The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-21

When the Senate convened yesterday a
resolution was introduced by Mr.. Bacon,
for which he asked immediate considera-
ton, calling upon the Secretary of War
for the following information relative TO
officers of the United States Army who
are, or have been, stationed in Cuba or
Porto Rico since the beginning of the war
with Spain: Whether any such officer
has received compensation for any service
| whatsoever in addition to his regular pay
| and allowances, and, if there be any such,
! what are the names and rank of the
officers, and what amounts have been re-
ceived, together with the date. and the &C
count on which. nd the person by whom
the payments were made
Objection being made by Mr.. Sewell,
the resolution went over and Mr.. Bacon
! introduced a second resolution. calling for
the following information from the same
source and regarding the same officers:
Whether any officer has had furnished
| to him any quarters other than those he
| is regularly entitled to receive, and If so
| his name and rank and the quarters so
| furnished: what rent has been paid in each
| instance for quarters thus furnished; what
or improving them; what amounts have
been expended in decorating or furnishing
quarters; what amounts have been eX-
pended for horses or mules, harness, We
hicles or equipages of any kind to be
used by any Army officer; what amounts
have been paid for servant hire; what
amounts have been paid for supplies of
any kind furnished any officer; out of what
fund was each amount above referred to
paid
Mr.. Sewell said he had no objection to
the adoption of the second resolution but
he desired to explain that ii was probable
that the old palaces occupied by their
predecessors had been fitted up and taken
possession of by the officers stationed in
Cuba and Porto Rico.
Mr.. Bacon said he was unable to see
why the first resolution had been object
ed to and the second had not. He desired
to disclaim any definite information in
regard to the things enquired about. but
wanted it understood that he was merely
looking for information ard was taking
up the challenge of the Senator from New
Hampshire (Mr. Chandler who advised
him on Thursday TO introduce a resolu-
tion of enquiry. Mr.. Bacon said all the
information he had as to the pay of Of
ficers was generally known to the public,
but he had very recently been told on au-
tnOrlty IndI 1e cOESluereu
there had been no such extra pay re-
ceiyed by any OF the officers in Porto Rico
and he was glad to be informed that such
was the case. He said he would be equal
ly glad to know that there had been moth
ing Of the kind in Cuba.
In regard to the second resolution. call
ing for the amounts expended for the
accommodation and comfort of any officer,
he discaimed any knowledge on that sub
ject, but said it had been generally been
reported that large sums had been eX-
pended, not only for comforts, but for lux
uries for the officers of the Army and he
thought it was due to them as well as to
the country that information on the sub
jsct should be given to the public from
an authoritative source. He believed that
many of the statements that had been
made relative to the expenditures were
largely exaggerated, but they were being
repeated with the utmost confidence in
their truth.
Mr.. Bacon said it had been said in his
hearing that the expenditure in Cuba had
surpassed tha. Of any OF the Spanish
governors while occupying a vice-regal
position. He hoped that none of this was
true. but if it was. it should be known
so that correction might be applied. If it
was not true i. was due to the officers
about whom such statements were being
made that they should be authoritatively
denied.
Mr. Chandler objected to the second res
olution because he said that he desired to
investigate the matter referred to more
fully but when it should come up today
he thought he would be glad to have the
resolution adopted. The resolution then
went over.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr..
Gallinger asking information as to the
revenues received for stamps under the
War Revenue act was laid before the
Senate and q substitute was offered for il
by Mr. Gallipger and was agreed to, di-
recting the Secretary of the Treasury
to furnish statement showing the amount
of revenue derived from all sources under
the War Revenue law the items 10 be
stated separately in regard TO each sub
ject of taxation.
Mr.. Hale presented the conference re-
port on the Urgent Deficiency bill and it
was agreed to without discussion. The
conference report on the Hawaiian bill
was then taken up and Mr.. Cullom, in
charge Of the report. made a general
explanation OF the work of the conferees.
A long discussion occurred particularly
over a provision in the bill requiring five
dollar poll tax to be paid in Hawaii before
the registration of voters. This provision
was denounced by Senators Tillman, Jones,
Teller, Stewart and others.
MIR. Cullom said that if the bill were sent
back to conference he would certainly be
in favor OF striking out the poll tax pro-
vision. He gave a general summing up OF
the Hawaiian question. in which he said
that no citizens of the United States need
ever feel any doubts as to the intellectual
moral. or financial standing OF the people
who inhabit Hawaii. These people had
brought with them a splendid educational
system and a prosperous agricultural es-
tablishment yielding large profits 10 the
sugar, coffee, and rice planters of the isl
ands Finally. 81 the request of Mr. Gull
lom the conference report went over with
cut action until today.
The President pro tempore (AIr Frye
announced his appointment of Senators
Carter and Harris as visitors TO West Point
Military Academy.
The Alaska Civil Code bill was taken up
and the discussion on the proposed mining
law amendment which has been going on
fer the last several days was continued.
MIR Bate argued against the amendment
as OverruIing or repeating the present min
ing Law. which recognizes the right OF
aliens to locate mining claims. The amend
ment. he argued. would permit the citizen
ship Of the locator TO be called In question
in any sui: or litigation which cannot now
be done
The Alaska bill went over without action,
and at 4.30 o'clock the proceedings of the
Senate were suspended to allow the de-
livery OF eulogies upon the life and public
character OF the late Representative Dan
ford of Ohio At their conclusion the Sen