San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-12-07
TIE Daily Light
MONDAY. DECEMBER Z, 1896.
CONGRESS- ASSEMBLIES.
CLOSING SESSION OF THE 54th BE-
GUN AUsPIOIOUsLY.
President Cleveland Advises That the
Time is Not Yet Ripe For Our
Intervention in the Cuban
Revolution.

Washington, d. c., Dec. THE re-
assembling of congress today for the
closing of the fifty-fourth congress
was the occasion of unusual brillian-
CIV and interest. The weather is per-
feet. clear and fairly warm. Thronss
who streamed up the hill to witness
the opening ceremonies formed an I'M
organized civic pageant. The corri-
doris and galleries of the capitol were
thronged early. There were demon
STATIONS for conspicuously prominent
statesmen and at last came the drop
of the gavel for the regular ceremo-
MES attending the opening of the ses-
sion and reception of the presidents
annual communication to congress.
Promptly at noon. Speaker Reed call
ed the house to order and NicePreSi-
dent Stevenson the senate.
The call of the roll showed 271 men,
beers present. As soon as the speaker
announced a quorum and that the
house was ready to proceed to bust
ness. dozen members demanded re-
cognitiOn, but the speaker first recelv-
ed the usual message from the SEN
ate. ]. William Stokes was then
sworn i'm as member from the Sew
enth congressional district Of South
Carolina. The credentials Of ChaS.
J. BOatner, from the fifth district of
Louisiana, We're read also. Both these
gentlemen received certificates of
election to this congress, but their
seats were contested and declared va
,,,4 Il f1,A ID ste. a-f an
They were then reelected. The us
uaI formal committees were appointed
and the house took recess until 1:20
p. m.
In reassembling the clerk proceed
ed to read the annual message Of the
president. The part touching on our
foreign relations was listened to with
marked interest, particularly the mes
sage relating to Cuba. He said there
had been no change in the aspect Of
the instruction in Cuba since his last
message to congress, except that the
war was being prosecuted with more
vigOr and more cruelty on both sides.
The insurgents had not as yet estab-
lished their pretence to being recog-
nized as an independent state and in
deed. what form Of civil government
they had previously maintained, large
ly on paper, had now been abandon
ed entirely. On the other hand Spain
had made no Roadway in establish
ing her supremacy on the island.
The financial interests in Cuba, OF
citizens of the United States are esti-
mated at from 80 to so million dollars
and this. with other rights Of Ameri-
can citizens to be protected, made the
war serious condition with the
United States. The suggestion that
this government should purchase
Cuba, he received favorably, but
doubted if Spain were willing to sell.
He suggested policy Of depreciation
and courtesy to Spain, and the offer
Of this governments friendly offices
to guarantee autonomy to Cuba il
Spain would so consent, and stated
that if the higher call Of humanity
over international courtesy and
national prudence should make 1t nee
essary for America to act then 1t was
time to act. but this time, in his opin-
ion, had not arrived.
The senate chamber was the cen
tire Of interest long before the hour for
assembling had arrived and by IL
O'Clock the public galleries were well
filed and crowds were mt the en-
frances unable to gain admission. Sir
Julian Pauncefort, accompanied by
the members of his staff, and several
members Of the diplomatic corps, were
i'm the gallery and going to the
representatives. Senators were rather
late in arriving.
At IL o'clock the president entered
the chamber and was going to the
desk Of the presiding officer gave the
tap which brought the senate to order
while the chaplain delivered the invo-
cation. Roll call showed 20 senators
present. Cullom was the first to re-
ceive recognition and his resolution
that the house Of representatives be
notified that the senate was in ses-
sion and ready to proceed with bust
ness was agreed to without comment.
Hale followed with a resolution that
the daily hour for meeting he II
O'Clock, which was agreed to. Sher-
man made the customary motion for
n committee Of senators and members
to wait upon the president and upon
it's adoption the presiding officer man,
ed the committee.
Morrill,, Of Vermont, presented sew
eral petitions asking for the passage