Evening star., 1896-12-21
ALL ABOUT CUBA
Many Resolutions offered in the
Senate Today.
Mr.. Hill ON TEE CONSqIrUfIONALITY
No Discussion of the Matter Until
After the Holidays.
THE DAY IN THE HOUSE

The Senate galleries were crowded long
| before the hour for assembling today In
anticipation of the presentation of the re-
| port from the committee on foreign reia-
| tions favorable to the Cameron resolution
for the recognition of Cuban independence.
The chapiain's prayer in aIluding TO the
| opening of the Christmas week, the great
festival of the year. invoked the opera
tion Of its chief lesson: Peace or earth
and good will among men.
The petitions. coming from many quar-
tiers. related mainly to the recognition CT
Cuban independence.
The foreign delegation was we'll repre-
Sented in the diplomatic gallery, Baron
Won Hengelmuller. the Austrian minister
and several members of his suite. DIR. An
drade of the Venezuelan Legation and
number of the ladies of the corps being
present.
Mr.. CnmerOn's Report Presented.
At 12.20 pm. while the routine business
was proceeding. MIR. Cameron arose, and in
a voice hardly audible presented the report
of the committee on foreign relations ia
vorable to the resolution for Cuban in
dependence. He asked that the resolu-
tfon and report be printed and lie on the
table. and that 100 additional copies OF the
report be printed.
Mr. Sherman interposed to ask If it was
understood that the resolution was to re-
main on the table until after the hohdays.
Mr. Cameron answered In the affirmative.
Several Senators were on their rect
complaining that they could not lear what
was going on, as the brief coiloauy had
proceeded in personal way between MI.
Cameron and Mr.. Sherman.
A Supplementary Report.
Mr.. Morgan ala, finally gained recogni-
ton and presented supplementary report
10 Snid VI &c
offered in behalf of himself and Mr.. Mills
of the committee. who fully concurred in
the report of MIR. Cameron, but desired 70
give some additional facts to justify the
findings of the committee.
The Call Resolution.
Mr.. Sherman presented two favorable re-
ports from the committee on foreign reia-
tions on the resolutions offered by Mr..
Call CF'la1
The first resolution requests the Secre-
tary OF State for lists of all United States
citizens confined In Spanish prisons. The
other resolution requested the executive
branch to demand the release Of all United
States citizens confined at the Spanish penal
colony on the Island of Ceuta, off the At
rican coast.
The COnstitutiOnNl Power.
Mr. Hill On. ". who had been seeking to
secure recognition. now asked IL either of
the reports by Mr.. Cameron and Mr.. Nor
gan discussed the constitution power of
Congress to pass the resolution as reported,
whether the reports were confined to the
propriety of passing the resolution.
Mr.. Cameron responded chat the constitu-
tonal power of Congress oIGh- to be Con-
ceded by everybody.
From that l judge the constitutional
power is not discussed III the reports. re-
marked Mr.. Hill.
Mr.. Morgan. who was on his feet, turned
toward Mr.. Hill and said: 10 discuss that
proposition is simply preposterous.
Such a view may he entirely satisfactory
TO the Senator from Alabama. answered
Mr.. Hill Il simply desired 10 underst land
that the constitutional question was not
discussed"
Mr.. Vests Resolution.
Mr. Vest (AfoJ came forward at this point
in some pointed remarks. which promised
TO open the whole Cuban question. He
prefaced them with the presentation Of a
resolution reciting that the power of recog-
n:Zing independence does not -eside exclu-
sively with the President, bu, is vested in
Congress and the President jointly. The
resolution rs as follows:
Resolved &c, That the President is not
invested by the Constitution with exclusive
power TO determine when the independence
OF foreign people struggling 10 establish
government for themselves shall be
power is vested il Congress and the Fresi-
dent to be exercised in conformity with
section !, article l, of the Constitution.
Mr.. Vest said that he had been astonished
at seeing the extraordinary statement made
by Secretary Oiney. saying that the action
of Congress concerning Cuoa would be en-
tireiy ineffective.
1t was the first time. Mr.. Vest said that
a cabinet minister had thus addressed the
public. When the Hawaiian question was
under consideration the Senator had exam
ined the subject of recognition and had
reached the conclusion tnat the President
did not have the exclusive power of IeCog
pitioa-
1T is to me most astonishing PROPOSE
tion. said Mr.. Vest. that while the Con-
stitutiOn gives to Congress the exclusive
war-making power the President alore is
able to take action toward recognizing in
dependence which Nay bring on war"
The Senator cited the recognition of Ven
eZuelan independence by Congress and not
by the President.
AS Mr.. Vest was about to proceed Mr.
Hale (Me) interposed a point of order
He did not think this discussion could pro-
&C ed under the Senate rules without unani-
nous consent.
Since the resolution and report have
gore over" said Mr.. Hale. Il do not think
1t proper that the Senator Vesp should
precipitate a debate on this grave subject
at this time
Mr. Stewart CNev) promptly asked for
Unanimous consent that Mr.. Vest pro-
bis head and remarked that he did not care
to proceed with even one unwilling auditor
| He would, however, call up his resolution
| tomorrow.
Nr. Hills ResoIutiOn.
| With this furry over Mr.. Hill again Sc
cured recognition and offered joint reso-
| luton declaring that state of war existed
| in Cuba; that the parties thereto are en-
titled to the recognition of belligerent
| rights, and that the United States will
| maintain a strict neutrality ard them.
| The resolution is follows:
| \ joint resolution declaring that a state
| of war exists in Cuba and recognizing the
parties thereto beiligerents.
| Resolved. by the Senate and House of
| Representatives of the United States of
| America. in Congress assembled That it Is
| hereby declared that a state of public war
| exists in Cuba, and that the parties thereto
are entitled to and hereby accorded
4 belligerent rights. in accordance with the
principles of international law. and the
| United States will preserve a strict neutral
| ity between the bellgerents
Sir. Bacon.
Two more Cuban resolutions made their
\ appearance: e,e from Mr. Bacon 0ia) and
| al othzr from Mr.. Chiffon CTexas) Mr..