Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-27
Cuban Resolutions Adopted by the
House Foreign Affairs Committee.
RESULT OF A Two HOURS SESSION
All but Two Members Present
Voted for Them.
TO BEPR ESS ED

,
adopted a concurrent resolution declaring it
to be the sense of Congress that state Of
war existed in Cuba, and that the insur-
gents should be given the rights of bel
ligerents. and that 1t was the sense of Con-
gress that the government of the United
States should use Its influence to stop the
war If necessary by intervention and pledg-
ing the support Of Congress.
The resolutions in full were as follows:
Resolved. by the House of Representa-
tives Ohe Senate concurring) That in the
opinion OF Congress state of public war
exists In Cuba, the parties 20 which are
entitled to belligerents' rights, and the
United States should observe strict neu-
tralfty between tho belligarents
RESOLVED. That Congress deplores the
obstruction of life and properly caused by
the war now waging in that island. and.
believing that the only permanent solution
Of the contest. equally in the interest of
Spain, the people of Cuba and other ma
tions would be in the establishment of a
government by the choice of the people
OF Cuba. 1t Is the sense OF Congress that
the government of the United States should
use Its good Offices and friendly influence
to that end.
Resolved, That the United States has not
ntervened In struggles between any Euro-
pean governments and their colonies in this
continent but from the very close rela-
ton between the people of the United
States and those of Cuba In consequence
OF its proximity and the extent of the
commerce between ;he two peoples, the
present war is entailing such losses upon
the people OF the United States that Con-
gress is OF the opinion that the govern
ment Of the United States should be pre-
pared to protect legitimate interests Of
americans by Intervention if necessary
Resolved, That Congress pledges it; sun
port to the President in carrying out the
foregoing resolutions
The Vote In Committee.
All but two members Of the committee
who were present voted for them. The
ayes were: Hit. chairman; Smith CIich.),
Cousins uowa). Heatwole CM.nn.), Quigg
tN ". Pearson CN. c.. Adams (pa), re-
publicans. and Dinsmore (Ark) and Nc
Creary RyJ. democrats
The nays were: Draper (MassD, repub-
Hcan; Newlands (Nev), silverite, end
Tucker Va), democrat. The absentees
We're Taft (Ohio) and Price Ua), democrat
Ihe resolutions. except the fourth were
those reported by the subcommittee, con-
ststing of Adams, Draper and Tucker. but
the latter was opposed to the second on
the ground that the United States were not
concerned as to the internal policy of the
people OF Cuba, and Mr. Draper was un-
alteraolyA opposed to any resolution on the
ground that their adoption might eveutuate
in war.
The Main Question Discussed.
The main question discussed at the meet
ing was as to the expediency of adopting
resolutions which Mr.. Draper claimed
might precjpita,e the United States into
war with Spain, as Senator Morgan mad al
firlned on the fool CT the Senate, but it was
generally agreed after talking the matter
over that Spain could not possibly take Of
tense at the recognition of belligerency
which simply made the United States
SfS h,,f Ir
McCreary favored delay until an oppor-
tunity was afforded to canvass the question
AS to whether tre President would have to
s,g1i the resolutions.
Mr.. Smith took the position that any reso-
luton which would have the force and effect
of law under the Constitution was subject
to his approval or disapproval. In view Of
the temper Of the committee, however, OBJ
lection was waived.
Mr.. Newlands wanted to go even further
than the resolutions and adopt the Gamer
on resolution to recognize the independence
of Cuba. Mr. Smith raised the question as
to whether the Congress should not protest
against the barbarities reported to have oc-
CURED in Cuba, and cited as a precedent
the Sherman resolution Of 1870 but in view
of the fact that the State Department had
no official Information on the subject, it
was deemed wise not to go into that branch
of the question. Before vote was taken
Mr.. Monroe offered the fourth resolution,
piedg:ng the support Of Congress to any
action of the executive. and TINS solidified
the democrats and the resolutions were
adopted.
Mr. Tucker still held out however, on ac-
count Of the second resolution, and Mr..
Draper, who had been obliged to leave to
catch a train, was. at his request, recorded
against the resolutions.
Mr.. HIT was instructed to press the reso-
lutions for action at the earliest opportu-
nifty.
Probable Senate Action.
The Senate will tomorrow give its ap-
proval Of some one Of the several forms of
resolutions now pending before 1t favorable
to the recognition Of the belllgerancy Of the
Cuban insurgents This matter has now
been under debate for several days, and
there has been from the first marked alb
sence Of antagonisttc opinion, and the dis
cussion has practically demonstrated that
there Is large majority in the upper house
favorable to some measure expressive of
sympathy for the insurrection against
Spanish rule. The resolution introduced by
Senator Call on the Sd of December has been
made the text for all that has been written
and presented ON the subject, and there are
now before the Senate no less than seven
different forms OF resolutions of VARYING
degrees of force and directness. The reso-
luton now under debate is that presented
February by Mr.. Morgan, from the com
mittee ON foreign relations, as a substitute
for the resolution previously reported bv
him from the same committee
Division of Opinion.
The only question now is just what form
of resolution the Senate will pass. This af-
ternoon it was freely predicted in the lob
bies of the Senate that the bare question of
extending sympathy If not recognition to
the insurgents would probably pass the
Senate with practical unanimity There
are wide diversions of opinion among Sem
ators as to the limitations on congressional l
powers in such matters, ranging all
the way from the belief that the two
houses can direct the President not onlv to
grant belligerent rights to the insurgents.
but to place the Cuban representatives in
this country upon full diplomatic footing
at this capital, to the position that all that
Congress can do Is to extend q moral ac-
knowledgment Of belligerency to the in
surgents and requesting the President to
give this expression executive force,
The best opinion probably is that while
Congress undoubtedly has the power to
pass resolutions Of the most radical nature.
giving the President advice that would suit
the most enthusiastic friends of Cupa. w ri
whom alone rests the power to- give the
Cubans the privilege Of belligerent rights.
including the right to buy arms in thus
market and to ship them from our ports.
the United States marshals and customs Of
ncers are directly under the control Of the