The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-19

wing of the capitol today, where the
resolutions reported yesterday by the
senate committee on foreign relations
were under consideration. The most
significant event Of the day was an at
tempt to fix the time for a vote, and
the failure to do so on account of the
desire Of many senators to debate h
resolution at considerable length.
All day long conferences of senators
were held, looking to a possible agree
ment upon the form of resolution to
be sent to the president. Great efforts
were made for the house resolution,
which was known to be satisfactory to
the president and which was support
ed by THE conservative senators. 1t is
can PASS the senate, and the prospects
are that the committee resolution will
nave an amendment recognizing the
republic of Cuba before it lis passed,
the friends of recognition claiming a
clear majority for it. The conservative
senators believe the house proposition
will win in conference, the impression
being that the house will refuse to
yield, and II order to prevent delay the
friends of Cuba i'm the senate will &C
cept the house proposition.
DELAY IN THE SENATE.
When the senate adjourned tonight,
Senator Davis, in charge of the reso-
luton, repeated his intention to ask the
senate to sit continuously after the be-
ginning of the session tomorrow, I'M
less am agreement to fix a time for a
vote can be secured. Il see no other
way Of bringing the matter to an is
sue" he said. 81, of course, do not en-
joy night sessions my more than other
SENATOR'S, but / appreciate the impor-
tance Of getting the speeches off and of
securing a vote at the earliest possible
hour"
Anxious as Senator Davis and Others
of his mind are for a speedy vote, the
indications are for considerable delay.
The vice president already has received
requests from about twenty senators
for recognition to speak and others are
expected to make similar appllcau1on.
All these insist that they have no in
tention of speaking foa. the purpose Of
causing delay, butt, nevertheless they
will consume many hours OF Tune. 1t
would seem now that even i'm case OF a
cOntin uOus session a vote would not be
! probable before Saturday.
The list of those who have expressed
a desire to speak includes the follow
ing: Senators Cullom, Daniel, Frye,
Tillman, Wolcott, Spooner Chiffon,
Platt. of Connecticut; Cannon, Petit
grew, Proctor, Burrows, Bacon, Wei
lington, Stewart, Caffery, Hawley,
White and Rawlins.
CONSUL GLuNERAL LEE DECLINES
A RECEPTION.
General F~ftzhugh Lee today declined
the honor of the reception rendered
him. When the committee wanted
| upon him today to receive his flnal de-
cisfon he started his speech of decllna-
| ton in a characteristic manner. LOOK
here, boys" he said in a matter or fact
| tone, Il nave not done C. thing tnat
| either one of you, or any American GU
| izen would not have done, / don't see
U1hv there should be amy fuss made
| about it. Now, I don't want you to
| think I'r1 u~ngrateful, for L am not, put
| 7 have studied over the matter n L
| feel satisfied that it would he better
| not Ito have the reception. j don't for
| an instant want anybody to thlnk tnat
| 1 wish to put myself forward, N
| must decline your most kin offer"
One of General Lees most intimate
| friends said that one reason for his not
| wanting the reception WaS that he
| recogniZed the fact THAT he occupied
| an official position and felt a hesltancy
| in accepting any formal demonstration
ON this account
| LEES TESTIMONY BEFORE THE
SENATE COMMITTEE.
The testimony taken before the sen
| ate committee ON foreign relations In
| connection with the inveSt1gatron 1nuC
the relations between THE United States
| and Cuba was made public today. The
| statement which contains the greateS'
| current interest is that made by Con
| sui General Lee ON THE 18th instant
| in which he said that he was INFORMED
| ON very good authority that the Span
Yards had placed two rows of torpedoes
| Just at the mouth Of Havana haT'bor
| by MORO castle, within h past two
months or subsequent to h Maine
disaster and that the switchboard rs ir
a room in the castle. He Said, however
that he HAD no Information of the plac-
ing of amy ttorpedoes before the Maine
was destroyed and none in regard tic
| the purchase abroad by hi Spanish au.
| thorfties. He also stated that he had
| no reaEson ito suspect that h harbol
| was mined before the blowing UP or The
, Maine. Genera Lee stated that he
! thought the Weyler letter Cthe Laine
, letter. was a correct copy Of the gen
( uine letter. He had of a
J Telegram from General Weyler to Eva
| Canal, a noted Spanish woman am. ar
| admirer of Weyler's. and also GO Seuoa
| Guzman, which rdId: "I,raye circum.
/ stances cause me Ito ask you to de.
| stroy the last letter Cf February 18TH
Genera Lee said chat this telegram
had never oer~Jre been published ans
ne nouno IT It strong confir1natory evi
uence o. the g~enuineness of Weyle
iece-A. With reference ITO the response
! Utility for the destruction OF the Maine
/ General Lee said he wa satisfied tina
THE explosion was the outsid
and that 1T was caused by some of rh
officers who had charge of the mime
and electrical wires and ~torpedoes ID
h arsenal. He did not think Genera
Blanco had anything ito do with 1T.
General Lee said that he had seen
copy of a telegram from admiral Man