The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-26
IS URGED TO ACT
LETTER TO SECRETARY ROOT ON
 CONGO SITUATION.
Pierpont Morgan. DR. Lyman Abbott and Others Call Attention of Chief Executive to Necessity
 for RefOFms.

New York, Dec. 25.-A letter signed by J. Pierp6nt Morgan. pr. Lyman Ab- bolt and other prominent citizens. of New York, was addressed to Secretary Elihu Root. Secretary of State, direct ing his attention to conditions in the Congo Free State, where. 1t is asserted, "a great inhuInanity exists" and urg- ing him. on behalf of the American people, to use the moral support" of the United States Government to cor rect the abuses the Congo natives are alleged to be suffering from.
 The commun. cation Is as follows: |. 'Over a year has passed since the report of the commission apointed by the Chiat Executive and virtual owner of the Congo to Investigate conditions in that State was published. In spite of their natural desire to give all pos sible credit to their sovereign, the com missioneTs felt constrained to report the existence of measures and practices of fagrant inhumanity. Among these measures and practices are the follow ing:
 "First-The exaction of a labor tax so oppressive that many natives on whom 1t falls, have little, if any. free dom.
 "second--Appropriat of land to such an extent that the natives are practically prisoners within their own territory.
 "Third-The employment under au- thorIty of the Government Us sentries of cruel. brutIsh blacks. chosen from hostile tribes, who murder, pillage and rape the people for whose protection the Government is avowedly estab- lished.
 "Fourth--The abuse of the natives by white representatives of officially recognized companies.
 "Fifth..-The binding of little children to years of labor at uncertain wages oy contracts, they don't understand and more serious maltreatment of children supposedIy under the Immediate care .of the government.
 s xth.--Great injustice in the adminis- tration of courts so mat the natives dread the name of Bona, the place where the judicial system is centrAliz- ed.
 .'Seventh.-The sending out of punitive expeditions, not for the purpose of es- tablishing peace and order, but for the purpose of terrifying the natives into paying a tax, which As administered, even the commissioners regard as in- humane.
 Tt is remembered that these are not charges brought agail-st the Congo EOVGTuUiSHIp Dub sAAluAhSc VA SHS %StA- mission which was appointed by the chief executive of the government to Investigate and report on the facts. Acting upcn these findings, second commission, also appointed by the King. has recommended measures of reform. No steps have been taken to adopt them. There Is no evidence that the Congo government is undertaking seriously to remedy these evils. The
 k1a f.o ernment have clearly a right to call that government to account. Inasmuch as the United StateS gave its moral support to the establishment of the Congo government, 1t Is justified In giving it's moral support 10 any under taking to secure conditions in the Congo that will not disgrace civiliza- tion. We wish to assure you that for any measure you may adopt in erder to give the powers such moral support of the United States you will have our earnest and urgent approval"