The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-18
INTO THE ADMINISTRATION OF AF-
FAIRS IN CUBA.
SENATOR MORGANS RESOLUTION
For Such Investigation bv a Senate
Committee Called up and the Situa-
tion Discussed by Him-The Clark
Resolution to be Taken up Saturday.
Senate Passes Seventy-Seven Pension
Bflls-The American National Red
Cross Incorporated.
SENATE.

washington, May 16.-DlScuSSlOn OF
the administration of affairs in Cuba
by agents of the United States occu-
pied the attention of the senate dur
ing the greater part Of today's session.
Senator Bacon, of Georgia, called up
his resolution directing the committee
on relations with Cuba to make an
investigation of the conduct of the
financial affairs of the island and ad-
dressed the senate at length upon it,
He maintained it was the duty Of con-
gress to make the investigation called
for by the resolution because it was
due the people Of this country to know
just how affairs in the island were
being conducted and since the dis
closures Of the past few days had
been made with respect to the mis-
appropriation Of funds in the pos
tai service, the obligation upon con-
gress to make an investigation was
doubly heavy. He reviewed the situa-
ton as recently presented in news
paper and official reports from the
island and urged that the honor of the
country depended upon its being able
~ NiSeiA away Tic anu
ton which, it was charged, had been
discovered. He maintained the govern
ment of the United States had no au-
thor1ty in Cuba and demanded to know
now soon it proposed to redeem it's
pledge and leave the government of the
island to it's inhabitants.
Senator Bacon referred directly to
the alleged embezZlement of postal
funds in Cuba and read the order under
w h nj Moi ID III
director of posts in Cuba. The power
conferred upon him by that order was
so great, said Senator Bacon, that it
had restlted in a disgraceful and NOR
tifying state of affairs.
Interrppting Senator Bacon, Senator
Hale, OF Maine, asserted that the order
creating Major Rathbone's office was
of "a character Of power such as was
given to Roman proconsuls. There is
nothing like it in this government. 1t
is a power unrestrained, unbridled'
Senator Bacon said he had under
stood that the majority of the commit
tee on relations with Cuba did not de-
sire an investigation Of Cuban affairs
by congress because senators were
startled at the magnitude of the work
and were afraid it might take the bal
ance of the year. If those senators
were not willing, said Senator Bacon,
" n,
senators who were.
ject to the call Of any senator, Senator
Platt, of Connecticut, expressing a de-
sire to speak thereon.
A house bill repeating the provision
OF law allowing merchandise passing
through the United States from any
foreign country to be transported free
of duty so far as the Mexican free
zone is concerned was passed.
A resolution offered by Senator
Lodge, calling upon the secretary of
the treasury for informat ton in regard
to the influx of japanese laborers into
the country and whether there has
been any violation of the contract Ia
Dor law was adopted.
Senator Chandler, chairman of the
committee on privileges and elections,
called up the resolution declaring that
Mr.. Clark, Of Montana, was not en-
titled to seat in the senate, and asked
that it be postponed until next Satur-
day at o'clock, in order that the COM
mittee may consider what action may
be taken. The request was agreed to.
Bills were passed granting s10(
monthly pension to the widow of Gen
eral Lawton; to facilitate the coasting
trade between the United States and
Porto Rico and Hawaii. Seventy-seven
pension bills were passed.
The conference report on the Dis
trict OF Columbia appropriation bill
was agreed to without debate
At SIS o'clock p. m. the senate ad-
journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
The house accomplished little toda!
besides passing the senate bill to in
corporate the American National Re(
Cross. No progress was made witt
the Alaskan code bill, owing to tn
inability of the two sides to agree a:
to the time to be allowed for genera
debate. The conference report on tn
Indian appropriation bill was rejected
after an extended debate, mainly owe
appropriations for sectarian institu
tions.
1t was agreed that the minority O
the judiciary committee should hav
until Monday to file their views upol
the antitrust bill and resolutions re
ported yesterday. The agreement wa
reached without difficulty.
Mr.. Ray, Of New York, chairman
said the privilege of filing a minorit.
report should be confined to those op
posed to the bill and resolution.
Mr.. Terry, Of Arkansas; Mr.. Ian
ham, OF Texas, and Mr. Fleming, o
Georgia protested that they shoulc
not be placed in the position Of oppos
ing the measures outright. They mogh
vote for them as a last resort, they
said, and they desired to file their view
including recommendation for amend
ment and substitute, il the latte
were deemed advisable.
The house then went into committe'
of the whole for the consideration o
the Alaskan code bill. The Democrat
desired three hours debate, with gen
eral leave to print and decline tn ALLOW
the first reading of the bill to be dis
pensed with in order to have a leve
to force acquiescence in their request
The bill contains 600 pages and 1t.
reading would require several days
The clerk entered upon the reading