The herald. [microfilm reel], March 18, 1898, Page 6, Image 6

About The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900

Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA

                
6
A CUBAN TRIP
Furnishes the Theme for
Proctor's Talk
THE SENATORS LISTEN
TO A GRAVE, DISPASSIONATE
STATEMENT
EMOTIONALISM IS AVOIDED
It Was as if the Senator Had Held
Up His Right Hand and
Sworn to It
Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, March 17.—Senator
Proctor of Vermont, who returned last
Sunday from an extended trip to and
through the Island of Cuba, this afternoon
made a statement to the senate of his ob
servations on the island.
From many points of view the state
ment was remarkable.
It had evidently been most carefully pre
pared. Every element of sensationalism
had been studiously eliminated from it,
and, except as the facts recited were sen
sational. It bore not the slightest evidence
of an off t to arouse the public mind, al
reaely keenly alive to the condition of af
fairs on the lslantl.
Calm and dispassionate to a. notable de
gree, the utterances of the senator aroused
a breathless Interest. Every person within
the sound of his voice was convinced that
he was putting his observations into care
ful terms, lest he might subject himself
to the criticism of being emotional.
One of the best characterizations of the
Statement was made by Senator Frye of
Maine, a few minutes after its delivery.
"It is," said he, "just as if Proctor had
held up his right hand and sworn to it."
A DRAMATIC SCENE
That was the impression the statement
made upon the senate.
The scene ln tbe senate just preceding
and during the delivery of the speech of
Senator Proctor was almost dramatic in
the Intensity of its interest. The occasion
of the address arose very unexpectedly.
The national quarantine bill was under dis
cussion and Senator Mallory of Florida had
been recognized for v speech In opposition
to the pending measure. Mr. Frye entered
the chamber and, interrupting Mr. Mal
lory, requested him to yield to Mr. Proc
tor, who desired to make a statement con
cerning his observations In Cuba, of inter
est to the senate and to the country.
Instantly there was a commotion on the
floor and in the galleries. It had been an
ticipated that Mr. Proctor would soon
make a statement, but it was not BUpOpsed
that he would mnke It upon the llejorof the
senate. A call of the senate was demanded
by Mr. Chandler of New Hampshire and in
a few minutes every senator In the capitol
was In his seat and, the word having been
passed through the corridors, people
flocked into the galleries until they were
packed.
Senator Proctor was accorded the clos
est attention throughout his speech. He
confined himself to his manuscript und at
the exinclusion, while there was no demon
stration, he was cordially consratuluted by
many of bis colleagues.
NO FIERY ORATORY
Mr. Proctor read his speech from manu
script, speaking rapidly but clearly. He
eaid:
"More Importance seems to be attached
by others to my recent visit to Cuba than
I have given It. It has been suggested that
I make a public statement of what I saw
and how the situation impressed tne. This
I do on account of public interest tn all
that concerns Cuba tend to correct any In
accuracies that have not unnaturally ap
peared In some of the reported interviews
with me.
"My trip was entirely unofficial and of
my own motion; not suggested by anyone.
The only mention I made of it to the pres
ident was to say to him that I contem
plated such a trip and to ask him tf there
was any objection to it. to which lie replied
that he coulu see none. No one but myself,
therefore. Is responsible for anything in
this statement. Judge Day gave me a brief
note of Introduction to General Lee und I
had letters of Introduction from business
friends from the north to bankers and other
business men at Havana, and they in turn
gave me letters to their correspondents in
other cities. These letters to business men
were usually useful, as the principal pur
pose of my visit was to ascertain the views
of practical men nf affairs upon the situa
tion.
A TRIBUTE TO LEE
"Of Gen. Lee 1 need say little. His valu
able services to his country in bis trying
position are too well known to all of his
countrymen to require mention. Besides
his ability, high character und courage,
he possesses the important requisites of
unfailing tact and courtesy, and withal
bis military education and training and
his soldierly qualities are invaluable ad
juncts in the equipment of our representa
tive in a country so completely under
military rule as Cuba.
