The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1900-04-28
81 A YEAR,
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondent

supreme authority in Cuba! Tha
is brand new question that ha
been raised by the resolution offer
ed by Senator Bacon and adopted
by the Senate without opposition
calling upon the Secretary of Wa
for information as to payments
made 10 Army Officers, serving il
Cuba, outside of their regulal
allowances and salary. 1t is con
tended by the War Department
and by many in Congress, thai
Cuba is under military rule, and
the President being Commander
in-chief, Congress has nothing tt
do with any action ordered by tn;
Executive. The order that preci
pitated the controversy is an old
one, issued When Mr.. Alger was
Secretary of War, making an al
lowance for expenses for several
Army officers filing high positions
in the military government of
Cuba, from the Cuban revenues.
These allowances are still con-
tinued. The two sides of the con
troversy are shown in the follow
ing colloquy between Senators
Platt, Of Conn.,, and Daniel, of Vir-
ginia, after the former had stated
that Cuba was under military
executive-and not legislative con-
troll: Mr.. Danlel-ssDO not the acts
Of Congress control in Cuba?" Mr..
Platt-"No.n Mr.. Daniel-ssDo
not the laws of the u. S. as to the
pay and emoluments of officers of
the army apply in Cubaw Mr..
Platt-"As to the pay and emOlu-
ments of army officers, yes; but as
to what shall be done in Cuba, no.
Our occupation of Cuba is military
and is under executive and not
legislative authority Mr.. Daniel
-"Where does the President get
this great authority" Mr.. Platt
s'Irom the Constitution. As
ComInander-in-Chief Of the Army,
the President has authority far
beyond the power which may be
conferred upon him by Congress-"
Secretary Root will send the infor-
nation asked for by the Bacon
resolution to the Senate this week,
when the controversy will doubt
less be renewed.
There has been more or less COS
lip alleging opposition by influen.
members of the Illinois Con-
tssional Delegation to the bill
Tor the holding of the Worlds
Fair ut ST. Louis, in commemora
ton of the Louisiana Purchase.
Senator Mason thus states his
position II am for the fair. en-
Enthusiastically for it. The Louisi
ana Purchase was one of the great
est events in American history.
The Centennial anniversary of it
ought to be fittingly commemorate |
ed. know of no better way to |
it than by holding
a Worlds fair. st. Louis is the !,
place for holding it. 1t is the
greatest city in the purchase. st. I
Louis has much more meritorious
case than many other such enter
prises which have received sub
stantial recognition from the Fed
eral government. Iexpect to vots
and talk for the BILL"
1t seems that the House and the
Senate are to lock horns over the
question Of how the Pacific Gable
1
shall be laid and operated. The
House Committee on Commerce
las reported the Sherman bill,
which provides that the cable shall
'e constructed and owned by all
corporation, as q substitute for the ]
I'LL recently passed by the Senate. i
fhich provides for government !
and ownership of the !
able. =
That leaders do not always con- 4
roi IN Congress is well known to G
lose observers. The latest proof q
lat they do not is the announce b
ent that the House will take up B
re Nicaragua Canal Bill May i. hi
I'd vote upon 1t the next day. In ju
is case the leaders were wise in
Ioagh to accede to the polite re. hs
!. 4 a = n 4