Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-17
THE ISLE OF PINES.

LaieISuly lAS SiShlSSC III un6 orient, DuL
China has awakened and is learning
THE ISLE OF PINES.
It is moved and seconded in Iowa
that the minority report of the senate
committee on foreign affairs be adopt
ed. That is, 1t Is moved by Iowa lay
men, people who have invested money
In land in the Isle OF Pines. 1t is also
seconded by them and their friends
Just how the Iowa senators regard the
matter is question. Just how the
senate as whole regards it is another
question. But there is no question as
to the sentiment among Iowa people
who are at all interested. They are
all In favor Of the minority report Of
the committee, which was drafted by
Senator Morgan OF Alabama and which
asserts that the Isle Of Pines belongs
to the United States. Senator Morgan
claims that the adjustment OF title BY
the authorities Of the United States
and Cuba amounted to sale Of the
island to Cuba which cannot be legally
made except by congress and which Is
therefore void. The report says:
"The treaty now under considera-
ton mas become a proceeding against
our own people in a more pronounced
sense than 1t can be regarded as a
means of doing justice to Cuba, and in
the changed conditions that have SO
rapidly occurred and to meet new con-
ditions that are extremely difficult and
embarrassing, If not dangerous to all
concerned. 1t is safer, wiser and more
just to submit our present differences
with Cuba to arbitration.
'It is still better that congress
should settle the question of title by
law and make provision for taking
proper care of the people and the In
terests of both governments, whether
We retain the title or concede it to
Cuba. The Plat amendment Is not
broad enough to cover the present sit
uation and the treaty-malsing power
cannot make it broader without the
action of congress-"
The question involved in the attempt
to decide the future of the little island
is a delicate, one and one that the or
binary Iayman is but poorly qualified
to settle. 1t is up to the senate, but
that body cannot give it too close at
tention, for there is great deal Of
good American money, not only from
Iowa, but from other states as we'll,
which is at stake and will be saved to
its interests or practically lost as the
result of the final decision.
-=---=-------------.---
Congressman Walter I Smith, Of
Council Bluffs, is chairman of the sub
committee Of the appropriation com
mittee to which estimates for fortifl-
cations on the seacoast are sent. The
story is told that the other day q de.
mand for liberal expenditures for for.
tifying Portland, Me-, was before the
subcommittee, and the chairman man.
Tested a painful lack of appreciation
OF the danger that Portland may be
shot to pieces any day by q hostile
fleet. He was 50 unsympathetic that
finally a New England member who
was urging the measure exclaimed:
I'D like to know why it is that this
committee on Notifications always
gets a man at It's head from the Mis-
sissippi valley" Reasons Of econo-
my-reasons Of economy" replied the
chairman. ''Ill tell you what to do.
You get somebody to invent a cannon
that will send a shell as far inland as
Council Bluffs, and we'll look into the
case further. Whether it is true or
not, the story is worth repeating.
II anyone asks WHY the naval acad.