New-York tribune., 1900-05-31
PRICE THREE CENTS.
CUBAN INQUIRY BEGINS.
SENATE COMMITTEE CALLS ON DEPART
MENTS FOR REPORTS.
RESULT FROM THE FIRST ACTION
TAKEN-THE CUBAN TARIFF
REVISION
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrsrxE.I

Senate Committee on Relations with Cuba to-
day an important one. and some interesting
disclosures are expected the ultimate result
Of the action taken. All the members of the
committee except Senators Spooner and Talia-
ferro were present and there general in
terchange of views regarding the plan and order
Of procedure 10 be followed in making the in
vestigations contemplated by the Bacon reso-
luton. II decided 10 be desirable and nee
essary obtain at first copies of all reports and
other documentary information in possession or
the War Department. the Navy Department
and the Postofice Department bearing on the
subjects of the inquiry. and the following reso-
luton, offered by Senator Chandler. was
adopted:
That the chairman be directed TO call I'M
mediately the Secretary Of War in separate
communications for the statistical and other in
formation required 10 enable the committee 10
make the investigation and report to the Senate
ordered by the resolution OF May % 1900. the
first communication to call for the information
required by the second clause of the resolution
as to receipts IN Cuba the second communica-
tlon call for the expenditures required by the
third clause of the resolution; the third conlmu-
nication TO call for the statement concerning
public works and the contracts required by the
fourth clause of the resolution, and the fourth
communication TO call for the statement as 10
personal property lntrusted TO any officer In
Cuba, called for by the fifth clause OF the resolu-
ton. and TO request the Secretary OF War to fur
nish the facts called for in parts from time TO
time. the Department may be able to ascer-
tain and arrange the same. and to completely
furnish all the information as soon as prac-
tcable.
Resolutions identical in terms were adopted
for reference to the Secretary of the Navy and
the Postmaster General
When the information called for. any con-
siderable part of it, has been obtained it is ex-
pected TO furnish a basis for definite inquiries
and Investigations which will result in bringing
out clearly the facts relating TO all branches of
the inquiry. 1t will probably be found necessary
10 witnesses from Cuba. for a
subcommittee TO visit that island and examine
witnesses there before the investigation Is fin-
ished and report made to the Senate.
NO REFERENCE TO CUBAN TARIFF
1t may be noted that the resolution adopted by
the committee to-day makes no reference 10 the
revision of the Cuban tariff. The reason why 1t
was omitted probably that the subject was
not directly embraced in the terms of the Bacon
resolution under which the committee is acting
In the debate that resolution in the Sem
ate May "a. however. the matter
discussed. After Mr.. Bacon had read the
Washington dispatch headed "Rairoading a
Tariff" published in The Tribune of that
morning. the following colloquy occurred be-
tween him and Senator Chardler:
M Mr. GhandermI wished 10 as ask 5hs Senator if he
nected with this railroad beyond what is stated in
Mr.. Bacon-I have no information except that the
TaS5 64os naS been n stated e me PersoP s
not know it, 1 could not go upon the stand and
Mr. Mr. ChandleEr-The Senator must have noticed
exact nature Of Mr. Porters connection With this
great syndicate ; Is not knowa here but it is in
weeks ago. when he was in London in company
sntsrpriss~ that he vas in,sr!stsd. ds not
knoM %I 31t ,nat ne Is 91t IN justice 20 Mt p9r'e
evidence that ne is except that he went 70 London
moIers of III this enterprise and if a man becomes
with We are all OF US liable TO be in tcklish part
Mr Bacon-The Senator who makes transatlantic
@ eySTX T ysaF % mfy IN De IN that Ia m rssDe but
Mr.: Porter were trial on the evidence furnished
in this article. and by the evidence which has been
general 9 would be Obliged & dd6 a6 acau 81
but gs the Mhsqq5sa 10
& S to dsn Whsher & or not @ charge Is 10 be nyestgaed
OF that WHICH l., is requisite for conviction but is
suspicion N2 @R. or RTooaaDdisy dlsr Of e gsils
to say that agree with him in that particular I
should be willing to make investigation upon
pose to vote for an investigation: but / wanted
attention called to the fact that the statements OF
tion with this company are almost all innuendo.
be printed. 4 the Statement viii not speak pea for
Which the Senator SPECIFICS and Whether Is
necessary TO call attention 70 It:
called to II.
Mr.. Bacon-I have objection to attention being
Mr.. Chandler think attention will be called tn
the absence OF evidence by of this coIIoquy
Mr.. Bacon-I take occasion TO say I hope it may
simply affect Mr. Porter. II affects the Senator
from New Hampshire. and It Affects myself and n
anects every other man who cares for the honor
and purity of the public service of the IJnitei
States, and l do most sincerely for il. / wish
fervently that everything which has been
charged with reference peculation and embezzle-
ment in Cuba. as TO misrepresentation as 20 waste
could be To
be untrue.
MIR. PORTER AND THE SYNDICATE
The Tribune dispatch accomplished its main
purpose when II called the attention OF the SEN
ate as we'll as of the readers OF The Tribune TO
the propriety of inquiry into the circurn-
stances surrounding and connected with the re-
vision of the Cuban tariff and Mr. Porter's rela-
ton to IT, and also the proposed benefciaries OF
the remarkable reduction Of rates OF duty on
railway materials. machinery and supplies IL
was matter within the personal knowledge OF
the writer of the dispatch. based on statements
made by Mr.. Porter himself, that the latter WAS
the author Of the revised tariff as he also was
Of the first military executive tariff OF Cuba
II also matter OF common report s1,pnrs
mented by London cable dispatch published
in number OF newspapers. that Mr. Porter was
in some manner interested in or connected with
the Cuban railroad syndicate.
Now, Senator Chandler Is a member OF tha
committee which has to-day taken the preliu,-
mary steps In what is expected TO be a complets
and thorough investigation OF Cuban affairs
and IL Will be an easy a well a proper thins.
for him 10 ascertain, in that capacity whether
the officials OF the War Department. any or