The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-15
"Resolved, by the House of Represent

not incompatible with the public inter
est, to inform the Houseswhat informa-
ton, if any, has been received at the De-
partment 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 considerable number of
them are now on their estates; whether
not any zones, or considerable parts of
zones, are not being cultivated by them,
according to the reports received at the
Department of State from American
Consuls or American consular agents;
and what steps, if any, are shown by
said Consular reports to have been taken
by the Spanish government for feeding
said reconcentrados or for otherwise
preventing them from starving and suf-
fering, whether or not the Spanish gov
eminent has given the necessary military
protection to enable the mills to grind
cane and what progress has been made
in Spain's effort to induce the Cubans to
accept autonomy.
,ssSection 2.-That the Secretary of
State be directed, if in his opinion not
incompatible with the public interest, to
send to the House copies OF all such re-
ports from consuls, vice-conSulS and
commercial agents of the United States
in Cuba as may shed light upon the sub
iects referred to, and as shall give infor-
nation to the House and to the country
concerning the condition of Cuba since
the advent of the new regime under GEN
eral Blanco."
MI. Quigg made brief statement say
ing thatin December the President had
notified the House that the policy of
concentration in Cuba had been aban-
doned by Spain in Difference to the re-
repeated requests of our government and
that more peaceful and humane policy
had been adopted. The object of this
resolution was simply to ascertain what
had been done and what steps had been
taken looking to the acceptance of
autonomy by the Cuban people. In order
to retain control of the floor, Mr.. Quigg
asked for the previous question, but
Welded five minutes to Mr.. Dinsmore,
Democrat of Arkansas, the senior minor
itv member of the Foreign Affairs Com
mittee, who said the resolution had been
unanimously reported by the committee.
Its purpose was to put the House and
the country in possession of the real facts
concerning the condition of the people
in both military and private life. The
press was full of stories regarding the
| deplorable condition of the concentra-
| does and the suffering that prevailed in
| Cuba and the country was entitled to the
| facts in order to determine what respOn-
sibility was placed upon us to bring
about the conclusion of the war and thus
end the existing distress.
| Mr.. De Almond wanted to know why
the words IF any" after the words
swhat ppegress'' at the end of the first
section Of the original resolution were
stricken but. He wanted to know why
the committee conceded that any prog
ress had been made toward the accept
ance of autonomy by the people of Gu.
| ba.
Mr.. Dinsmore replied that the words
stricken out did not change the sense OF
resolution. If no progress has beer
made the State Department would SO re-
port.
Mr.. Terry, Democrat, Arkansas. asked
Mr.. Quigg if the Committee of Foreign
Affairs had considered the De LONE in
cident.
"That is hardly pertinent inquiry
replied Mr.. Quigg.
lit is pertinent inquiry in the minds
of the American people, exclaimed MI.
Terry, land don't you forget it."
st is being considered by the proper
authorities, % retorted Mr.. Quigg.
| Mr.. Cooper, Republican, Wisconsin,
called attention to the fact that early in
session, during the consideration of the
Diplomatic appropriation. Mr.. Hit
chairman of the Foreign Affairs COM
mittee, had stated on the floor,in explicit
terms that Spain had abandoned the pol
| icy of concentration. He wanted to know
why this inquirywas made when the com
mittee knew from Mr.Hitt's statement
that the policy of concentration had beer
reversed.
Mr.. Quigg responded that this resolu
| ton would put the House in complete
possession of the facts.
The resolution was adopted without a
dissenting voice.
The bill to make Rockland, Maine, a
SUPPORT Of entry. was then passed ano
| the House proceeded to- the consldera-
ton of the District of Columbia bust
ness. A bill to grant the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company the exclusive privi-
! lege of cab service to and from its station
in this city attracted the opposition OF
Mr.. Bailey the Democratic leader who
denounced it as an attempt to create a
monopoly.
| 1t was explained by Mr.. Babcock thai
the cab service furnished by this compa
nv in New York had proved cheap ano
acceptable and had been highly com
mended.
Mr.. Norton, Democrat, Ohio, asked
why this privilege was restricted to one
railroad company.
Mr.. Babcock replied that the Other
railroads running into the city declined
to furnish the service. He said they
said it was not profitable. The Penn
sylvania Railroad gave the service as 6
convenience to its passengers! 10 induce
| traffic
The bill was amended by attaching the
schedule of fares submitted by the COM
pany. A motion to order the previous
question, test motion, was defeated As
to rs and the bill was then laid on the
table without division.
Among the district measures acteo
upon favorabiy was one to investigate
the price and quality of gas in tho dis
trict, and telephone charges in the dis
trict. A joint resolution accepting the
invitation of the government OF Norway
to an international fisheries exposition
at Bergin, Norway, from May to Septem
Der, 1898. was adopted.
At 455 p. nj. the House adjourned.
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