Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-06
CUBA AND CONGRESS
Animated Discussion in the House Foreign
Affairs Committee.
A Desire Manifested to Follow the
Lead Of the Senate Without
Further Delay.

The Cuban revolution has such warm
friends among the members of the House
foreign affairs committee that, notwith-
stading the fact the State Department has
not yet furnished the documentary infor-
alton requested by resolution of the
House, there was determined effort made
today to persuade the committee to follow
the lead of the Senate committee and recon-
mend recognition of the insurgents. This
n ovement was led by Messrs. Pearson of
North Carolina and Smith Of Michigan,
seconded by other members, while Mr..
Adams of Pennsylvania, chairman of the
subcommittee on Cuba, endeavored to dis
courage it.
The subject was preached in the commit
tee by Mr.. Pearson, who suggested that
stree the Senate committee had made its
declaration the House committee should
consider the question of recognizing the
W and Mr.. McCreary Ry) asked Mr..
Adams for his opinion of what attitude this
government should take toward the in
SIrgentS
Mr.. Adams Opposes Action.
The opinion of Mr. Adams was that this
government should be slow to take any
radical action. He said that he had made
inquiries of large Philadelphia firms having
a business with Cuba amounting to several
millions and their replies did not warrant
him in supporting the movement for recog-
milton. Under the usageS of international
law he believed it to be the duty of this
government to sustain the power with
which it had treaty relations, as the
treaties with Spain bound it to do.
The point was raised by Mr.. McCreary
that the authority for recognizing the bel
lgerency of tho Cubans was held by the
President, and did not belong to Congress
Mr. Smith made a vigorous reply to this
Ia11 hat t,t,,
provision of the Constitution vested the
President with such power.
Properly the Duty of Congress.
While this authority had been exercised
by the President in the past. and might be
again, when it's exercise involved the posi-
bility of war, it did in this case, it was
a matter for Congress to determine, said
Mr.. Smith. joint or concurrent resolution,
which, if adopted must be signed by the
President, was the proper method, in his
mind, to recognize the belligerency of sub
jectS of another state. He cited the reso-
luton introduced by Senator Sherman in
1870 for the r ,cognition of the rebels in the
former Cuban war, and quoted Senator
Sherman's speech that it ives not necessary
to examine foios of documents; that the
knowledge that there We're troops on the
island and state of war justified the ac-
ton.
Mr.. Smiths speech was the longest made.
concerning the existence of war, drawing
a distinction between war and insurrec-
ton, and suggesting that the existence Of
civil government, prepared to exercise
legislative. executive and judicial fupc-
tons in the event that the rebels won,
should be necessary condition for their
recognition.
SPANS Forces in Cuba.
To this Mr.. Smith replied that there was
unquestionable evidence in possession of
the War Department that Spain had sent
10000 troops to the island, and that, with
The mobilization of the Spaniards in Cuba,
she would have 16O,O men in the field
The promise of indemnity for American
property destroyed in the war was also
suggested by others a bar to recog-
milton. Messrs. Taft and Heatwole indi-
Gated by their remarks that they favored
recognition, but apart from the gentlemen
quoted it was impossible to infer the
leaningS of the committeeman, and efforts
were made to surround the entire meeting
with secrecy.
The most enthusiastic support is given
the revolutionists by the younger repub-
hcan members of the committee, the same
contingent which secured the adoption of
the resolution of censure upon Ambassa-
dor Bayard, and they are confident that
they will again prevail.