Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-24
MR.. BACON REPLIES
Discusses Mr.. Platt's Remarks on
Cuba.
CLAIMS THERE is EXlRAVAGANCE
DISTINGUISHED CoIored Men Want
Remedial Legislation.
ALASKA BILL IN THE HOUSE

At the opening of todays session of the
Senate Mr. Chandler. chairman of the com
mirtee on privileges and elections. presented
"a netition from ~ w. Gilbert and sixteen
masters of churches in South Carolina call
ing attention 10 the political conditions IN
that state, and asking that remedial legls-
1ation he enacted The petition was re-
ferred 10 the committee on privileges and
elections.
The petition declared that the colored
residents of South Carolina are distran-
chised II referred TO the speech of Sena-
tor Tilman, in which he acknowledged
that the white men took control OF the
state of south Carolina and ''buldozed the
niggers'' and were mot ashamed Oh II.
The petitioners are exceedingly phiheu
to think that in the chief lawmaKhs ooos
of the nation our state is represented by one
who makes such an unabashed ana niunl
ayowal of high crimes against the Consti-
tuition of his country. while outragins the
feelings of ten million citizens of this re-
public
asked for legislation to reduce the repre-
colored vote is nullified and the appoint
meut of a committee to investigate condl-
tons in South Carolina
A lin pl Dviding for the investigation OIL
the HISTORICAL anu PdpAAS
OF the several states and territories and OF
TN. United States, with view 10 their
preservation by publication, was passed:
Joint resolution reappointfng Mr.. An
drew d. White regent of the Smithsonian
Institution vas passed
Mr. Pettigrew IS D. offered a resolution
directing the Secretary OF the treasury W
inform the Senate what disposition mas
been made of the appeal of the defendant
in the case Of the United States agt- the
North American Commercial company
also what amount Is now due the Ihiteu
States under order of the court from the
North American Commercial Company, ana
also what number Of seal pups starved on
the islands in Boring sea during the years
1S'S and 1870. and whether the branding or
seals is still practiced and what erect
branding has on seal life
The resolution was agreed to.
Mr. Thurston CNeb) called up the confer
ence report on the Indian appropriation Dill
and after some discussion it was agreed to-
Mr.. Bacon Replies to Mr.. Plat.
Mr. Bacon (Ia) then called up his resoiu-
ton directing the committee on relations
with Cuba to investigate the receipts ana
expenditures of money in Cuba and adj
dressed the Senate in reply to the speech
delivered yesterday by Mr.. Platt tConn)-
He maintained it was a duty Congress owed
10 thu. country and to the Cubans to make
the investigation. He said the great pur-
pose of the investigation which he proposed
WAS not 50 much to cntrap the man or men
who might have stolen hundreds or tnous-
RndS Of dollars, as an expert accountant
Nigh, DO but to ascertain whether by
fraudulent contracts or other devices of cor
ription the millions handled by the officials
In Cuba had been disposed of dishonesty.
The purpose of mis- resolution. he said
was To ascertain whether these millions had
been expended honestly. economically and
properly even though the books might bal
hnc.. and might show no discrepancies. He
Ill 4rr. iBn n large
made by the officials in Cuba for per
dem miscellaneous. salaries, car
rlages and equipment" and declared these
EIbi-ctS never had been investigated. al
though the Post Office Departments atten-
lion hal been directed to them. There had
been he sand. such looseness in the con-
ducI Of Cuban affairs that 1t called Tor a
mes rigid and searching investigation
I'll. was an utter absence of accuracy and
81 Tic statement in the Cuban affairs that
ordinarily were required in business mat
ttrs-
H declared in discussing the various de-
par m-nts of the Cuban government. that
the most enormous salary lists were shown
that any body ever saw.
The civil salary list alone for 1881 was
over SI.n1nD. which he thought was I'M
paralleled. Mr.. Bacon declared that no ac-
Count IF the enormous expenditures of the
hrst half of 1899 had been made to the gov
ernment. and said that in view of the facts
rs brought out it was unreasonable to ask
that the investigation should be left to the
Post Office Department
Mr.. Bacon declared that the American
people, regardless of party. were deter
mined that the Cuban scandal should be
sifted to the bottom. and he said that the
investigation would not be limited to the
extent suggested by Mr.. Plat in his speech
of yesterday. He denied that he cherished
any purpose Of making campaign capital.
Mr.. Bacon said the Havana railroad cost
S3;2.G1l. an exorbitant sum. He also criti-
cised the payment of a large amount to
Robt. L. Porter, the tariff expert.
Mr.. Chandler inquired whether Mr.. Bacon
thought a newspaper article he had read
established any wrong doing on the part
of Mr.. Porter.
The Georgia senator replied that If Mr..
Porter was trial before him he would be
obliged To acquit him on the evidence pre-
scented in the article, but he still thought 1t
well 10 investigate the matter.
THE HnISE