The Portland daily press., 1896-04-13
WILL LIT 1T DROP.
No Further Action On Cuban Question
Likely. \
CONGRESS SATISFIED WITH THE
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION.

| n CoihI IsesOlutlOn, Al introduced, w Ould
Undoubtedly yPass-Congressman Peter
son Thinks President Will Be Heard
From-Mr. Draper Confident That
President VIII Issue No Proclamation.
Washington, April IA careful can.
vass of the House of Representatives
Saturday showed complete cessation of
excitement over the Cuban situation.
The sympathy Of the members was OBJ
viously with the insurgents, but some
expected circumstances will be necessary
to rouse the members to action again.
The most general expression of opinion
on both sides of the chamber was that
by an overwhelming vote. resolutions
declaring that the insurgents were en-
TITLED to bellligerent rights.
Having done this and the matter now
| being in the hands of the President, 1T
was deemed better to leave it there.
While not openly expressed, there was
tacit admission by many of the conspicu.
Gus leaders, that the House would be act
| ing unfairly to the President in adopting
a joint resolution of belligerency, which
| 1t would be mandatory upon him, TO
approve or Veto 1t was not doubted
that if joint resolution came before the
House, 1t would pass, though by ma
joirty much less than that given the SEN
ate resolution week ago. Belief was
expressed by members who would oppose
such measure, that it could be carried
through the House over the Presiden It's
veto.
One gentleman did not agree with his
associates as to the Presidents probable
action. This was Mr.. HIT chairman
of the House foreign affairs committee,
who was prominent IN several Cuban de-
bates. Mr.. Hit regarded it likely that
President Cleveland would within
reasonable time, issue proclamation
recognizing the belligerency of the Gu
bans. He did not base his opinion upon
any information he had received.
| Mr.. Hit referred to the enormous ma
| jorities with which the first resolutions
passed the House, and said that after
month, when every member had time to
hear from his constituents, the resolu.
tions again passed the House by prac-
tically the same majority. He believed
that if the President had reasons and
facts fatal to the spirit of the resolutions,
l
| Congress.
The President, he said, was wise and
prudent man and the mere fact that the
resolutions were not joint resolutions,
thus requiring his approval, did not
affect the case. They reflected public
| sentiment and the President was too
sensible not to appreciate that circum-
| stance.
| Mr.. Patterson, of Tennessee, a strong
| administration man said: My idea is
| that the action Of Congress will result in
the President and secretary moving for
ward in the direution of solution of the
problem and the President will either
issue proclamation or furnish reasons
| for not SO doing, that will be so plain
that Congress and the people will acqui-
esce in his action"
| Mr.. Draper of Massachusetts,, one of the
| Republican members of the foreign affairs
committee, who has continually depre-
Gated any suggestion of interference in
Cuban affairs, did not believe the Presi-
dent would issue such a proolamation
he did not think 1t likely that Congress
| would aot rurther in the matter, il the
President allowed it to remain in abey-
anoe.
VIM. Alden Smith of Michigan. anoth-
or Republic mem betr OF the commit
tee, believed Congress should pass o
joint resolution If the President did not
act
81 do not think Congress will take
further action on this subject" said Sen
ator Hale, who was one of the most de-
termined opponents of the passage of
the resolution in the Senate. Congress
has done all 1t consistently can do in
uhe matter, and it now rests with the
President to act as he may deem proper.
No one can prevent the Introduction in
the Senate of any or all sorts of resolu-
tions. but they would only express the
individual opinion of the Senator who
introduced them and, it pushed to vote,
could not possibly pass.
1.-The judioious effect of the deliberation
in this body was manifested in the de-
bate on the conference report. Originally
the Senate resolutions passed with the
adverse vote of but six. When the con-
ference report was sent back to the COM
mittee we had at least "a Senators who
stood ready to vote against that report
believe after a little further discussion
we would have beaten it on a test vote.
Whatever may happon, believe we have
heard the last of the Spanish Cuban
affair as far as any action by Congress is
concerned. 1t is best for all parties that
such is the case.
'"The President will act as seems bsst to
him. No attempt to pass joint reso-
luton could possibly succeed. What the
President may do, do not know, but
have faith in his ability to handle the
subject in fair and statesmanlike way"
"The future action of Congress de-
ponds largely, if not entirely, upon events
that transpire in Cuba.," said Senator
Gray Of Delaware one OF the recognized
friends of the President in the Senate.
"The action of the President will depend
upon the trend of events on that island.
If there should be some great success at
tending the efforts Of the insurgents, or
any othersoondition of affairs demanding
the attention of Congress, / believe Con-
gress would deal with it in the proper
manner. do not know what the inten-
tions of the President are, but feel
sure he will accept the concurrent resc-
lutions passed by Congress In the proper
spirit, and be guided by the opinion of
the 1aw-making power as expressed by
hem."
The prevailing thought Of the Senate
just now is best given in the language
of the Senator who, while favorable to
the recognition of Cuba as belligerent
power. is not olassed among the extrem-
lists. IT have" said this Senator, "dis-
cussed the subject with many Senators.
Democrat and Republicans, and / find