The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-04
The House Discusses the Cuban
Question Again.
BUT 1T TAKES NO ACTION
Col. Harry Skinner Makes a
Flowery Speech
IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION
To-Day will Also Probably be Spent by
the House in Debating the Reso-
luton Which viii Then
be Passed,

NC ooSCGs
Washington, April 3.-The House to-
day revived the agitation of the ques-
ton of Cuban belligerency in connec-
ton with the conference report on the
Cuban resolutions.
In order to prevent another pro-
traeted debate in the Senate the House
eonferees had yielded their resolutions
and agreed to the adoption of those of
the Senate, which, like those of the
House, expressed it as the sense of Con-
gress that state of war existed in
Cuba and that the United States
should maintain a strict neutrality be-
tween the belligerents. Instead of fa-
yoring intervention, if necessary, how
ever, they requested the President to
use his good offices with the Spanish
government to recognize the independ-
ence of Cuba. 1t was not expected that
there would be much debate, but Mr..
Boutelle, by his vigorous opposition,
prevented action to-day and the cham
ces now are that the dabate will run
all day tomorrow.
MI. Hill, III IlIC IblIlEh
Affairs committee, in presenting the
conference report, made very temper
ate speech in the course of which he
expressed the greatest confidence that
the President, although the resolu-
tions, being concurrent, had no Kind
ing effect on the executive, he would
not 'be 50 recreant to his duty as 10
disregard the express wish OF Con
aress." He, in fact, refused to enter
tain the suggestion that Mr.. Cleveland
might not recognize the belligerency
Of the Cubans as q result Of the adop-
tion Of the resolutions.
Ia this connection. Mr.. Patterson
fDem.. Tennessee), who is recognized
as one Of the administration leaders
on the floor, made a significant state
ment. "Tf the Cubans are uaited," he
asked, Sin the cause of independence,
they arc entitled to autonomy, and if
the United States would interfere to
prevent Spain from acquiring new ter
ritory in this hemisphere, why should
we not interfere to prevent her from
retaining territory by subJugation z"
Mr.. Boutelle (Rep., Maine). who has
steadily opposed the passage OF any
Cuban resolutions, then took the floor.
He said he never had regretted his
course and he thought his attitude had
been vindicated by subsequent events.
This proceeding was q remarkable IL
lustration of chow not to do it," The
resolutions had no legal effect. They
amounted to nothing. That had been
proclaimed in the Senate and was well
understood here. The chairman of the
Foreign Relations committee in the
Senate admitted that the resolutions,
when brought back by the conference
committee. were as dead as Julius
Caesar. They never could have passed
the Senate ard therefore the House
eonferees thought it wise to surrender
Mr.. HIT denied emphatically that it
ever had been admitted in the Senate
that it would have been impossible to
pass them again in that body. 1t was
admitted that vote could have been
obstructed, but he declared emphatical-
Iy that there was in the Senate an
overwhelming majority for each and
All of the resolutions.
Mr.. Boutelle continuing argued that
public ardor on the question had
measurably cooled and that there was
no deTnonstrable proof of the existence
Of the fact of Cuban beliigereney. He
taunted the committee with having
tried to make the resolutions joint and
insisted that it was clearly under
stood that the President did not favor
belligerency. He did not pretend TO
voice the whole public sentiment Of the
country. but he did represent the con-
seryatiye element that deprecated
foreign broils that might result in a
foreign war. He attributed much Of
the feeling in the country to the sensa-
tionalism Of the press which was con-
stantly seeking pretexts for infiaming
the public mind
ssThe gentleman says he has seen no
expression in favor of recognition" I'M
terrupted Mr.. Smith (Rep., Michigan.l
HAS he not seen resolutions adopted
by the Republican convention In Mas
sachusetts which declare for the recog-
milton Of the belligerency cloud ap-
plause.)
II have received no communication
from that source replied Mr. Bou-
telie.
Read the hearts Of the American
people" shouted Mr.. Henderson (Rep.,
Iowa) eand you viii find that express
sion" (Great applause.)
''One more gentleman who repre-
sents the American people" sneered
Mr.. Boutelle.
Il am with them" /" retorted Mr. Hen
derson, Il can tell you that" loud
applause.)
Mr.. GilTet (Rep., Massachusetts),
who was temporary chairman Of the
Massachusetts convention, decided that
the platform demanded the recogni-
tion of Cubans.
"The gentleman doubtlessly referred
TO the platform of the Republicans of
Minnesota" interrupted Mr.. Tawney,