"Gen. Lee kindly Invited ns to sit at his
table at the hotel during our stay In Ha
vana, nnd this opportunity for frequent
informal talks with him was of great help
to me. Tn addition to the information he
voluntarily gave mc. it furnished me a con
venient opportunity to ask him many ques
tions that suggested themselves in expla
nation of things seen and heard on our
trips through the country. I also met and
spent considerable time with Consul Brice
at Matanzas and with ('apt. Barker, a
stanch ex-Confederate soldier, at Sagua
la Grande, a friend of the senator from
Mississsippl (Walthall). None of our rep
resentatives whom I met In Cuba Is of my
political faith, but there is a broader faith,
not bounded by political lines. They are
all fTiree true Americans and have done
excellent service.
THE MAINE EXPLOSION
"It has been stated that 1 said there was
no doubt the Maine wa.s blown up from the
outside. This is a mistake. 1 may have
said that such was the general Impression
among Americans ln Havana. In fact, I
have no opinion about It myself, and care
fully avoided forming one. I gave no at
tention to these outside surmises. I met
the members of the court on their boat,
but would us soon approach our supreme
court in regard to a pending case us that
board. They are as competent and trust
worthy, within tho lines of their duty,
is any court In the land, and their report]
fc -b"n made, will carry conviction to all
the people that the exact truth has been
stated, just as far as It ls possible to as
certain It. And until then surmise and
conjecture are idle and unprofitable. Let
us calmly wait for the report.
"There are six provinces in Cuba, each,
with the exception of Matanzas, extending
the whole width of the island and having
about an equal sea-front on the north and
south borders. Matanzas touches the
Caribbean sea only at its southwest cor
ner, being separated from it elsewhere
by the narrow peninsula of Santa Clara
province.
"My observations were confined to the
four western provinces, which constitute
about one-half of the Island. The two east
ern ones are practically In the hands of
the insurgents, except the few fortified
towns. These two large provinces are
spoken of today as "Cuba Libre.'
"Havana, the great city and capital of
thje island, is, in the eyes of the Spanish
and many Cubans, all Cuba, as much as
Paris is France, but having visited it In
more peaceful times and seen Its sights—
the tomb of Columbus, the forts. Cabanas
and Moro castle, etc.—l did not care to
repeat this, preferring trips In the country.
Everything seemed to go on much as usual
In Havana. Quiet prevails, and except for
the frequent squads of soldiers marching
to guard and police duty and their abound
ing presence in all public places, one saw
little signs of war.
OUTSIDE OF HAVANA
"Outside of Havana all is changed. It
Is not peace nor is it war. It Is desolation
and distress, misery and starvation. Every
town and village Is surrounded by the
trocha (trench), a sort of rifle pit, but
constructed on a plan new to me. dirt be
ing thrown up on the outside and a barbed
wire fence on tbe other side of the trench.
These trochas have at every corner and at
frequent Intervals along the sides what
are called forts, but they are really small
block houses, many of them more like
a large sentry box, and with a guard of
from two to ten soldiers in each. The
purpose of these trochas Is to keep the re
concentrados in and keep the insurgents
out. In all the surrounding country the
people have been driven Into these for
tified towns and held there, to subsist as
they can. They are virtually prison yards,
and not unlike one in general appearance.
except the walls are not so high and
slrong; but they suffice, where every point
Is In range of a soldier's rifle, to keep in
the poor reconcentrados. women and
children. Every railroad station is with
in one of these trochas and has an armed
eruard. Every train has an armored freight
car. loopholed for musketry, and filled
with soldiers, and with, as I observed
usually, and was informed was always the
case, a pilot engine a mile or so in ad
vance. There are frequent block houses,
enclosed by the trocha and with a guard
alons the railroad t»ack. With this ex
ception there Is no human life or habita
tion between the fortified towns and vil
lages, and throughout the whole of the
four western provinces, except to a very
limited extent, among the bills, where the
Spaniards have not been able lo go and
drive the people to the towns and burn
their dwellings.
A DEVASTATED COUNTRY
"I saw no house or hut in the tOO miles of
railroad rides from Pinar del Rio province,
in the west, across the full width of
Havana and Matanzas provinces, and to
Sagua la Grande, on the north shore, and
to Cienfuegos, on the south shore of
Santa Clara, except within the Spanish
trochas. There are no domestic animais or
crops on the rich fields and pastures, ex
cept such as are under guard in the Im
mediate vicinity of the towns.
"In other words, the Spaniards hold in
these four western provinces just what
their army sits on. Every man, woman
and child, and every domestic animal,
wherever the columns have marched. Is
under guard and within their so-called for
tifications. To describe one place Is to
describe all. To repeat, it Is neither peace
nor war. 1 1 Is concentration and deso
lation. Tl s the 'pacified' condition of
the four \. m provinces.
