The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-03-22
SENATOR PROCTOR'S
Observations While on the Island OF
Cuba Given to the Senate.
The Condition of the ReconcentradOs ID
TerribIe-There Are About 10000 Span"
ish Troops the Island-The In
surgents Number About $4,000.


Proctor addressed the senate Thursday
afternoon, giving his observations
while on his recent visit to Cuba. Sem
ator Proctor began by saying that
more Importance had been attached to
his visit than necessary, but he thought
a public statement would be beneficial.
The only thing, he said, that he had
said about the matter to the president
was that he was going and asked If
there was any objection to it and was
told that there was none. He had let
tiers from Assistant Secretary of State
Day and business men of the United
States He said that Gen. Lee and
other United States representatives in
Cuba afforded him opportunity to Sc
cure information.
He denied that he made the state
ment that the Maine was blown up
from the outside, but might have said
that was the opinion in Havana. The
senator thought there was no definite
information to be obtained upon this
feature.
Outside of Havana there was desola-
ticn and misery. People were sur
forts or blOckhOuses.
His observations, he said, were in
the four western provinces. Outside
the trochas and forts there were nc
habitations or people living.
The Spaniards, he said held in the
four provinces only what their army
sits on.
Senator Proctor described at some
length the condition of the recon
centradOs, saying one-half of them had
died owing to the manner in which
they had been kept in the small houses
and bad sanitation. 1t was no wonder
one-half had died. he added.
He went to Cuba, he said, thinking
the condition of the people had been
overdrawn, but found their situation
terrib BILE. What he saw he could not
tell so others could see.
In one place in Havana the senator
said he saw 400 emaciated people lay
ing on stone floors with little clothing.
The children had no clothing. Ameri-
can people may be assured, he contin-
destitute and he added: The condition
of the reconcentrados will not be
changed until peace comes.
Gen. Blanco's order of November IS
is of little practical use. No beneficial
results had followed. For this he did
not blame Gen. Blanco, as Blanco
looked at the matter from a military
point of view
AS to the military situation, he said
there were about 60, 900 Spanish troops.
He thought they would fight we'll.
There was no artillery. The troops
live in barracks. The cavalry is mount
ed mostly on ponies.
He said the Cubans had about 80. 900
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
are Negroes. The cavalry men furnish
their own horses.
The dividing lines between the par
ties is sharp. 1t is Cubans against
Spaniards The autonomists, he did
not consider as they were inconsider-
able in number.
He inquired as to autonomy of men
of wealth, business and professional
men. Without exception their reply
was that it was too late for autonomy.
Representative Wheeler, of Alabama,
introduced the following joint resolu-
ton Thursday:
Resolved, that a joint committee,
consisting of five members of the SEN
ate to be appointed by the vice presi-
dent and five members of the
house to be appointed by the
speaker, be created to report
without delay to the two houses an
address to the government of Spain
declaring in firm and diplomatic
language that Americans and Amer
lean interests in Cuba must be pro-
tected' and that the atrocities now per-
petrated in that island must cease.
Resolved, That the executive be re-
quested to Immediately transmit this
address to the government of Spain by
such methods as he may deem most adj
visable, together with letter of en-
dorsement and approval of this action
On the part of congress"