The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-26

brought out protests from Mr.. Morgan
and Mr.. Call. The former read the proc
lamation of Cisneros, president OF the IN
surgents, together with q letter from
Crosby Noyes Of the Washington Star,
giving assurance of the authenticity OF
the document ~.
Mr.. Morgan said he approved every
word of that splendid appeal of Cisneros.
Mr.. Mills offered the following joint
resolution, on which he said he would
speak tomorrow:
Be it resolved by the senate and house
of representatives of the United States
of America, in congress assembled, that
, the president of the United States is here
by directed to request the government of
Spain to authorize the people, of Cuba
subject to the sovereignty of Spain to in
stitute such local government qs they
may, wish, and invest it with such powers
as they may think necessary to secure to
the people of Cuba the right of life,
| liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Sec. 2-In case Spain shall refuse to
grant to the inhabitants Of Cuba the
rightful power of self-government, then
the president of the United States is here
| by directed to take possession of the
forces of the United States and hold the
same till the people of Cuba can organ
| ize government deriving its just powers
| from the consent of the governed, and
arm and equip such military forces as
may be necessary to protect them from
| invasion. "A
Mr.. George of Mississippi, spoke in OPP
position to the resolutions.
At 2 o'clock there was lull in the
speeches, whereupon Mr.. Sherman sought
to secure a vote on his resolution to re-
commit the resolutions to the conference
committee.
A vote was about to be taken when Mr..
Allen rose for speech. .
Many senator's urged him to wait as
the Sherman motion would dispose Of the
subject for the present, but Mr.. Allen in
sisted ON going on and the vote was de-
ferred.
Mr.. Allen said that if the United States
stood by while Spain aplied the knife to
the throats of the Cubans, we would be
justly chargeable by the world with i'm
potency and cOwardice. He ridiculed the
waning patriotism of senators.
AT first senators had fallen over each
other" to support this resolution. Then
the senator from Maine (Hale) had
sounded the signal for retreat.
And now," concluded Mr. Allen, "the
senator from Ohio (Sherrnan) moves to
recommit. II looks as though he had
joined in the retreat and this will be the
last of his resolution"
AS soon as Mr.. Allen closed Mr.. Sher-
man pressed his motion TO recommit.
There was no word of opposition and the
presiding ofncer, Mr.. Bacon, put the
question.
Not more than 20 senators were pres
ent. There was chorus of ayes and no
nays and the motion prevailed.
No request for roll call was made
and the senate Immediately turned to
other business.
The recommital came so quietly that
the crowds did not realize what had been
done until the clerk began reading the
items of the executive appropriation bill,
which had been taken up. Subsequently
Mr.. Platt offered another phase of the
Cuban subject by presenting the follow
ing concurrent resolution, which was re-
ferred to the committee on foreign rela-
tiOns:
Resolved That the senate (the house Of
representatives cOncurring) hereby ex-
press its earnest desire and hope that
Cuba may soon become a free, indepen-
dent and Republican government, and
that the friendly offices of the United
States should be offered by the president
to the Spanish government to secure this
result.
The executive appropriation bill was
pending when, at 5:05 p. m, the senate
went into executive session and soon
afterwards adjourned.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE RESUMED.
, Washington, March 23.-The secretary
, of the treasury after consultation with
the president and the law officers of the
government has decided hereafter to al
low the annual leaves of absence to em-
, ployes of the department outside of Wash
. ington. Some months ago the secretary 8
/ authority to grant leaves of absence in
the absence of specific legislation on the
subject was brought in question and MS
present action is final settlement OF the
. matter.
! LONG PENSION CASE.
Washington, March 23.-Chief Justice
Fuller announced today that the pension
a case of Judge Long has been restored to
q the docket for argument before the fuil
bench of the supreme court and that II
would be heard on the second Monday OF
the next term, after the other cases al
ready set for that date. ~
: The supreme court will adjourn on May
25 for the term.
e THE HOUSE.
Washington, March 23.-The house
d spent most of the day considering the
$ Curtis bill to abolish the death penalty
l. in all cases where it is prescribed IN the
J. Federal statutes, go in number, save IL
J. cases of rape and murder under sections
$3.50 and 5345 of the Revised Statutes
r. where, however, the jury might quarry
@ the verdict without capital punishment.
The bill makes no changes in the penal
n ties that can be inflicted by military ane
n naval court martial
IS Among the crimes now punishaDie o,
# death, abolished by the bill, are murdel
and robbery on the high seas, accessor!