"West of Havana is generally the rich
tobacco country; east, so far as I went
it Is a sugar region. Nearly all the susar
mills are destroyed between Havana and
Sagua. Two or three were standing In
the vicinity of Sagua and part running,
surrounded as they are by
trochas and 'forts' of palisades of the
royal palm and fully guarded. Toward
and near Cienfuogos there were more
mills running, but all with the same pro
tection. It Is said that the owners of
these mills near Cienfuegos have been
able to obtain several favors from the
Spanish government tn the way of large
forces of soldiers, but they also, as well
as all the railroads, pay taxes to the
Cubans for immunity. I had no means of
verifying this. It is the common talk
among those who have better means of
knowledge.
THE RECONCENTRADOS
"All the' country people in the four west
ern provinces, about 400,000 in number, re
mainins outside the fortified towns
when Weyler's order was made, were
driven Into these towns, and these art
the reconcentrados. They are the peas
antry, many of them farmers, some land
owners, others renting lands and owning
more or less of their stock, others working
on estates and cultivating small patches,
and even a small patch In that fruitful
ciime will support a family. It is but
fair to say that the normal condition of
these people was very different from tha;
which prevails in this country. Their
standard of comfort and prosperity was
not high, measured by our own. but ac
cording to tht.'ir standards and require
ments, their conditions of life were satis
factory.
"They live mostly In cabins made of
palm or in wooden houses. Some of them
had houses of stone, the blackened walls
of which are all that remain to show that
the country was ever Inhabited.
"Many doubtless did not learn of Wey
ler's concentration order. Others failed to
grasp its terrible meaning. Its execution
was left largely to the guerrillas to drive
in all that had not obeyed, and I was in
formed ttiat tn many cases the torch was
applied to their homes without notice, ar.d
that the inmates fled wdth such clothing
as they might have on their backs, their
stock and other belongings being appropri
ated by the guerrillas. When they reached
the towns they were allowed to build huts
of palm leaves In the suburbs and vacant
places within the trochas ar.d left to live
as best they could. Their huts are about
ten by fifteen feet in size and for want of
space are usually crowded together very
closely. They have no Hoor but ;h-?
ground, no furniture, ard after a year's
wear but little clothing except such stray
substitutes as they can extemporize. With
large families or with more than one in
this little space the commonest sanitary
provisions are impossible. Conditions are
unmentionable in this respect.
HORRIBLE CONDITIONS
"Torn from their homes, with foul earth,
foul air, foul water and foul food, cr none,
what wonder that one-half have, died and
that one-quarter of the living are so dis
eased that thej - cannot be-saved? A form
of dropsy is a common disease resulting
from these conditions. Children are seen
LOS ANGELES HERALD: FRIDAY MORNING. MARCH 18, 1898
walking about with arms and limbs terri
bly emaciated, eyes swollen and abdomen
bloated to three times the natural else.
The physicians say these cases are hope
less.
"Deaths In the street have not been un
common. I was told by one of our consms
that they have been found drnd about the
markets In the morning, where they had
crawled, hoping to get some stray bits of
food from the early hucksters, and that
there had been cases where they had
dropped dead Inside the market, surround
ed by food. These people were Independent
and self-supporting before Weyier's or
der. They are not beggars even now.
There aro plenty of professions', beggars
in every town among the regular residents,
but these country people, the reconcentra
dos, have not learned the art. Rarely is
a hand held out lo you for alms when go
ing among their huts, but the sight of them
makes an appeal stronger than words.
IN THE HOSPITALS
"Of the hospitals I need not speak. Oth
ers have described their condition far bet
ter than I can. It is not within the narrow
limits of my vocabulary to portray It. I
went to Cuba with a strong conviction that
the picture had been overdrawn, that a few
cases of starvation and suffering had In
spired and stimulated the press corre
spondents, and that they had given free
play to a strong, natural and highly culti
vated imagination. Before starting I re
ceived through the mail a leaflet published
by the Christian Herald, wllh cuts of some
of the sick and starving reconcentrados
and took it with me, thinking these were
rare specimens got up to make the worst
possible showing. I saw plenty as bad and
worse; many that should not be photo
graphed and shown. I could not believe
that out of a population of 1.600.000, ano.OOo
had died within the Spanish forts, practi
cally prison walls, within a few month"
past from actual starvation and diseases
caused by insufficient and improper food.
