Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-22
54th CONGRESS.
The Cameron Resolution Re-
ported to the Senate.
Goes Over Till Tuesday--WiII Not
Come Up Till After Holidays.
Vest Attacks by Resolution Some Of Alleged
Rights Of President.

L
| sylvania. announced that he was in
! structed by the committee on foreign
| relations to report a joint resolution
acknowledging the independence of
| Cuba, with a written report thereon.
| He moved that the resolution and
| written report be laid on the table and
| printed: and said the resolution would
not be called up until after the holt
days. Cameron's motion was tacitly
\ agreed to.
| Morgan, Dem. of Alabama, a mem
| Der of the committee on foreign rela-
tons. submitted an additional report
| on the Cuban question. signed by him
self and Mills, Dem. of Texas. He
| said that they fully concurred in the
| report of the committee. but gave some
| additional facts which they thought
| Important.
| Frye Go MorganD. Ask that the ad-
| ditional report be printed with the
| other.
| Morgan-I make that request.
| 1t was 50 ord red.
liiIl asked Cameron whether. in the
| report of the committee on foreign re
| lations. or in the additional report
| submitted by Morgan. there was any
| discussion of the constitutional power
! OF Congress to pass such Il joint reSo-
| luton as had been reported: or
whether the reports We're simply con
| lned to the propriety of the action
| taken.
Cameron replied in the negative, re-
marking that the calling in question of
| the right of Congress in the matter
| had been considered simply too pre-
| posterous for discussion
| And that is the reason" Hill said.
| III sarcastic tone and manner why
| the question is not discussed
And a very good reason il is" Nor
| gan reioined.
| That may be satisfactory to the
Senator from Alabama" said Hill. Il
simply desire information.
| Vest offered the following: Re
| solved that the President is not vested
| by the constitution with exclusive
power to determine when the indie
| pendence of a foreign people strug-
ggling to establish a government for
| themselves, shall be recognized by the
United States but this power is vested
in Congress and the President to be
exercised in conformity with section
article of the constitution"
Vest confessed that the statement
on the part OF certain eminent gentle
men that the joint resolution acknowl-
edging the Independence of Cuba could
| not be affect the Chief Executive at all
looming. as that statement did through
an interview in the public press: the
| first time he had known a cabinet of
| ticer so to address the people of the
TnitaH h; II
had occasion to examine the question
| in the Venezuelan matter and had come
! to the conclusion that the President of
the United States did not have that
power. 1t was to him a most aStound-
| ing proposition that, while the war
making power was given Congress. the
President of the United States could
bring about war by exercising the high
provocative of declaring whether a
people struggling to achieve its liberty
was entitled to recognition If that
proposition We're true then. for 100
years. the statesmen of the country had
been in the dark on that question.
Hale interposed an objection to dis
GUESSING the subject at this time. Stew
art asked that Vest might proceed by
unanimous consent. Vest declined to
proceed. saying he did not wish to
have even one unwilling auditor. He
would therefore let his resolution go
over until tomorrow and he gave notice
that he would then call it up.
Hill. Dem. of New York, offered the
following substitute resolution: 1t is
hereby declared that a state of war
exists in Cuba and that the Cubans
are entitled and are hereby accorded
belligcrent right in accordance with the
principles of international law. and the
United States will preserve state of
neutrality between the belllgerents.
This went over until tomorrow.
The following Cuban resolutions We're
also offered in the Senate and referred
to the judiciary committee by Mr.
Bacon Dem, of Georgia: THAT the
question of the recognition by this gov
eminent of any people as free and in
dependent nation is one exclusively for
the determination of Congress in its
capacity as the law making power,
that this prerogative of sovereign
power does not pertain to the executive
department of the government, except
insofar as the President is, under the
constitution, by the exercise of the
power of the government"
BY Mr.. Chiffon Dem of Texas: THAT
a condition of public war exists be-
tween the government of Spain and the
government of Cuba. which has been
for some time maintained by force of
arms by the people of Cuba: and that
the United States of America shall
maintain strict neutrality between
the contending Powers. according to
each all the rights of belligerents in the
ports and territory of the United
States"
Gear. chairman of the committee on
Pacific Railroads, desired to have the
bill for the adjustment of the debt of
the Pacific Railroads made unfinished
business; but objection was made by
German and others. and notices was
given by Gear that he would call up
the bill after the reassembling of Con-
gress. Mitchell made a brieI stement
as to the Importance of action on the