The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-05-26
Bale CdIks Of
Cuban 7nfrigues

y = = = = 2 : Y =
Washington, May 23.-This was day
of rasping political controversy and or
atory in the senate. With the contro-
versy those on the Democratic side of
the chamber, anamoloUs as it may
seem, had little to do. What by far
seeing senators is regarded as likely
to be the paramount issue of the APP
preaching campaign was the subject of
two notable speeches. one by Mr. Platt
of Connecticut and the other by Mr..
Spooner of Wisconsin. The former was
an answer to the speech delivered a
few DAYS ago by Mr.. Bacon of Georgia,
on his resolution demanding an exam
nation of financial conditions in Cuba.
Mr.. Platt favored the adoption of the
resolution. but deprecated what he
called a cheap effort to make political
capital out of a shameful condition Of
affairs.
The speech of Mr.. Spooner was a
continuation of his address of yester-
day on the Philippine question. On its
course he became involved in heated
and sensational colloquy with Mr.. Hale
Of Maine over the governments con-
duct of affairs in our ''inSular pos
sessions"
1t was a remarkable controversy be-
tween two of the best equipped sem
ators in the senate and was listened
to with profound attention by senators,
many representatives and crowded gal
leries.
In the heated interchange of remarks
Mr.. Spooner asked of Mr.. Hale: Has
the senator any suspicion in his mind
or in his heart that the pledge made
in the resolution passed by congress
as to the temporary character OF our
occupation in Cuba is not to be kept
Mr.. Hale replied: Il have very grave
suspicious | think there are very
powerful influences in this country,
largely located in New York, largely
speculative and. connected with money
making enterprises, that are deter
mined that we shall never give up
Cuba | think that the time will never
come, unless something earnest and
drastic is done by congress, that the
last soldier of the United States will
be withdrawn from Cuban soil. l do
not think the president favOrs holding
Cuba. I discovered very powerful in
fiuences, commercial mercantile,
money and political, that are opposed
to our ever withdrawing from Cuba.
l take up the newspapers that are
foremost in the large cities and ind
every day intimation and hints that
Mr.. Spooner-If l were inclined to
doubt for one moment that the United
States government will seasonably
withdraw from Cuba, l should be
ashamed of the government and
ashamed Of its action.
Mr. Hale-That assurance from the
senator more than pays me for all that
/ have said. I shall count upon him
N the future.
HKr,.,, +1,o ea.es;o,,. ,,,e,,a7 Mr. NToroo,,
(Ala) called up his resolution calling
upon the secretary of war and the sec
rotary of the navy for information rel
alive to the cost of transportation of
troops and supplies to the Philippines,
and it was agreed to.
The resolution previously offered by
MIR. Bacon (Ga.) directing the COM
mittee on relations with Cuba to make
an investigation regarding the receipts
and expenditures of money in Cuba,
was called up.
Mr.. Plat Comm, chairman of the
committee on relations with Cuba, said
that the recent disclosures in Cuba are
a blow to every true citizen of the
United States, and that neither the ad-
ministration nor the committee on re-
lations with Cuba needed any prodding
from the opposition party to induce
them to make a most searching in
VestigatiOn and to use every effort to
punish summarily and severely any
person guilty of wrongdoing or fraud in
the island Of Cuba Mr.. Plat said
congress could not well interfere with
the investigation by the postmaster
general
He read a long letter from Post
master General Smith to Fourth AS
sistant Postmaster General Joseph L.
Bristow, in charge of the investigation.
The keynote of the letter was: The
investigation must be comprehensive,
covering every branch of the service
and all classes Of officials. The sole
rule Of action shall be thorough and
complete investigation, the rigorous
and unspairing prosecution of all guilty
persons and their swift and condign
Mr.. Tillman asked Mr.. Platt in re-
gard to the charges about the seven
mile military road near Havana, say
ing he could supply witnesses if an in
vestigation should be made
Mr.. Platt said this road had been
built in haste by the quartermaster of
the army. The road had cost $751;, 600 |
Mr.. Bacon said his information was
that the cost of this road had been
enormous and he expected to prove this /
before the investigation was concluded. |
Mr.. Platt charged that Bacon's ac-
cusations We're made for campaign pur- !
poses.
Continuing, Mr.. Plat said the postal /
officials had been selected with great !
care, Notwithstanding the subsequent /
developments. Rathbone /
had been chosen because Of his knowl- |
edge of the postoffice business. He had /
been guilty of misconduct but it was
not the first time a good man had gone /
wrong As for Nicely, he had the con
hdence Of all who knew him No one /
could know how ii happened
Mr.. Platt expressed a willingness for I
a congressional investigation Of Cuban I
affairs.
Mr.. Bacon, he said. demanded to
know why our government was in
Cuba and why it did not come away.
We are there, Mr. Plat answered, be-
cause we have been sent there by the
American people; because congress has
sent our army there to destroy the
power of Spain.
we have a duty yet to perform
here, the senator went on to say,
and the American people will see to
t that it is discharged. The military
control Of the island viii cease when