My inquiries were entirely outside of sen
sational sources. They were made of our
medical officers, of our consuls, cf city
mayors, of relief committees, of leading
merchants and bankers, physicians and
lawyers. Several of my informants wero
Spanish born, but every time the answer
was that the case had not been overstated.
IT MUST BE SEEN
"All I saw I cannot tell so that others
can see It: it must be seen with one's
own eyes to be realized. The Los Pasos
hospital in Havana has been recently de
scribed by one of my colleagues. Senator
Oallinger, and I cannot say that his pic
ture ls overdrawn, for even his fertile pen
could not do that. He visited It after Dr.
I.asser, one of Miss Barton's valuable nnd
efficient assistants, had renovated It and
put ln cots. I saw it When four hundred
women and children were lying on the
stone floor In an indescribable state of
emaciation and disease, many with the
scantiest coverings of rags—and such rags!
—and sick children naked as they came
into the world. The conditions in other
cities are even worse.
MISS BARTON'S WORK
"Miss Barton needs no indorsement from
me. I had known and esteemed her for
many years, but had not half appreciated
her capability and devotion to her work.
I especally looked Into her business meth
ods, fearing there would be tbe greatest
danger of mistakes—that there might be
want of system and waste and extrava
gance—but found she could teach me on
those points. I visited the warehouses
where the supplies are received and dis
tributed; saw the methods of checking;
visited the hospitals established or organ
ized und supplied by her; saw the food
distributed in several cities and towns,
and everything seems to be conducted in
tbe best manner possible. The ample fire
proof warehouse In Havana, owned by a
Cuban firm, with a gang of laborers, free
of charge, to unload and reshlp supplies.
The children's hospital In Havana, a very
large, fine private residence, is hired at
X cost of less than $100 per month, not a
fifth of what It would cost in this city, it
is under the admirable management of
Mrs. Dr. Lassar of New York, a German
lady and trained nurse. I saw the rapid
improvement of the first children taken
there. All Miss Barton's assistants are
excellently fitted for thelrdutles. In short,
l saw nothing to criticise, but everything
to commend. The American people may be
assured that their bounty will reach the
sufferers with the least possible cost and
in the best manner In every respect.
BLANCO'S ORDER
"Gen. Blunco's order of November 13th
last somewhat modifies the Weyler order,
but Is of little or no practical benefit. Its
application la limited to 'farms properly
defended,' and the owners are obliged to
build 'centers of defense.' Its execution
is completely at the discretion of the local
military authorities, und they know the
terrible military efficiency of Weyler's or
der in stripping the country of all possible
shelter, food or source of information for
an insurgent, and will be slow to surrender
this advantage. In fact, though the order
was issued four months ago. I saw no
beneficent results from it worth mention
ing. I do not impugn Gen. Blanco's mo
tives, and believe him to be an estimable
gentleman, and that he would be glad to
relieve the condition of the reconcentrados
If he coulel do so without loss of any mili
tary advantage, but he knows that all
Cubans are insurgent's at heart, and none
now under military control will be allowed
to go from It.
THE SPANISH FORCE
"It Is said there are about (50,000 Spanish
soldiers now ln Cuba fit for duty, out "of
over 200,000 that have been sent there.
The rest have died, been sent home sick,
or are in the hospitals, and some huvo been
killed, notwithstanding the official reports.
They are conscripts, many of them very
young, und generally small men. One
hundred and thirty pounds is a fair av
i rage. They are quiet and obldlent, and
if well drilled and led I bellve would Mrui
fairly well, but not al all equal to our
men. Much more would depend nn the
leadership than with us. The officer must
lead well and be one ln whom they have
confidence, and this applies to both sides
alike. I saw no drills or regular forma
tion. I inquired about them of many peo
ple, and was informed that they had never
seen a drill. I saw perhaps 10.000 Spanish
troops, but not a piece of artillery or v
tent. They live In barracks and are seldom
out for more than a day, returning to town
nt night.
