People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1896 — WOULD SEIZE CUBA. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WOULD SEIZE CUBA.

BTRONG PLEA MADE BY SENATOR MILLS. Vrgmt Action by tha United States In tbs Name of Liberty — Importance es the Recent lapreme Coart Decision —Proceedings of the House. Washington, March 25. —In the senate on Tuesday a resolution offered by Senator Hoar was adopted requesting the President to transmit to the senate all dispatches, correspondence, etc., from Nov. 5, 1875, to 1878, concerning the pacification of the then pending conflict in Cuba. Senator Mills was recognized at this point in suppopt of the Cuban resolutions introduced by him. He said the people of Cuba had far greater claims qn the United States than mere recog-

nition of belligerency. If Ireland struck for liberty to-day the hearts of the! American people would beat in sym- 1 pathy, and so if Poland or Hungary asserted the right of liberty. But the United States had much closer relations tp Cuba than to Ireland or Poland or Hungary, for it was part of the western hemisphere over which the Monroe doctrine extended the influence of this country. Senator Mills declared that the Monroe doctrine was a law of protection, and as such God was the author of it. The senator read of atrocities attributed to General Weyler and added: “This is the work of that atrocious scoundrel. He could not be in Cuba to-day if the United States would draw her sword. How the cheeks of our American women must be suffused, how our children must blush to know that this government stands idly by while Spain, with the keys of her dungeons dangling at her side, permits such an atrocious villain to raise his hand against defenseless women.” Mr. Stewart asked if Spanish bonds were not a potent factor in resisting intervention. Mr. Mills replied that there was somer. thing beneath the surface. He did not know how far sugar stocks would be affected by action on the part of the United It was asserted that trade woitld suffer, but Mr. Mills declared that $100,000,000 would be a small expenditure for the glory of releasing the prisoners on the island of pines. It was the duty of the United States to protect and relieve those people or else to say to England or Russia: “Take that island and protect its people.” Mr. Mills’ resolution went to the calendar and the senate resumed considthe le ® islativ e appropriation biil The conferees of the two houses on the Cuban resolution held a session Tuesday, but without reaching a conclusion. Adjourned until today.

PREVENTS MONOPOLY. Important Effect of the Recent Snpreme Chart Decision. Washington, March 25.—The country has not yet awakened to the importance of the Supreme court decision in the Brown case, which puts the breath o life into the interstate commerce commission and endows it with teeth and claws, but the railroads and heavy Bhippers understand fully the significance, force and scope of the decision. It is estimated that the railroads of the United States pay $75,000,000 a year back into the pockets of favored shippers as rebates. This terrific advantage has driven tens of thousands of small shippers and merchants to the wall during the last five years and led to the creation of vast and oppressive monopolies in the grain trade, the coal trade, the cattle and meat trade, and in all branches of merchandise where large capital can be and is used to advantage in a concentrated and consolidated way. Tnese abuses have grown up because of the inability of the interstate commerce commission to punish either railroads or shippers. The principle as now established in effect grants a pardon in advance to witnesses turning state’s evidence in rebate cases and gives the court power to punish contumacious witnesses for contempt for refusal to testify to facts within their knowledge. With this twisted cinch the interstate com||nef'ce commission now hopes to correct the\abuses it has heretofore beefi powerless to combat. The efforts of the railroads will now be turned to the enactment of pooling legislation. The principle enunciated by the Supreme court in the Brown case is logically applicable to trusts in every phase. BOCSE WILL NOT RECEDE. InsUt* on Its Sul atitote tor the Senate Caban Resolution*. Washington, March 26.—Over a hundred members have taken advantage of the fact that the house has no important matters pending at thlß time to go home, and the attendance is con-

sequsntly very slim. Th* kill which was debated Monday to abolish the death penalty in certain cases in which it is prescribed in the federal statutes and allowing the jury to return a verdict qualified “without capital punishment,” in cases of rape and murder, was passed by a vote of 170 to 60. Mr. Hitt, chairman of the foreign affairs committee, called up the message of the senate announcing the senate's disagreement to the conference report on the Cuban resolutions. On this motion the house insisted on its substitute for the senate resolutions and agreed to the further conference asked for by the senate. The conferees were not immediately announced. Mr. Boutelle, chairman of the naval committee, reported the naval appropriation bill.

REMOVE DISABILITIES. OHle«m of the Confederacy May Enter the Army. Washington, March 25. —Senator Hill’s bill to remove the restrictions against the appointment as officers of the army or navy of persons who held commissions in the regular army or navy before the rebellion, and wbo subsequently took part in the war the side of the confederacy, which passed the senate during the height of the excitement over the Venezuelan question, passed the house Tuesday, after two hours’ debate, with but one dissenting vote —that of Mr. Boutelle (Me.). The democrats —except Mr. Cummings (N. Y.), who spoke, as he said, “as one of 800,000 northern democrats who fought in the union army,” and Mr. Wilson (S. C.), who was drawn into the debate by Mr. Boutelle—refrained entirely from participation.

Milllona for the Navy. Washington, March 25. —The naval appropriation bill for the fiscal year which begins July 1 next has been completed by the house committee on naval affairs and may be considered by the house this week. The total amount carried by the bifl is $31,611,034, of which $12,779,133 is for the increase of the navy. The appropriation is an increase over the amount of the last bill, which was about $29,330,000. Under the increase of the navy the chief items are the four new battleships and fifteen torpedo-boats. One firm, under the act, may bid for all of the vessels. To Amend Interstate Commerce Lav. Washington, March 25. —Senator Peffer has introduced a bill providing for the amendment of the interstate-com-merce law so as to authorize the inter-state-commerce commission to proceed summarily by petition through the courts against any railroad company which may refuse to obey any requirement of the commission in regard to rates or charges on agricultural products and other freights and requiring the courts to give the precedence to such cases over others on their dockets. ,— ■ — i Tor tllfr Or-nn. Washington, March 25.—Representative Hepbuiri (la.), has introduced a bill providing for a commission of five engineers to report upon the best practicable route for a ship canal having twenty-eight feet depth connecting the great lakes with the Atlantic ocean. Forty thousand dollars is appropriated for the expenses of the commission. To Dr*ft a I’uotfie Bailwuy Hill. Washington, March 25. —Senators Frye, Wolcott and Brice have been appointed a sub-committee on behalf of the senate committee on Pacific railways to act with the house sub-com-mittee in drafting a Pacific railway bill.

SENATOR MILLS.