The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-15
CRU MPACKER FOUGHT IT
Burleson Again Takes Secretary bay
Over the Goals.
CASE OF REV. HIRAM THOMAS HIS TEXT.
Resolution Adopted Calling Upon the Secretary
Of State for The Fac'S of the Case.
A Letter from Hay
Read.
(By the Associated Press.)

=
Washington. March l4-The House to-
day passed the Postoffce Appropriation
Bill. The only amendment of Importance
was one to incorporate in the bill the pro-
visions of the bill to classify the rural
free delivery service, passed a few days
ago.
Mr.. Crumpacker, of Indiana, moved to
strike out the appropriation of $142, ,728
for the special fast mail facilities from
Washington to New Orleans. His motion
was lost, Sc to SO.
Mr.. Burleson (Texas), renewed the dis
cusslon of the case of Rev. Hiram w
Thomas and wife whose application to
the State Department for a request to
the British authorities for passports to
Nenter the Boer lines in South Africa for
the purpose of distributing relief funds
was brought to the attention of the House
by him few days ago. Mr.. Burleson de-
clared that Mr.. Hits defense of the
refusal of the State Department to ac-
cede to the request while it might have
been able was lame" The State De-
partment he said, in declining the re-
quest did not plead the violation of in
ternational comfy as Mr.. Hit had done.
Mr.. Burleson denied that the hypothesis
of Mr.. Hit as to our refusal to allow
Confederate sympathiZers to go through
the lines during the Civil War was a
parallel case and moreover he said it
was not a historical fact. He read let
ter from a Union surgeon stationed at
City Point, Va, during the war who told
of how the Union forces allowed relief to
pass through the lines. "If General Sher-
man" asked he, had concentrated
Southern women and children in camps
did any one imagine that the North
would not have allowed relief to be sent
to theme
In conclusion Mr.. Burleson called at
tentiOn to a Berlin dispatch announcing
that Great Britain had granted permis-
sion for the distribution of charitable
gifts collected in Germany for the Boer
prisoners.
Mr.. Hit Qlls.) Chairman Of the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, replied briefly
to Mr. Burleson. He had read a letter
he had received from Secretary Hay. The
letter was as follows:
"A few days ago young gentleman
called and asked whether this department
would issue passports to the Rev. Mr..
Thomas and Mrs. Thomas, who were in
tending to go to South Africa for the
purpose of distributing funds which had
Been collected in Illinois for the benefit
of the sufferers by the war. l said at
once the department would issue the
passports desired and that l would also
give Mr. Thomas a letter commencing
him to every one whom l could influ-
ence and asking their assistance in his
errand. Inquiry was then made whether
this Government would ask of the British
Government permission for Mr.. and Mrs.
Thomas to go at will through the Brit
ish military lines and camps, sugges-
tion which | thought impracticable,
This department is ready at any time
to consult with representative of Gov
ernor Yates as to the best means of get
ting into the proper hands sums con-
tributed by charitable people in Illinois
fcv the relief of the sufferers by the war
in South Africa
Immediately afterward Mr.. Hit pre-
sented the resolution reported by his COM
mittee which called upon the Secretary of
State for the facts in the case of the ap-
plication made to the State Department
in behalf Of DR.. Thomas and wife. The
resolution was adopted.