"They have little or no equipment for
Pears'
No tub, no sponge,
no luffa, no rag, al
most no water—
Pears' soap a cent's
worth —luxury.
supply trains or for a Held campaign, such
as we have. Their cavalry horses are
scrubby little native ponies, welshing not
over 800 pounds, tough and hafay, but for
the most part in wretched condition, re
minding one of the mounts of Don Quixote
and his squire. Some of the officers, how
ever, have good horses, mostly American,
I think. On both sides cavalry is consid
ered the favorite and the dangerous light
ing arm.
SPANISH TACTICS
"The tactics of the Spanish, as described
to me by an eyewitness und participant ln
some of the battles, ls for the Infantry,
when threatened by Insurgent cavalry,
to form a hollow square and lire away ad
libitum and without ceasing inTtil the time
comes to march bnek to town. It does not
seem to have entered the minds of either
side that a good infantry force can take
care of itself and repulse everywhere an
equal number of cavalry, nnd there are
everywhere positions where cavalry would
bo at a disadvantage.
SAW* NO INSURGENTS
"Having called on Governor and Cap
tain-General Blanco and received his cour
teous call in return. I could not with pro
priety seek communication with the In
surgents. I had plenty of offers of safe
conduct to Gomez's camp, and was told
that if I would write him, an answer would
be returned safely within teg days at most.
I saw several who visited the Insurgent
camps and was sought out by ail Insurgent
Held officer, who gave me the best Informa
tion received as to tbe insurgent force.
His statements were moderate, and I was
credibly Informed that he was entirely re
liable. He claimed that the Cubans had
about 30,000 men now in the Held, some ln
every province, but mostly in southeastern
provinces and Eastern Santa Clara, and
this statement was corroborated from
other good sources.
"They have a force all the time In
Havana province Itself, organized as four
small brigades and operating in small
bands. They are well armed, but very
poorly supplied with ammunition. They
are not allowed to carry many cartridges,
sometimes not more than one or two. The
infantry are poorly clad. Twosmall squads
of prisoners which I saw. however, one
of half a dozen in the streets of Havana
and one of three on the cars, were better
clothed than the average Spanish soldier.
Each of the prisoners, though surrounded
by guards, was bound by the arms and
wrists by cords and they were all tied
together by a cord running along the
line, a specimen of the ameniiies of their
warfare. About one-third of the Cuban
army are colored, mostly in the Infantry,
ns the cavalry furnishes their own horses.
A field officer, an American from a south
ern state, spoke in the highest terms of
the conduct of these colored soldiers; that
they were as good lighters and had mor.'
endurance than the whites, could keep up
with the cavalry on a long march an.i
come in fresh at night.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION
"The dividing lines between the parties
are the most straight and clear-cut that
have ever come to my knowledge. The
division in our war was by means so clearly
defined. It Is Cuban against Spaniard. It
is practically the entire Cuban population
on one side and the Spanish army and the
Spanish citizens on the other. I do not
count the autonomists in this division,
as they are far too Inconsiderable in num
bers to be worth counting. General
Blanco filled the civil offices with men
who had been autonomists and were, still
classed as such. But the march of events
has satisfied most of them that the chance
for autonomy came too late. It falls as
;alk of compromise would have fallen the
last year or two of our war. If It succeeds
It can only be by armed force, by the tri
umph of the Spanish army, and the suc
cess of Spanish arms would be easier by
Weyler's policy and method, for In that
the Spanish army and people believe. There
is no doubt rhat General Elanco ls acting in
entire good faith, that he desires to give
the Cubans a fair measure of autonomy,
as Campos did at the close of the ten
years' war. He has, of course, a few
personal followers, but the army and the
Spanish citizen do not want genuine au
tonomy, for that means government by
:he Cuban people. And It Is not strange
that the Cubans say it comes too late. 1
have never had any communication, direct
or indirect, with the Cuban Junta in this
country or any of Us members, nor did
I have with any of the Junta which exists
in every city and large town of Cuba. None
of the calls 1 made were upon parties or
whose sympathies I had the least knowl
edge, except that I knew some of them
were classed as autonomists. Most of my
informants were business men, who had
no sides and rarely expressed themselves.
I had no means of guessing in advance
what their answers would be, and was in
most cases greatly surprised at their
frankness. I could not but conclude tha:
you do not have to scratch an autonomist
very deep to And a Cuban. There ls soor
to be an election, but every polling place
must be inside a fortified town. Such
elections ought to be safe for the 'ins.'
