The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-03-02
Form of the Cuban Resolution
Lets the President Down
Easy.
Would Be Disagreeable to Sign
the Resolution and Danger
GUS Not To.
Some Remarks of a Spanish
Newspaper on the Present
Situation.

WASHINGTON, March At is under
stood that the probable action of con-
gress in respect to the Cuban resolu.
tions pending in both houses of con-
gress absorbed the attention of the
cabinet meeting. In view Of the posi-
ton taken heretofore by the president
and the secretary of state, and which
there is no reason to suppose they have
abandoned, towards all propositions to
recognize the belligerency of the insur-
gents, the decision of the senate com.
mittee on foreign relations to express
the sentiment and wishes of congress
in the form of a concurrent resolution,
instead of shaping it as a joint resolu-
tion, has given much qualification to
the administration.
Would be Awkward For Grover.
If the president were to be confronted
with joint resolution, at this time,
recognizing the belligerency of the in
surgents and even the independence of
the rebels, he would be placed in a
very disagreeable, position. If he ap-
proved the resolution, it would be a
confession that the course pursued by
government towards Cuba and Spain,
up to this time. had been wrong, for it
is asserted there has been no change in
the relations Of the parties to the war
fare i'll Cuba that would warrant any
change in our attitude. 1t also would
amount to reversal of the position
taken by our state department III de-
tiance of some of the great European
powers during the Brazilian insurrec-
ton, when we insisted that as a prece-
dent to recognition, the insurgents
mnst have q seat of government, must
issue money and must have q navy, for
at least two of these requisites are lack
ing in the case of the present insurrec-
tiop.
The Public Would Not Approve.
On the other hand, if he vetoed a
joint resolution of this character, the
president would be obliged, possibly, to
face storm of popular disapproval,
and to make an issue with congress
that might be fraught with the gravest
consequences, for it is realized that the
resolution in that case would be passed
over his veto. But in making the reso-
luton simple concurrent one the
president will be relieved of the neces-
sity of announcing the decision at this
time. He regards the resolution as a
simple expression Of the sentiment of
congress, and not binding upon the ex.
ecutive branch as would be the case of
joint resolution, which has all the
force of an act of congress.
A Constitutional Interpretation.
The tendency of the Cuban resolu-
tions has caused some members Of the
administration, who are taking long
look ahead, rs far ahead indeed, as that
point where may be a deliberate propo-
sition from congress to declare war
which Senator Morgan has said must
follow the enactment of the pending
resolutions, and they are now discuss
ing the question as to the powers of
congress and the president in that
matter. 1t appears that much may
turn on the construction to be placed
by the senate judiciary committee
on the question now before it,
as to the proper scope Of joint and con-
current resolutions. One express pro-
vision of the constitution says that con-
gress shall have power Ito declare war"
This would seem to carry the idea that
this may be done by a concurrent reso-
luton, and it is a power entirely re-
served to congress, but on the other
hand, another paragraph of the consti-
tuition seems to require the presidents
approval to any joint action Of con-
gress save adjournment. The apparent
constitutional conflict on this point is
engaging the most serious attention of
administration people.