In his message to Congress he asked that $50,000 be appropriated as a Relief Fund for the Americans in Cuba.

This may be but the first step toward a much more important action; but our President seems to be a very cautious man, and one who likes to be very sure of his ground before he takes a step.

For the present he is determined not to quarrel with Spain, and has arranged matters so that the attempt of the United States to aid her citizens shall be made with the full approval of Spain.

He has asked Senor Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish Minister, if his Government would have any objection to our sending supplies to our fellow-countrymen.

The Spanish Minister has very graciously replied that Spain will not oppose the plan, but will do all in her power to help the United States to carry it out.

The Minister was kind enough to add that Spain will distribute the supplies for us, if we wish it.  He stated that he fears that, unless the American supplies are handled by the Spanish authorities, they may fall into the hands of the insurgents, and hinder General Weyler in the carrying out of his plan to force the rebels into submission.

This offer will not be accepted.

If the appropriation is made, Congress will order the supplies to be distributed by the American Consuls, who are well able to tell the difference between armed insurgents and starving women and children.

When the President’s message reached the Senate, a resolution was at once passed that the sum asked for be appropriated.

In the House of Representatives the request was not so quickly granted.

Some of the Congressmen met the demand with a plea that the resolution for the appropriation be added to the Morgan Bill for recognizing the belligerency of Cuba, and that the two matters be discussed and voted on at the same time.

This did not please the majority of the members, and the House adjourned without a vote being taken about the Relief Fund.

This does not mean that the House is unwilling to help the Americans in Cuba, but that the friends of Cuba see in it a chance to push the Morgan Bill forward, and are trying to make the best they can of the opportunity.

Whatever the fate of the Morgan Bill, there will be a day or two of delay in passing the resolution for the Relief Fund, but it will be passed without doubt.

Some progress has, however, been made with the Morgan Bill.

Three members of the Committee on Foreign Relations waited on the President, and asked him if he had received any fresh news about the state of affairs in Cuba.

The President sent them to the State Department, with permission to read all the official documents about Cuba that were on file.

It is stated on good authority that these papers showed such a state of intense suffering and distress, that when the Senators reported to their Committee the things they had seen and read in the State papers, several of the members declared that they would no longer oppose the Morgan Bill.