of the United States in
CUBA as may shed light upon the sub
ject above referred TO and as shall give
information to the house and country
concerning the condition OF Cuba since
the advent OF the regime under Gen.
Blanco.'
Quigg made a brief statement saving
that in December the president had noti-
fled the house that the indefensible policy
of concentration in Cuba had been aban-
doned By Spain, In Difference to the re-
peated requests OF our government and
that more peaceful and humane policy
had been adopted. The object of the reso-
luton 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 add
ed, had elapsed since autonomy had been
promulgated.
In order to retain control of the floor,
Quigg asked the previous question. but
yielded i've minutes 10 Dinsmore Demo-
crat. Of Arkansas the senior minority
member OF the foreign affairs committee,
who sad the resolution had been unani-
mousiy reported hy the committee It's
purpose was TO put the house and the
country In the possession OF the real facts
concerning the condition of the people Of
Cuba. both In military and private life
The press was fun OF stories regarding
the depiorable condition Of the conce,a-
trados and the suffering that prevailed in
Cuba, and the country was entitled 10 the
Hvslf 70 4.
sponshulty was placed on us to bring
about a conclusion to the war and thus
end the existing distress.
ia Almond wanted to know why the
" ords 'sf any after the words .'vha,
progress at the end Of the first section
OF the original resolution had been
stricken ont He wanted TO know why
me committed conceded that any progress
md been made toward the acceptan,. ~
autonomy by tho people OF Cuba Dlns-
more replied that the words strgcke, on,
ca not change the sense OF the resoIu-
non Il 20 progress had been made the
state department would SO report.
Terry tDen1,l OF Arkansas asked o,iscg
u me committee on foreign affairs had
considered The DE LONE incident.
lhat IS hardly a pertinent inquiry"
rFfiieu euiEE tlandiy.
1t "a q pertinent inquiry demanded hy
the American people. exclaimed Terry
and don't you forget IT."
II Is bang considered IS the proDer
authorities" retortea QuieS
Cooper OF Wisconsin called attention a
10 fact that early IN the session during
tn@ consideration Of the diplomatic aE-
p-1pFiatten hiA Hftt. chairman OF The
foF~aED affairs committee had stated or
TIE nee- Ia explicit terms fhat Spain had
aoa~ee ned tee policy Of concentration.
t}usEg responded that this resolution
would rIt she house In rar4rts,a rr.ssn.-
sieD - thc acts
There sas I'D effort CT TIE part n The
minority 80 test TIE order q TIE previous
qUasfion ard The resolution was aas.taa
wt-nout a dissenting vote
Ale house taso pEocee5ef q the consid-
eF7 Son : District II Columbia business
A. s'S g. - IRE Aoase adjourned.