The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-03-25

ditions OF the cotton industry and Mr.
Tawney of Minnesota, q member of
the ways and means committee, re-
piled to speech of Mr.. johnson of
Indiana made some time ago against
the advisability Of annexing the Ha-
waiian islands.
In the senate.
After the passage Of numerous bills
from the general calendar the senate
began the consideration of the meas
tire providing for national system of
Quarantine. Little beyond the reading
of the bill was accomplished, some
desultory discussion arising on an
amendment offered by the committee,
but no progress being made on the gen.
eral bill.
Washington, March 1.-THE postot.
flee appropriation hill, which was tech
nically the subject before the house,
was almost lost track Of in the de-
bate. AS on Tuesday numerous topics
were discussed, but yesterday for the
first time the Cuban-Spanish question
which has been kept in the back
ground heretofore, forged to the front.
MIR. Cochran of Missouri brought the
question into the arena, and in the
course of the debate that followed Mr..
Grosvenor of Ohio took occasion to
deny emphatically the stories afioat to
the effect that the president desired
an early adjournment of congress in
order that he might effect settle
ment without congressional interfer-
ence. The subject of Hawaiian an
nexation also came in for more at
tention. Mr.. Williams of Mississippi,
Mr. Adams of Pennsylvania and MIR.
Berry of Kentucky, all members of
the foreign affairs committee, made
speeches on the subject, the former in
opposition and the two latter in favor
Of the proposition.
In the serate.
Business in the legislative session of
the senate was confined to the passage
of few bills, largely Of local char
acter. The national quarantine bill
was not considered,
Washington, March Is. - Senator
Proctor Of Vermont, who returned
last Sunday from an extended trip to
and through the Island of Cuba, made
statement to the senate of his OBJ
servations on the island. From many
view points the statement was remark
able. 1t had evidently been most care
fully prepared. Every element of
sentimentalism had been studiously
eliminated from it, and, except so far
as the facts recited were sensational
1t bore not the slightest evidence of an
effort 10 arouse the public mind to the
condition of affairs on the island.
He began by saying that more i'm.
portance had been attached to his
visit than necessary, but he thought a
public statement would be beneficial.
He said that Gen. Lee and other
United States representatives in Cuba
afforded him opportunity to secure in
formation. He denied that he made
the statement that the Maine was
blown up from the outside. but might
have said that such was the opinion
In Havana. The senator thought
there was no definite information to
be obtained upon this feature Out
side of Havana there was desolation
and misery. People were surrounded
by trochas and controlled by forts or
blockhouses.
Theis Situation Terrible.
His observations, he said, were in
the four western provinces. Outside
of the trOchas and forts there were nc
habitations nor people living. The
Spaniards, he said, held in the -four
provinces only what their army sits
on.
Senator Proctor describes ut some
length the condition Of the reconcen-
trados, saying one-half Of them had
died owing to the manner in which
they had been kept in small houses
and to the bad sanitation. 1t was no
wonder One-half of them died. He
went to Cuba, he said, thinking the
condition of the people had been over
drawn, but found their situation terri
Bile. What he saw he could not tell
so that others could see it. In one
place in Havana the, senator said he
saw 400 emaciated people lying on
stone floors, with little clothing. The
children had no clothing. American
people may be assured, he continued,
that their bounty will reach the desti-
tate, and he added:
"The condition of the recOEcentradOs
will not be changed until peace comes.
Gen. Blanco's order of Nov. 10 is
OF Little Practical Use.
No beneficial results had followed. For
this l do not blame Gen. Blanco, as he
looked at the matter from military
point of view"
AS to the military situation, there
were about 10000 Spanish troops In
Cuba. He thought they would fight
we'll There was no artillery. The
troops live in barracks. The cavalry
ia mounted mostly on ponies. He said
that the Cubans had about 10000 men
In the field, and were very active.
The Cubans were well armed, but
poorly supplied with ammunition.
About one-third of the Cuban army
was negroes. {, He inquired as to au-,
.tonomy Of men of wealth, business
and prof essional men. Without excep-
ton their reply was that 1t was too
late for autonomy. 1t was also too.
late for peace under Spanish rule.
Some favored annexation blythe Unit
ed States. Senator Proctor said he
was not In favor Of annexation. The
conditions for self government In Cuba
were favorable. and there was not
much danger Of revolutions. He would
not make any recommen dations as to.