The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-17
REMARKS ALSO MADE BY HALE
WHO SPOKE OF THE "UNBRIDLED
POWER" GIVEN MIR. RATHBONE.
Clark Case PostpOned-Biu Passed
Granting Mrs. Lawton PEN
sion of 500 a Month.

with Cuba to make an investigation of the
conduct of financial affairs of the island.
He said it was due the people of this coun-
try to know just how affairs In the island
were being conducted, and since the dis
made with respect to the alleged misappro
priation Of funds in the postal service, the
obligation upon Congress to make an in
vestigation was doubly heavy. He urged
that the honor of the country depended
on it's being able to clear away the fraud
and corruption which it was charged had
been discovered. He insisted that the gov
eminent of the United States had no au-
thority in Cuba, and demanded to know
how soon it proposed to redeem its pledge
and leave the government of the island to
its inhabitants.
The following measures were passed:
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; reso-
luton offered by Mr.. Lodge calling on the
secretary of the treasury for information
in regard to the influx of japanese labor
ers into the country and whether there had
been any violation of the contract labor
law, and a bill to pay the estate of James
Young $l03S3. in full settlement of claims
upon the United States for damages done
by United States troops near Middletown,
Pa, during 1893.
The Bacon Cuban investigating resolu-
ton was then called up by its author, who,
in opening, said that there could be no
more mandatory duty than that which
rests on the United States that every dol
lar collected in Cuba should be applied to
the people Of Cuba. Every dollar SO col
lected. he said. belongs to the people Of
Cuba and not dollar to the United States
or to any official Of the United States.
DEMANDED BY NATIONAL HONOR.
Obligations of national honor demanded
that we investigate the affairs of Cuba and
see that they have been rightly conducted.
Perhaps at no time had any people con-
stituted themselves the agent for trust
such as that we had imposed upon our
selves in Cuba. In the degree of honor
with which this duty was performed
would the country be adjudged by the
world. If there were no rumors. he said.
Cuba the duty to investigate the business
and governmental affairs of the island
would be upon us. But" he declared,
AVE are not urged alone by the voice OF OF
be made. There has been In Cuba the most
exorbitant and extravagant expenditure of
money.
Mr.. Bacon then called attention to the
statements in reports submitted by the
secretary of war to the Senate which
showed that during the year 1899 the re-
ceipts in Cuba were $16,3460l5. while the ex-
Georgia senator, I'VE had before us only
the naked fact that the receipts on the
island during single year were more
than $l6,000,000 and the expenditures more
than $140O0,0O0 we would be bound to in
vestigate the subject to see that this vast
died"
At this point Mr.. Chandler, chairman of
the committee on privileges and elections,
called up the resolution declaring that Mr..
Clark, of Montana, was not entitled to a
seat in the Senate, and asked that it be
postponed until Saturday next at o'clock
sin ORDER" said Mr.. Chandler, that the
committee on privileges and elections may
consider what action shall be taken The
request was agreed to.
Continuing. Mr.. Bacon presented a state
ment showing the receipts and expendi-
lures of the various States, including Geor-
gia, Missouri and Massachusetts. They
were in every instance less than those of
Cuba "These expenditures in Cuba" said
Mr.. Bacon, ARE so much larger in proper
ton than those of many States that even
III there were no rumors of extravaganza
and fraud and corruption in connection
with Cuban affairs they would call in
trumpet tones for an investigation. We
have had all sorts of accusations in the
press of the country and finally there have
been admissions of Irregularities in the
financial affairs of the island
ALLOWANCES OF OFFICERS.
Mr.. Bacon discussed at length the allow
ances made to various officers in Cuba by
direction of Secretary Alger. He inquired
why such allowances were not made to
General Wilson and General Lee He read
the order Of General Alger making an al
1owance of $500 per year, in addition to his
salary, to Governor General Brooke. What
is there" Mr.. Bacon inquired. 'sin the Of
flee of the governor general of Cuba which
requires him to exercise functions OF great
er dignity than general commanding an
army in the field? What obligation was
there on this government to place him in
a position of vice regal authority? What
obligation was there the government
that any one who claimed to have an Of
fetal dignity In Cuba should be the guest
of this man?"
Mr.. Bacon declared that one of the prom
inent officials In Cuba had used the Cuban
funds with which to purchase personal APP
founded rumors that there had been the
most extravagant expenditure of Cuban
funds for fitting up luxuriant quarters for
officers and furnishing these officers horses,
carriages and liveried servants "Still fur
ther," said he, within the past week the
fact has been disclosed-a fact that brings
the blush of shame. to every American cit
izen-that trusted officials in Cuba have
misappropriated large amounts belonging
to the people of Cuba. Nobody knows how
large these amounts are. At first ii was
stated they were $50 600; next il was said
they would amount 10 $4,000, and now il is
intimated the amounts may aggregate
$400, 000 At first man only was in
volved in the difficulty. Now there are
many-so many that 1t is intimated 1t may
amount to conspiracy.
Mr.. Bacon then read the order under
which Major Rathbone was acting as d.
rector of posts of Cuba. and said the power
conferred upon him by that order was so
great that II had resulted in dsgraceful
and notifying condition of affairs.
UNRRIDLED POWER.
Interrupting Mr.. Bacon, Mr.. Hale as
serted that the order creating Major Rath-
bones Office was Of a character of power
such as given to Roman proconsuIs
There is nothing like 1t In this government.
1t Is a power unrestrained. unbridled Aft
er paying a compliment to Major Rafhbone
Mr. Hale continued: THE senator and all
of us ought TO have known that the Civ
ing OF this unbridled power to one man
would be abused by the men under him and