The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-22
WHAT HE MAY DO IN CUBA
His Power Far Beyond What Con-
gress Can Confer.
THE PIONEERING OF IMPERIALSM'S TREE
Democratic Senators in Asking About Extra Al
loWances For Soldiers Hear Some Start
ling Doctrine From the Advocates
of the ImperialsPoIicy.


sion lasting more than two hours, the
Senate today agreed to the two resolu-
lions offered yesterday by Mr. Bacon,
(Ga.) calling upon the Secretary of War
for information as to the allowances made
to army officers stationed in Cuba and
Porto Rico and the sums expended in
providing quarters, equipages and other
COnVenienceS for them. The debate took
a wide range, many Senators participating
in it, Consideration of the Quay case
was resumed and Mr.. Perkins, of Cali
fornia, presented an argument favor
able to Mr.. Quay's claim to seat in
the Senate under the Governors appoint
ment.
MIR. Jones, (Ark.) offered and secured
the adoption of a resolution directing the
Attorney General to send to the Senate
a statement of the action taken by him
in the case of Jorge Cruz, a resident of
Porto Rico, alleged TO have been brought
into this country under contract to labor
in the United States and what steps. if
any have been taken or are in conteln-
plation, looking to proceedings against
either the said Jorge Cruz of the party
When the two resolutions offered by
Mr.. Bacon yesterday were laid before
the Senate, the senior Senator from South
Dakota delivered characteristic address
in support of the resolution. He criti-
cised vigorously the statements made by
the President and War Department. in
response to his resolutions, maintaining
they were not complete or satisfactory.
no; Of ha arx,
Affairs Committee, resented the state
ments of the South Dakota Senator as
reckless and unwarranted," and assert
ed that all information required by the
Senate would be furnished in due time.
Mr.. Carter. (Mont.,l in an explanation
of the subject which he had investigat-
ed said that additional salaries had not
been granted to army officers in service
in Cuba or in Porto Rico. When the
United States assumed the functions of
government in Cuba and in Porto Rico
army officers were assigned to perform
civil as well as military duties. These
officers, Mr.. Carter said, were thrust
into positions where their expense neces-
sarily were considerably increased.
He instanced the case of an officer of
his own acquaintance, who found it inn
pOSSlDle 10 meet HIS duulIlOlldi hCCCoodl J
expenses out of his regular pay. He
therefore, asked to be relieved from duty
in Cuba/or be given an allowance of ex-
penses of $500 year, because the Secre-
tary of War and the President felt that
the officer ought not virtually to be fined
for the performance of duties to which
he was assigned.
Mr. Tillman suggested that it might be
well TO wait until the resolutions were
answered before entering upon dis
cussiCn of them.
We on the ether side said he, want
to know something on this question and
have not had the advantage of informa-
ton from the War Department.
+ Mr. Bacon, the author of the resolu-
tons, discussed them at some length. He
dssented strongly from the proposition
that the President could collect and dis
burse according to his unreStrainted judg
ment. the revenues of Cuba. He did not
have that unlimited power.
He maintained that the law of the Unit
ed States expressly forbade the giving
to army officers any additional compen-
sation above their regular pay. If al
lowance were necessary by reason of their
assignment to duty in Cuba, the matter
ought to have been brought in his opin-
ion, to the attention of Congress- He
believed it was dangerous precedent for
the executive branch of the government
to fall into the habit of violating the
law thus openly.
Can we not direct the President to
withdraw the army from Cuba?" inquired
Mr.. Tllman.
That is one thing we can do replied
Mr. Platt of (Connecticut)
do not the acts of Congress control
in Cuba, asked Mr.. Daniel tVa.)
Nc" replied Mr. Plat sharply.
.'Do not the laws of the United States
as to the pay and emoluments of officers
of the army apply in Cuba? persisted
Mr. Daniel.
"As to the pay and emoluments of ar
nv officers, yes" replied Mr.. Plat, "but
as to what shall be done in Cuba, no
Our occupation of Cuba is military and
e under executive and not Legislative
authority.
..Where does the President get this
great authority" again asked Mr.. Daniel
From the Constitution" replied Mr.
Platt LAS Commanded in Chief of the
army the President has authority far be-
yond the power which may be conferred
upon him by Congress"
Mr. Daniel replying to Mr. Platt, eX-
pressed surprise at the statements made
by the Connecticut Senator. lit was the
first time, he said, that he had ever