The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-19

ernment will not sustain the position
taken by the senate committee. Mr. HIT.
OF Illinois, the chairman of the house
committee, Is out of the city and Is not
expected to return until the close Of the
holiday recess. Several other members OF
the committee We're not in their seats 70.
day and have presumably left town. Of
those who remain-and of this number
United Associated Presses reporter talked
with five-the entire quintette strongly
opposed taking action at this time. the
Republicans objected to any step which
would. in their opinion, bring about war
with Spain on the ground that the Nc
kinley administration ought not to be met
at the very moment Of coming into power
by SO serious an International problem. 1t
was thought better that Mr.. Mckinley
should formulate his own Cuban policy
and in this conclusion the Democrats fully
concurred. Other members felt that II
would be injudiciOus on the part OF the
United States to recognize either the in
dependence or the bellgerency of the
Cuban rebels until the real situation In
the island was known. Thus far men,
bers of the house, at least, are in absolute
ignorance, except so far as conflicting
newspaper reports are concerned. of the
strength of the rebels or their ability to
maintain more than guerrilla warfare
tleman. also a member of the house for
eign affairs committee. said the time for
action had passed: that the island was
bankrupt. that American interests in Cuba
the island has practically disappeared and
that recognition now would be mere
sentiment without practical considera-
tion behind II.
"If," said ne, 1--WE want war with Spain
for a sentiment We are at liberty to have
it, but not with my consent. If We had
interviewed year ago, the war would nave
been ended In thirty days; American prop
erty rights In the island would have been
saved and our trade with Cuba would have
suffered only "A partial Interference. To-
day. as / say, the island is bankrupt and
their trade will be worth nothing to the
United States for twenty years"
BETTER ATTEND TO BUSINESS.
Another member of the committee cx
pressed the belief that the United States
no go dancing through the congress of
nations with a chip on its shoulder, spoil
ing for a fight. There Is great differ
ence of opinion" he said, "among our own
which we should adopt. About half the
American people favor bi-metallism, and
the remainder are unit for the gold
standard. We had better settle our own
difficulties and get our affairs on q salts |
factory basis before taking any further
trouble on our shoulders
One of the Republican leaders Of the
honse-a man of great influence among his
fellows-pointed out to the reporter that
a promise of better times was made 10 the
American people If Mr.. Mckinley should
be elected to the presidency. Mr. McKm-
ley, he added, had been elected and now
1t was purposed by the senate to take a |
step which would involve in complications
with Spain and retard return to pros
perity for several y0lrs. He expressed the
belief that all the Republican leaders as
house would set their faces strongly
against the adoption of any Cuban rcso-
luton which might properly be regarded
by Spain as an unfriendly act.
Members of the foreign affairs commit |
tee expressed their surprise at the change
of sentiment among their colleagues. 1t
was stated that members of that commit |
tee, who at the last session were radical
in their opposition to Spain and bubbling
over with enthusiasm for the Cuban IA
triots. have changed front since their
return to Washington and are now among |
the most conservative men on the commit
tee. The prediction was freely made chat, |
the unanimity with
which the resolution was reported by the
senate committee. 1t was doubtful II the |
senate would adopt 1t, or at least not
without a very considerable delay. Not a |
single member of the house. out of score |
or more of the leaders, could be found who
believed that the senate resolutions co.ld |
pass the house, even though 1t be favor |
ably reported by the house commit Ae. |
which is also regarded as Impossible. The |
opinion was freely expressed that the sem
ate from being the conservative branch !
of the government has changed places |
with the house and that the latter today
is by long odds the conservative branch |
of congress.
VIEWS OF MIR. QUIGG.
One of the members of the foreign af-
fairs committee who did not hesitate to
express his views publicly was Mr.. Quigg, |
a New York Republican. He said
II don't think the senate resolution can |
pass the house at this session of con-
gress. | do not know a member of ,he
hOlSp cOm NIT fprpipn a al IA h,, 10 |
in favor of 1t nor do think 1t possible to
obtain from the house committee reso-
lutions of any sort al this session. The, |
disposition of the house committee Is to
leave the matter to the incoming admin
istration. Personally, while / entertain
the liveliest sympathy with Cuba, / am
opposed to the conduct of foreign affairs |
by congress. | think there is nothing
more dangerous to the public peace than |
the discussion in congress of serious in |
ternational affairs"
Mr.. Shafroth, the silverite member from
Colorado, expressed surprise at the action
of the senate committee.
Before the election he said "when |
the candidate had yet to appeal to the
people. the Cuban revolution was a live
subject but now it will be found that the
business interests of New York must be |
protected. You will find that the New
York press tomorrow will denounce the ac- |
tion as threatening the relations between
Spain and the United States and danger
Gus to the trade between New York and
Cuba. Wall street will not permit n.
passage of the resolution through the |
house. 1t may pass the senate, but that |