Evening star., 1902-03-15
MR.. THOMAS'PASSPORTS
THE MATTER AGAIN BROUGHT
UP IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Hit Reads q Statement of the
Case by Secretary Hay-Resolution
Adopted Without Debate.

After passing the post Office appropriation
bill yesterday the House took favorable
action on quite number of other bills, in
Guiding provisions for marine hospitals at
Buffalo. Savannah and Pittsburg to per-
init the issue OF school bonds In Oklahoma !:
to ratify the act of the Arizona legislature
providing a fund for the University Of
Arizona; for the refunding Of the debt of
Navajo county, Arizona, at a lower rate Of
interest; to change the boundaries between
southern and central districts of the Indian
territory. and to grant a right Of way ko-
laha to the Hawaiian Ditch Company.
While one OF these bills was being con-
sidered in committee of the whole Mr..
Burleson tTexD got the floor and renewed
the discussion of the case Of Rev. Hiram
w. Thomas and wife. whose application to
the State Department for request to the
British authorities for passports to enter
the Boer lines in South Africa for the pur-
pose Of distributing relief funds was brought
to the attention of the House by him few
days ago. Mr.. Burleson declared that Mr..
Hits defense OF the refusal of the State
Department to accede to the request. while
| 1t might have been able was lame" The
State Department, he said, in declining the
request did not plead the violation of inter-
national 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 dur
Ing the civil war was a parallel case and
moreover. he said 1t was not an historical
fact. He read a letter from a Union sur
geon stationed at City Point Va. during
the war. who told of how the Union forces
allowed relief to pass through the lines
IF Gen. Sherman" asked he had con-
centrated southern women and children in
camps. did any one imagine that the north
would not have allowed relief to be sent to
them?"
In conclusion Mr.. Burleson called atten-
ton to Berlin dispatch announcing that
Great Britain had granted permission for
the distribution Of charitable gifts collect
ed in Germany for the Boer prisoners.
Mr.. Hit Qll.). chairman OF the committee
on foreign affairs, replied briefly to Mr..
Burleson. He said he felt some hesitation
about renewing the controversy raised by a
resolution which was not before the House.
His observations the other day, he said,
had been of an off-hand character He
would content himself at this time. he said.
with having read letter he had received
from Secretary Hay. The letter was as fol-
lows:
COMPARTMENT OF STATE.
March II, 1902.
"Sir: Referring to the resolution recently
introduced in the House. 1 beg to make the
following statement of facts:
"A few days ago a 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 pur-
pose OF distributing funds which lad been
COleCteO III itilIOlS IOT the DeflSNl OF the
sufferers by the war. / said at once the
department would issue the passports de-
sired. and that l would also give Mr..
Thomas letter commencing him to every
one whom 1 could influence, 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 British military lines and
camps, a suggestion which 1 thought i'm
practicable.
This department is ready at any time to
consult with representative Of Governor
Yates as to the best means Of getting into
the proper hands sums contributed by
charitable people In Illinois for the relief Of
the sufferers by the war In South Africa
Il am. SIR. very respectfully your 0bedi-
ent servant, JOHN HAY"
Immediately afterward Mr.. HIT presented
the resolution reported by his committee
which called upon the Secretary Of STATE