The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-23
CRUEL DESTITUTIoN IN CUBA.
PcLTCY OF CONCENTR ALTON TO
BLAME FOE 1T.

Returned Boston Capitalist Draws "a
Distressing Picture of the COndi-
lions on the IsIand-SmaIl Children
Shot Down If They Attempt to
Cross the Guard Line-W ONE IA
Kicked About by the Spanish Sol
diers as If They Were Dogs.
Washington, Feb. 22.-Cuba usurped the
place of Hawaii in the executive proceed
ings of the Senate to-day, and was under
consideration for an hour or more. Thr
proceeding was based upon document
presented by Senator Morgan of Alabama,
as the result OF an interview between him
self and Mr. Koop of Boston, Mass. In
presenting the document, Senator Morgan
said Mr.. Koop was a capitalist, who had
but recently returned from Cuba after a
most exhaustive exploration of the island
Senator Morgan laid considerable stress
upon the importance Of the document,
which resulted from a stenographic report
of the interview between Mr. Morgan and
Mr.. Koop. The document consisted of
questions by Senator Morgan and replies
by Mr.. Koop The latter said he had been
in thirty-four provinces and had spent
more or less time in each of them in the
prosecution of his inquiries.
In no place outside of Havana he said,
was any effort made to take care of re-
concentrates. and ne declared that the
people were dying in great numbers in all
places where they had been collected to-
gether by the Spanish authorities, both as
result of the cruelty of the Spanish
troops and for the lack of food He de-
clared there was no evidence in the prov
inces of a more liberal treatment of these
unfortunate people under the administra-
ton of Gen. Blanco than there had been
under the Weyler regime, and said that
the people in general were i'm just as de-
plorable condition now as they had been
before the change. In no case were the
reconcentradoes allowed TO 60 outside the
military posts TO collect food, and while
there were some efforts in certain in
sta ices to grow crops in the immediate
vicinity of the garrisons, these crop areas
did not extend more than 500 yards from
the forts. He added that if the people
were allowed to get out they could get
enough TO eat to keep soul and body to-
attempted to go outside of the guard
lines they were shot down as ruthlessly
as if they were enemies in arms. He said
he had seen women and children abused
by the Spanish soldiers. and that favor
lite past time seemed to be to kick the
women about as if they were dogs.
Mr.. Koop also devoted considerable
space at Senator Morgans suggestion TO
the scheme of autonomy under the liberal
ministry and pronounced ii failure from
one end of the island to another. He said
that business was at a standstill through
out the country, that few crops were
growing and that desolation and ruin
stare the traveller in the face wherever he
goes, As a consequence property was
much deprecated in value and the people
We're generally discouraged. He said the
general estimate was that the war had
already resulted in the loss of 100000 lives
and Mr.. Koop said he did not consider
these figures exaggerated.
There was some comment upon the doc
ument by Senators Morgan. Gallinger and
Mason, but no official action was taken.
Senator Mason said the statement was
no more than he had expected to hear
and Senator Gallinger declared that the
picture as drawn was a deplorable one
He said that two years ago he had adyis-
ed that the United States should inter-
Nene 10 put a stop to the war and that
every development since had confirmed
the wisdom of the suggestion then made