The age-herald., 1902-03-12
CRITICISM OF
 SECRETARY HAY Mt But|eson DenOunceS His
 Pio-British Attitude, HIT MAKES VIGOROUS REPLY
Charged That MT. Hay Refused to Ask Permission for Minister to Go Through Lines to Distribute
 Relief Fund to Boers.

NaShlngC0n, maIcn ll-Ine House Io- day entered on the consideration or the postoffice appropriation bill, but during the general debate the members who spoke devoted themselves to everything except the bill MT. Thayer of Massa- chusetts brought forward a resolution to investigate repoIt5 t..,.. tie sugar trust would be the chief beneficiary of Cuban reciprocity He tried to overturn a de- cision of the speaker in order to secure action on his resolution, but the Republi cans came up solidly against such course and he was checkmated. MT. Brantley. a Georgia Democrat, made speech In favor of Cuban reciprocity, and MT. Meyer, a Louisiana Democrat. one against it. MT. Hill of Connecticut made some remarks on his monetary bill. The feature of the day, however, attacking Secretary Hay for declining to request the British authorities to fur nish passports to go through the British lines to Rev. Hiram W. Thomas and wife, who desire to go to South Africa to distribute Boer relief funds collected in Illinois.
 MT. Hit of Illinois. chairman of the foreign affairs committee, made a spir- ited reply to MT. Burleson, charging the Texas member with attempting to preju- dice the case before the evidence was In. Mir Hit pointed out that relief funds could be distributed through the Red Cross or the American consuls. and add ed that it was contrary to international law and usage to allow those in sympa- thy with the enemy to go through the lines In time of war.
 Had Letter Read.
 MT. Burleson sent to the clerks desk and had read 2 letter froI, John O. Knight, who came to Washington to se- cure the passports for pr. Thomas and wife. Mir. Knight stated the funds were collected in response to Governor Yates appeal. He had gone to Secretary Hay, the latter said, with a letter from Sena- tor Cullom, ard the Secretary of State, according to the letter, had declined to make the request of Lord Pauncefote on the ground that such action would be consd cred 'meddlesome" and a remiss- ness of neutrality and against the views of President Roosevelt.
 If these facts stated in this letter were true, said MT. Burleson, then the state department was so saturated with pro- British spirit that it could no longer re- spond to the common dictates of hu- manity when made in behalf of Boer women and children
 MT. Burleson said that under date of March another appeal had gone from MT Knight to Secretary Hay without eliciting a reponse.
 MT. Burleson said his purpose in hav- ing these letters read was to fasten the attention of the American people on
 Hit Defends Hay.
 Mir Hit of Illinois, chairman of the foreign affairs committee replied to MT. Burleson with some display of heat. He said 1t was with singular surprise that he should hear the gentleman from Texas bring forward a resolution which already had been referred to a committee of which he (Burleson) was a member and which committee was to meet on day fixed by the motion of MT Burleson him. self. He declared it was an effort to pre- judice the case before the evidence was in. International law must be observed lie said. The International Red Cross was organized for the purpose of carry
  through it or through our consuls, but not through those in sympathy with the enemy.
 But why should not the secretary of state use his good offices to relieve the distress of the Boer women and children confined in the concentration camps?" asked MT. Burleson.
 MT. Hit replied that according to Mir. Knights letter the secretary had offered to help the Rev. Thomas in every way in his power, but he manifestly could not do a ridiculous thing. The rules of international law upon the question were well established. Jefferson Davis would not have allowed nothern sympathizers to preambulate through southern camps to distribute relief. The secretary of state could not make demand which on it's face was contrary to all precedents. It would be a slap in the face Of for | eign government. Our government he said. should not put itself In conflict with another to make political capital. Mr. Sulzer asked if the British authorl- 1 ties had not declined to allow the Red | Cross to conduct their humane work in South Africa.
 MT. Hit said such statement was made and had been denied; he did not know the facts.