"I have endeavored to state in not an
intemperate mood what I saw and heard,
to make no argument thereon, but leave
every one to draw his own conclusions."
THE STRONGEST APPEAL
"To me the strongest appeal is not the
barbarity practiced by Weyler, nor the
loss of the Maine, if our worst fears should
prove true, terrible as both incidents are,
but the spectacle of a million and a half of
people, the entire native population of
Cuba, struggling for freedom and deliver
ance from the worst misgovernment of
which I ever had knowledge. Whether our
action ought not to be influenced by any
one ol! all these things, and if so, how far,
is another question. I am not in favor of
annexation, not because that I would ap
prehend any particular trouble from it, but
because it is not a wise policy to take ln
any people of foreign tongue and training
and without any strong guiding American
element. The fear that If free the people
of Cuba would be revolutionary is not so
well founded as has been supposed, and the
conditions for good self-government are far
from favorable. The large number of ed
ucated and patriotic men. the great sacri
fices they have endured, the peaceable
temperament of the people, white or black;
the wonderful prosperity that would come
surely with peace and good home rule, the
large inllux of American and English Im
migration and money, would all be strong
factors for stable Institutions.
"But it is not my purpose at this time,
nor do I consider it my province to suggest
any plan. I merely speak of the symptoms
as I saw them, but do not undertake to
prescribe. Such reme dial steps as may be
required may safely be' left to an American
president and the American people."
Throughout the delivery of the address
there was not an Interruption.
Mr. Proctor left tbe senate chamber soon
after he had finished his address, but not
before he had been he artily congratulated
by many of his colleagues.
BILLS PASSED
During the morning session the follow
ing bills were passed; Authorizing the Ne
braska, Kansas and Gulf railway to con
struct a railroad through the Indian terri
tory; to authorize the statue of the late
President Lincoln at Gettysburg, Pa., to
cost 150,000; to prohibit railroad companies
from charging more than 8 cents per mile
for carrying passengers through the In
dian territory; to authorise the construc
tion of a gunboat on the great lakes to take
the place of the U. 8. S. Michigan and to
cost, exclusive of armament, not to exceed
8230,000.
At 2 oclock the consideration of the na
tional quarantine bill was resumed, Bacon
of Georgia and Mallory of Florida speaking
in opposition.
The conference report on the agricultural
bill was adopted. After a brief executive
session the senate, at 4:60 p. m., adjourned
until Monday.
Nominations
WASHINGTON, March 17,-The presi
dent today sent these nominations to tho
senate:
Postmasters: California—E. 8. New
comb, Coronado: S. E. Kelley, San Bernar
dino; G. F. Wood, Modesto; G. B. Dexter,
Santa Monica.
IN THE HOUSE
The Whole Say Given to Postofflce
Affaire
WASHINGTON. March 17.—N0 political
questions were discussed in the house to
day. The whole session was devoted
strictly to the postofflce appropriation
bill, which was taken up for amendment
under tho Aye minute rule. The questions
which consumed the greater portion of the
time related to the allowance for clerk hire
at postofflces, and free rural delivery.
Sperry, Republican, of Connecticut of
fered an amendment to Increase the allow
ance for clerk hire from $11,000,000 to $11,
--300,000.
The vote was a tie—Sß to 85—and Hull, Re
publican, of lowa, who was ln the chair,
defeated It by casting his vote ln the nega
tive. Another amendment to increase the
clerk hire allowance $200,000 was Immedi
ately offered and ln the course of the de
bate members representing rural districts
seemed inclined to array themselves
against those from the great cities on the
ground that the appropriation for clerk
hire was absorbed by the big offices.
Hepburn, Republican, of lowa gave no
tice that he should offer un amendment
to allow the postmaster general, in his dis
cretion, to use half a million of the appro
priation ln the third and fourth class of
rices.
The amendment was strongly antagon
ized by the appropriations committee. It
was defeated—4B to 60.
Hepburn then offered the amendment of
which he had given notice and it was
adopted without a division.
Babcock, Republican, of Wisconsin
moved to strike out the provision limiting
the use of the $150,000 appropriation for rail
road free delivery to the payment of car
riers and horse hire allowance.
Loud and others who opposed the motion
sjiid the limitation hud been placed on the
appropriation to prevent the use of this
experimental fund for any except the ac
tual work of delivering the mails In the
country. Loud said not one of these ap
propriations should be used to pay political
debts with. Every dollar should go for
rural delivery, which had now passed the
experimental stage. Rural free delivery
wus un unqualified success.
