The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-19
WAR FEELING RUNNING HIGH.
BRITISH ACQUISITION OF CUBA
WOULD MEAN A FIGHT.

The Republican Senatorial Caucus "A
Unit in Support of President CIeve-
lands Firm Stand-The boundary
Line Investigation Commission
Not to De "a Time-KiIIing Body.
Washington, Dec. 1s.-The republicans
IN the Senate held another caucus this at
ternoon, at which the foreign affairs OF
the country were discussed for upwards
of an hour and matters of detail connect
ed with the committee assignments were
considered. On motion of Mr.. Mitchell OF
oregon. chairman of the committee 1t
was voted to change the name of the select
committee to inquire into all claims or
citizens of the United States against the
government of Nicaragua, to Select COM
mittee on the construction of the Nicara-
guam canal" and increasing the number
of the committee from five to seven. The
Craftsmanship will be given to a demo-
crat, Cdr. Morgan being the ranking NAM,
and the democrats will have three MEM
bers, with the following republicans as
members: Messrs. Hawley of Connecti-
cut, Mitchell of Oregon, Squire of Wash
ington and SeweH of New Jersey.
Mr.. Mitchell also informed the caucus
that he had received a letter from Mr..
German, chairman of the democratic eau
Gus, that the democrats would not resist
the reorganization of the committees, but
that the republicans must enlarge the
democratic representation on the commit
tees on appropriations and finance, so as
TO make the republican majorities on these
committees but one, in accordance with
the established custom of the Senate. This
was agreed TO, and these committees will
consist of thirteen.
1t was also reported that it would be
impossible to organize any of the COM
mitteeS before the holidays, the demo-
cratic committee insisting that it was i'm
possible for them to make their assign
nents in the short time allotted to them.
Mr.. German, 1t was said, had earnestly
endeaVored TO arrive at an understand
ing in regard to the foreign relations
committee but his associates on the COM
mittee refused to consider the matter be-
fore the holidays. For this reason, II Is
expected that the Senate will adjourn for
the holiday with the committees still in
the hands of the democrats.
The bill passed during the morning by
the House providing for the approprla-
mission to investigate the Venezuelan
boundary question, as suggested by the
President, caused a renewal of the debate
of the day before on our foreign relations
The republicans agreed that II would be
the part of wisdom for this measure to
be referred to the committee on foreign re-
lations for revision and amendment, and
the debate showed that there was una
nimity of sentiment in favor or amending
the measure by Incorporating in it the
text of the Monroe doctrine, that doc
trine never having been given the full force
Of legislative enactment by congress. The
time within which the commission shall
report was also taken into consideration,
and the time when their report must be
made will be fixed.
The statement was made by one of the
speakers that all the data needed by this
commission was now on file in the state
department and that full and thorough
report could be made within sixty days.
1t was agreed that it would not do to let
the idea go abroad that this commission
was intended as a time-consuming affair,
during the deliberations OF winch the
matter at issue between this country and
Great Britain would be permitted to pass
out of sight Its report is to be made az
as early a moment as possible, and when
that is done, congress will be called upon
TO act.
The war feeling. was just as apparent
as it was during the caucus of yesterday,
and all those who spoke took strong
ground for upholding the President and
backing him in the enforcement OF the
Monroe doctrine. Press dispatches TO the
. effect that Great Britain was to secure
the island of Cuba, either by purchase or
by exchanging Gibraltar, caused the dis
cussion to take a turn in that direction.
The prevailing sentiment on this matter
4 was that if England sought to get posses
N sion of Cuba, or Spain sought 70 dlspose
a of the island, such action would be ac-
cepted as a declaration of war. She must
remain as the property Of Spain or 1t must
be given its independence. In the hands
of any other power it would be menace
10 the United States, and If such an af-
front to this government was attempteQ
the republicans asserted this government
must fight.
The temper of the republicans who took
part in the debate and OF. those VINO ana
not speak but who endorsed what was
said, shows that the President will receive
the hearty cooperation of the majority
party i'm the Senate and that his foreign
policy in this matter is thoroughly and
manfully supported.