The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-14
THE ISLE OF PINES
WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH TT AN
 INTERESTING QUESTION,
Matter Furnishes Sequel of War Ese- tween United Stntes and Spain Joint Resolution Introduced
 by Carmack.

One of the most interesting sequels Of the war with Spain has been the ques- tion what to do with the Isle of Pines out of the supposed cession of which by Spain In treaty of Paris a great many Americans have been put into Q vexatious position. Among the citi- gems who became interested were s number of Southerners, including prominent citizens of Tennessee, amonx 2 them being Samuel H, Pearcy, a few years ago a well known citizen of Nashville. remembered there as havink constructed Nashville's first metropoli- tan street railway.
 Senator Carmack has introduced the following joint resolution which well explains the plight of the Americans who have invested money and made their homes in the island:
 Whereas. the Isle of Pines was ced- ed to the United States by Spain; and
 Whereas. the War Department, un- der date of August 14, 1899. proclaimed 1t to be territory of the United States. its climate. physical resources and its desirability as a place to make homes. which was generally circulated throughout the country; and
 Whereas. over 300 American citizens. acting in good faith upon this infor- nation from one of the great Depart ments of the government, which De- partment was charged with ths admin istration and control of the insular possessions. removed from the States of Iowa, New York. Pennsylvania. Tennessee, Illinois and other States, and purchased lands on this island and proceeded to erect houses for homes. to clear fields and to plant orchards. and to make other improvements on the lands so purchased; aud
 Whereas, at the present time there are more than 5000 American citizens who have vested rights In the island. and more than 500 Americans. men, women and children. actually residing on the island and making permanent improvements thereon, and who earn. estly desire to remain there, and who will suffer material losses and great embarrassment if the island is turned over to Cuba; and
 Whereas, the Americans on the is- land have established villages. schools and churches. a weekly newspaper. mills and factories, a steamship con- nection with the outside world, and own in fee simple more than thrce- fourths of the island: and
 Whereas, these American citizens. actual settlers on the island. half of whom located there relying upon the statement of the War Department that the island was territory of the United States, have solemnIy petitioned the President of the United States and the Secretary of State to keep the island as territory of the United States, to protect them as American citizens in ] their liberty and property, and not to force them into obnoxious expatria- | ton.
 Resolved. by the Senate and House of l Representatives in Congress assem- bled. That 1t is the sense of the Con- Rress of the United States that 1t is un- wise to take any further steps toward the consummation of the transfer of the Isle of Pines to Cuba in exchange for naval stations. or for any other consideration, until investigation has been made under direction of Congress into the value of the island to the Uni- ted States as a possession of the Unl- ted States. and the conditions of the island in respect to the vested rights of American citizens and all things pertaining thereto, and a full report made to Congress.
 Treaty arrangements with Cuba en- tered Into through the collaboration of Secretary Hay and Senator Platt of | Connecticut, gave the island over to Cuban domination with some future arrangement to be made to allow the United States coaling or naval stations | or bases. The Americans who went to the island repaired there on the strength of the treaty of Paris which ceded all the island possessions oi Spain in the West Indies to the Uni. ted States. except Cuba, which was to be allowed in due time to assume heI own independence. There has been l I4 | Senate as to whether American citi- gems have any rights as such as against Cuban rule. A case Is now in the Su- preme Court of the United States which was purposely made a test case by the islanders to ascertain, what they were politically. A shipment of cigars was |, made from the island, to New York and proffer made of internal revenue tax l The customs officer at New York seized tho consignment and litigation follow. ed which carried the cause to the su. preme Court where 1t is now pending l Senator Morgan is ore of the mos, earnest advocates of the retention of the island by the United States, no, only because of its commercial ano strategic value but most notably be- cause of its rare healthfulness. He believes 1t would be, on account of its natural sanitary advantages, of c
 ceptional value to the United States fl. the construction of the isthmian ca nal, where the conditions for R0ot health are extremely adverse. The is. | land would be convenient as sanits
 rum for the large force of workmen not to say soldiers and sailors wh
 would be in the canal zone.
 | A line of first class schooners has been established between Nueva Ge- roma, Isle of Pines and Mobile. Let ters received here from the island show that settlers and prospectors are constantly arriving, convinced that the United States intends to hold on to this Insular prize. Recently a large mass meeting of the islanders was | held in which the American element dominated and controlled by the con- sent of the natives, whose entire sym- pathy they had. It was at this meet ing that a petition was adopted deny- ing the report that the Americans on the island were satisfied with Cuban rule or ever would be. The petition calls attention to the fact that forci- ble annexation would be svirtuaIlv l tarl.E