Babcoek's motion was defeated.
Stocks, Democrat, of South Carolina
moved to increase the appropriation for
free delivery from $150,000 to $300,000. After
considerable debute the amendment was
adopted—loß to 37.
Representative Wheeler of Alabama in
troduced the following Joint resolution:
"Resolved, that a joint committee, con
sisting of live members of the senate, to be
appointed by the vice president, the live
members of the house, to be appointed by
the speaker, be created to report without
delay to the two houses an address to
government of Spain declaring in firm and
diplomatic language that Americans and
American Interests In Cuba must be pro
tected and that the atrocities now being
perpetrated in that Island must cease.
"Resolved, that the executive be re
quested to immediately transmit this ad
dress to the government of Spain by such
methods as he may deem most advisable,
together with a letter of Indorsement and
approval of this action on the part of con
gress."
At 5:10 p. m. the house adjourned.
AN ARMY BILL
WASHINGTON, March 17.—Representa
tive Hull of lowa, chairman of the house
*
."V Opening
X Announcement
W. E. Cummings, " The Shoe Man/ announces the opening of his
new and modern Broadway Shoe Establishment for Saturday, March
\9, 1898. We may in modesty say that this is the most complete and
best stocked shoe store on the Pacific Coast, and there are few, if
any, in the eastern cities that will equal it.
No expense has been spared to make it the BEST STORB in
every particular. No desirable style in the shoe world has been for
gotten in the selection of our stocks, while all the staunch and stand
ard grades have been remembered. The policy laid down for this
new departure is that which has characterized our business for a
number of years here in Los Angeles—namely, "High Quality at
Reasonable Prices." AH are invited to call and inspect the store and
stock on our opening day.
An appropriate souvenir ot the occasion Reception Hours .. 10 a. at. to Sp. ra.
will be presented to each lady visitor. 7 P- ta. to 9 p. at.
•* t* *J» «# t*
committee on military affairs, today In
troduced a bill reorganising the line of
the army. It Is a sweeping measure, mak
ing many changes in the existing system.
It makes the peace organisation of each
regiment of Infantry now ln service here
after embrace one colonel, one lieutenant
colonel, two majors, ten captains, twelve
lieutenants, ten second lieutenants, one
sergeant-major, one quartermaster ser
geant, one chief musician, two •principal
musicians, two battalions of four compa
nies each and two skeleton or unarmed
companies, the organised companies to be
constituted by law. Section 2 provides
that In time of war the president, In his
discretion, may establish a third battalion
for each Infantry regiment, consisting ot
four companies, to be supplied by manning
the two skeleton companies and by organ
izing two adltional companies. The vacan
cies of commissioned officers In the addi
tional companies shall be filled by pro
motions by seniority ln the Infantry and
by appointments, as now. The bill then
authorises the president, tn war time, to
Increase the enlisted strength to not ex
ceeding 260 enlisted men for each company,
100 total enlisted men for each cavalry
troop, and 200 total enlisted men for each
battery of heavy artillery, 176 total enlisted
men for each battery of field artillery and
150 total enlisted men for each company of
engineers. The quartermaster and com
missary sergeants and veterinary sur
geons are to have the pay and allowances
of sergeants of their respective nrms.
The rest of the bill makes provision for
war emergencies.
The bill ls the result of an agitation for
a plain and simple regulation organization
measure that has been In progress for a
long period. Secretary Alger and the war
department officials and members of the
bouse committee on military affairs have
been conferring frequently about the pro
posed legislation, and the present bill is
the outcome of the deliberate considera
tion given to the matter by both the ad
ministration and the house committee.
The bill has already been considered by a
subcommittee of the miliary affairs com
mittee, and it was unanimously agreed that
It should be Introduced and its passage
pressed.
STATE NOTES
I'nited States District Judge DeHaven of
San Francisco has appointed Wm. F.
James I'nited States court commissioner
at San Jose.
Meager reports were received at Red
ding last night of the finding of a $20,000
pocket by William Blngrave in the Wash
ington mine, at French gulch, twenty-two
miles from there.
St. Patrick's day was celebrated at Sun
Jose by the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
There was a procession, religious exercises
at St. Patrick's church. Rev. Father Mnrk
ey of Santa Clara delivering the panegyric,
and a banquet in the evening.
