Evening star., 1893-12-19
SEVERE CRITICISM
In the House of Representatives of
the Presidents Policy.
THE SITUATION IN HAWAII DESCRIBED
Mr.. BoutelIe Opens the Fire on the
Administration.
THE COCHRAN RESOLUTION.

Proceedings in the House opened at q
lively gait this morning The Hawaiian
policy Of the President was brought TO the
front Immediately after the assembling and
hot discussion ensued. The proceedings
threatened TO be OF rather a turbulent ma
ture Tor few minutes. but Speaker Crisp,
by vigorous use of gavel and voice brought
the unruly House to order Orderiiness how
ever. detracted nothing from the interest Of
the occasion or the spiciness Of the debats.
As II, in anticipation of an interesting ses-
sion. there was a large attendance Of MEM
bers OF both parties and the galleries were
packed.
The trouble began when Mr.. Cochran Of
New York offered his resolution Ga forecast
Of which was published In yesterdays starr,
calling for the appointment of a committee
OF seven to investigate the Hawaiian mat.
ter' ana especially the part which President
harrison's administration took I'm IL. Mr..
COCHRAN presented the resolution as a mat.
ter of privilege.
Mr. Dfngiey Becomes Sarcastic.
Mr. Dingley OF Maine. with cutting sar-
casm' commented upon the resolution going
back into matters already accomplished and
more important and presents phases reouir-
ing prompt action
To cut on discussion Mr. Cochran moved
to refer his resolution to the committee on
rules. At this point the House was In rreat
confusion, and a dozen members were
clamortng for recognition When the
speaker restored order he announced that
the resolution would be referred TO the COM
mittee on rules.
Nv .sarra -
vainly endeavored late last evening 70 Sc
cure recognition to present a resolution Of
iereo as a matter Of high privilege he
claimed: a resolution which was read at the
clerks desk. This resolution appears in an
other column. and strongly arraigns the pol
Icy OF President interfering I'm the Affairs
OF friendly government without authority
from Congress-
dozen democrats raised the point OF order
ter.
Upon that point of order I desire to ad-
oress the chair" said Mr.. Boutelle. recog-
mixing his opportunity. II hold Mr. Speaker.
that in accordance. not only with the usaRe
ana the rules I'm the House. but In Accord
ance with the Constitution OF the United
OF the very highest privilege that can be-
submitted to the House. II In not q ques-
tion OF personal privilege. II In a question
OF the privileges OF the House OF Repre-
government of the United States This
resolution sets forth the fact or the allega-
ton that the functions and privileges OF
this House have been invaded by the execu-
tive branch OF this government and hold.
Mr. Speaker. that excepting a lone resolu.
ton OF Impeachment Of the President no
question can come before this House Of 20
high a privilege as a resolution OF the
character which I have presented.
The Danger of the Situation.
Now. Mr.. Speaker. let us see how immi-
nent the demand Is for action upon the part
Of this House. The gentleman from New
York (Mr. Cockran) has introduced a reso-
luton asking for a committee Of investiga-
ton concerning the Hawaiian situation.
now fragrant and liable at any moment to
ripen into a condition which may involve
this country In war with friendly power
On the face OF the documents read at the
desk yesterday. without resorting to any
implications or any strained construction,
on the very face Of those documents em-
bracing the statements made by the Pres
:dent OF the United States and by his Sec
retary OF State for him. there has been pre-
cipttated in friendly country such a Sit
uation today under the instructions now
IN possession of the minister of the United
States that II certain conditions may be
complied with al any time or have been
complied with during the last two or three
weeks, since We have had direct communi-
cation from that country. that minister
may have taken such action as to make
war upon that government: and for ali We
know, under the instructions that have
been read to this House. the armed forces
or the United states may today be pinion-
ing with their bayonets the throats of q
friendly government. which found its orr
gin In the citizenship of the United States,
and which. believe. Mr.. Speaker. the peo-
PIE of this country overwhelmingly sympa-
thize with today. tApplause.)
The Secret lnstructiOna.
why. Mr.. Speaker. here was an Ameri-
can minister, minister pienipotentiary
and envoy extraordinary commissioned un-
der the Constitution of the United States
by the nomination OF the President and the
confirmation of the Senate. going to q
friendly power. recognized by this govern
ment recognized by all the other great gov
ernments OF the earth. and yet while that
mans public instructions were to present to
the president of the provisional government
the assurances OF the good will and SYM
pathy Of the people Of the United States
and the government Of the United Statea
We ind that he has secret instructions to
report hrst of all to whom. To the queen,
From beginning to end In that executive
communication the President OF the Unit
ted States insists upon recognizing that de-
posed and discredited monarch as the queen
ana this man was instructed to report to
her and to tell her that the President Of the
United States intended to recognize her."
Mr.. McCreary'a Point.
At this point Mr.. Boutelle was interrupted
by Mr.. McCreary of Kentucky, who made
the point of order that the gentleman was
discussing the merits Of the whole matter
and not the question OF privilege. After q
short colloquy Mr.. Boutelle proceeded:
Il hold, sir. that the resolution presents
the question OF the highest privilege, be-
cause it is the imperative duty of the Con-
gress of the United States. whose authority
in such questions is paramount, whose par
amount authority has been off1cially but re-
luctantly recognized by the executive that
IL Is our bounden duty at the earliest prac-
ticabie moment &c disavow and discredit
aad reprobate a public policy. unconstitu-
uonai In Its inception, unpatriotic in its
spirit and calculated to bring the United
States into oiscredit with the rest OF the
civilized world" Here Mr.. Boutelle was in
terrupted by loud applause on the republic
can side. When II had subsided he continu-
ed as follows:
The Duty of the House.
II say that for the House Of Representa-
tives to fail to exercise it's constitutional
prerogatives in this regard. that for the
House to fail to recognize this q question
OF the highest privilege and a duty devolv-
ing upon the House to take prompt action
upon, is to abdicate its constitutional func-
tions and bring the legislative department
of the government into the contempt not