The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-22
TWO RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
ASKING THE SECRETARY OF WAR
To EXPLAIN MATTERS.
House Passes the Naval Appropriation
Bill. with the Price 10 BE Paid
for ArmOr Stricken Out.

yesterday by Mr.. Bacon, Of Georgia, call
ing on the secretary Of war for informa-
ton as to the allowances made TO army Of
ficers stationed in Cuba and Porto Rico
and the sums expended in providing quar-
tiers. eQuipages and other cOnveniences for
them. The debate took a wide range.
many OF the senators participating in it.
Consideration of the Quay case was re-
sumed and Mr.. Perkins. of California. pre-
scented an argument favorable to Mr..
Cuay's claims to a seat in the Senate I'M
der the Governors appointment.
A bill increasing the limit of cost of the
Ieadville (Col) public building TO $4,000
was passed soon after the Senate convened.
At the request of Mr.. Cullom, Of Illinois,
the conference report on the Hawaiian
eiviI-government bill was laid before the
Senate. II was disagreed TO and a new
conference requested. Messrs. Cullom, Nor
gan and Clark, of Wyoming, being named
as conferees.
Mr. Jones, of Arkansas, offered and Sc
cured the adoption of resolution directing
the attorney general to ''send TO the Senate
a statement of the action taken by him
fl the case of Jorge Cruz, resident of
Porto Rico, alleged TO have been brought
into this country under contract to labor
"A the United States, and what steps, if
any, have been taken or are in contempla-
fion looking to proceedings against either
the said Jorge Cruz or the party bringing
him into the United States"
The two resolutions offered by Mr.. Ba-
con yesterday, the one calling on the secre-
tary OF war to inform the Senate whether
United States army. officers in Cuba and
Porto Rico are in receipt of salaries or
other compensation for their services in
addition TO their regular pay as officers,
and the second calling on the secretary
of war for detailed information respecting
the amounts expended for quarters. deco
rations of quarters and equipages intended
for army officers in Cuba and Porto Rico.
were laid before the Senate.
The senior senator from South Dakota
delivered a characteristic address in sup
port of the resolutions. He criticised Wig
orously the statements made by the Presi-
dent and War Department in response TO
his resolutions, maintaining they were not
competent or satisfactory.
RESENTED BY HAWLEY.
Mr. HawIey chairman of the military af-
fairs committee, resented the statements
of the South Dakota senator as reckless
and unwarranted," and asserted that all
information required by the Senate would
be furnished in due time
Mr.. Carter of Montana, in an explana-
ton of the subject, which he had investi-
gated, said that additional salaries had not
been granted to army officers in Cuba or in
Porto Rico. When the United States as
sumed the functions of government in Cuba
and in Porto Rico army officers were as
signed to perform civil well military
duties. These officers, Mr.. Carter said,
were thrust into positions where their ex-
penses were necessarily increased. He in
stanced the case of an officer of his own
acquaintance who found ii impossible to
meet his additional necessary expenses out
of his regular pay. He therefore asked to
be relieved from duty in Cuba or given an
allowance for expenses. He was given an
allowance of 81. 500 because the secretary of
war and the President felt that the officer
ought not virtually 10 be fined for the per-
1ormance Of duties to which he was as
signed
In response to an inquiry from Mr.. Cock
fell as 10 the sort OF the expenses which
made the allowances to officers necessary
Gr. Carter replied that there were scores
of expenses attendant upon official posi-
lions which no gentleman could or would
refuse 10 meet. This was true of the Pres
tdent of the United States, and il was
true Of the governor general Of Cuba. 1t
was evident that the officers in Cuba need
ed the additional money for expenses
which they would not incur in the dis
charge of their regular military duties.
There was no pretense. far as the sena-
tor knew, that the allowances to officers
were 10 be regarded as additional salaries
Mr. Stewart supported the War Depart
ment in making allowances to the officers
in Cuba for extraordinary expenses made
necessary by reason of their duties.
Mr. Bacon. the author of the resolutions
discussed them at some length. He dis
scented strongly from the proposition that
the President could collect and disburse,
according TO his unrestrained judgment,
the revenues OF Cuba. tie did not have
that unlimited power. He maintained that
the law of the United States expressly for
babe the giving to army officers any addi-
tional compensation above their regular
pay. II allowances were necessary by rea-
son Of their assignment 10 duty in Cuba
the matter ought TO have been brought, in
his opinion. TO the attention of Congress.
He believed IL was dangerous precedent for
the executive branch of the government to
fall into the habit OF violating the law
thus openly.
MIR PLATTS SPEECH.
After an extended discussion OF the sub
5ect Mr.. Plat. of Connecticut. expressed
the opinion that it would be found that no
officer had received an additional salary
Allowances probably had been made. and
he deemed such allowances as perfectly
proper. He pointed out that Cuba was not
now and probably never would be a part
of the United States. 1t was foreign ter
ritory. II was occupied by the army OF
this country under command OF the Pres
fdent in consequence OF international law
In this case. he said. the military author
ffy was supreme. and was limited only in
its administration OF the affairs of the
island by the provisions of international
law. The President was the chief power
on the island nd there should be no other
power there. Mr.. Plat though. III there
had been extravaganza IL ought 10 be rem
edied. but Congress had no control over
the present administration OF Cuba. II
was under the military-executfve. and not
Legislative. control
"Can we not direct the President TO with
draw the army from Cuba?' inquired Mr..
Tfllman, OF North Carolina
THAT is one thing We can do" replied
Mr.. Platt-
do not the acts OF Congress control in
Cuba?" asked Mr.. Daniel. OF Virginia
mo" replied Mr.. Platt sharply
do not the laws OF the United States as
20 the pay and emoluments OF officers OF
the army apply in Cuba?" persisted Mr..
Daniel.
''As TO the pay and emouments OF army
officers. yes" replied Mr.. Platt. but as TO
what shall be done I'm Cuba. no. Our occu-
patton OF Cuba Is military, and Is under