The preliminary examination of James
White, a traveling pump-mender of Stock
ton, on the charge of attempted criminal
assault on the S-year old daughter of Rev.
Mr. Meredith was held with closed doors
before Justice Parker yesterday. White
was held, with bonds fixed nt $0000.
Kukichl I'chlda, councillor of the de
partment of communications of Toklo,
Japan, is in San Francisco, making a study
of local shipping methods. He has been
sent out by the Japanese government, and
will visit every Important seaport ln the
United States before returning home.
W. H. Menke, proprietor of the Ivanco
vlch winery, In Santa Clara county, has
filed his petition ln Insolvency at San
Francisco. Liabilities, $30,345.90; no assets.
The principal creditors are; California Tar
tar works, $2565; August Petzola, $2320.77;
Sanderson & Co., $2119.80; David Werner,
$591.20: H. Menke of Bremen, Germany,
$13,269.05.
F. G. McClelland, one of the Intervenors
in the case of the Atlantic Trust company
vs. Woodbrldge Canal and Irrigation com
pany, filed ln the United States circuit
court at San Francisco the papers on ap
peal to the United States circuit court of
appeals. Several other Intervenors, of
whom there are between forty and fifty,
will file similar papers tomorrow.
After having W. A. Cowdery on the stand
nearly all day In the legal battle at Stock
ton over the Kasson thousands, court ad
journed until Tuesday next on account of
the Illness of Mary Mann, an Important
witness. It developed that Cowdery had
known thut Kasson had a son ln the per
son of George Kasson, and that he (Cow
dery) had omitted to mention that son's
name when he filed a petition for the dis
tribution of the estate.
DEATH OF B. K. BRUCE
REMOVES A REMARKABLE AFRO
AMERICAN
A Brief Outline of a Life Begun l*.
Slavery and Including High
Position
WASHINGTON, March 17.—Hon.
Blanche W. Bruce, Register of tho
Treasury, died today at 8:16.
Mr. Bruce's death had been expected
for several days. He suffered from a
complication of stomach troubles, which
at first appeared not serious, but last
week he began to lose strength and by
the close .of the week It became evident
his vitality was ebbing fast.
Mr. Bruce's only child, a son, Roscoe
C. Bruce, 18 years of age, arrived here
yesterday from Exeter, N. H., where ha
BLANCHE K. BRTJCH
is taking a preparatory course for Har
vard. The funeral will take place on
Monday. The services will be held at
Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal
Church (colored).
Blanche K. Bruce was born in Prince
Edward county, Virginia, March 1, 1841,
and therefore was 57 years old. He was
of African descent, was born a slave and
received the rudiments of an education
from the tutor of his master's son. He
taught school for a time ln Hannibal,
Mo., and later became a student at
Oberlln. In 1869 he became a planter in
Mississippi and was appointed a mem
ber of the Mississippi Levee Board. He
was elected Sheriff of his county and
subsequently Superintendent of Educa
tion. In 1875 he was elected United
States Senator as a Republican and
served until March 3, 1881. He waa a
member of every Republican National
Convention held since 1868. In 1888 he
was appointed by President Garfield
Register of the Treasury, and later was
appointed Recorder of Deeds for the
District of Columbia, About six months
ago he was again appointed Register of
the Treasury by President McKinley.
Next to Fred Douglass, Mr. Bruce had
long been regarded as perhaps the most
conspicuous man of his race. y
A Diphtheria Quarantine
STOCKTON, March 17.—There are two
cases of diphtheria ln the family of Manuel
Enos, on South Monroe street. The cases
were reported to Health Officer Ruggtes
last Friday, and since then the house has
been under strict quarantine, and no one
except the attending physician Is allowed
to pnss ln or out of the house. Two chil
dren are down with the disease, and a sign
In front of the house reads: "Diphtheria
here; keep out." The children had been
attending the Jackson school, corner of
San Joaquin nnd Jackson streets. Pupils
who had been sitting In adjoining seats
were sent home and have not been allowed
to attend school since then, as it Is feared
that some of them may have caught the
disease.
Zelaya in Control
SAN DIEGO, March 17.—The British gun
boat Pheasant arrived this evening from
the south. She reports that when she left
Corlnto, February 25th. the Zelaya party
wus apparently In full control of Nicara
gua.