Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-03-05
Washington Notes.

On FRIDAY the Senate, by a vote OF o.
yeas TO 8 nays, took the first decisive step
toward the recognition OF the Cuban in
surgents as belligereuts. The resolution,
which is a concurrent one, does not need
executive sanction, but becomes operative
Immediately upon adoption by the other
branch OF the Congress. The section
Offering the friendly Offices OF the United
States to Spain for the recognition OF
Cuban independence IS the amendment
offered by Senator Cameron. In the first
section OF the resolutions strict neutrality
between the contending parties is specl-
fically mentioned. The resolutions mean
much to Cuba, and are expected to be OF
gre at value to the people who are fighting
for freedom from the rule of Spain. The
resolutions in full are as follows:
Resolved, BY the Senate lthe house
OF representatives concurring) that, in
the opinion Of Congress a condition OF
public war exists between the govern
ment OF Spain and the government pro-
claimed and for some time maintained by
force Of arms by the people Of Cuba; and
that the United States Of America should
maintain a strict neutrality between the
contending powers, according to each all
the rights of belligerents IN the ports and
territory Of the United States.
Resolved, That the friendly offices of
the United States be offered by the presi-
dent to the Spanish government for the
recognition OF the independence of Cuba. "
The six senators who voted in the
negative were Caffery, Chiffon, George,
Hale, Morrill, and Wetmore. The an
nouncement of the result was greeted
with great applause in the CALLER es.
The first Presidential veto Of this session
Of Congress was overridden by the House
Saturday. by vote OF IeS to IS, I22 more
than the requisite constitutional two
thirds. All the Republicans and 81
Democrats voted for the bill, while the
votes to sustain the President were all
cast by Democrats.
The bill authorizes the Governor and
local Officers of Arizona to lease the edu-
cational lands of the territory for school
purposes. The Presidents objection to
the bill was that it did not give the
Secretary OF the Interior power to disap-
prove the leases, and did not throw proper
safeguards about the timber on the lands.
The statement was made on the floor
that the bill was identical with a similar
bill passed by the last Congress relating
to Oklahoma Territory, at the request OF
the Secretary Of the Interior. and that
the present bill had received the written
approval of both Secretary Smith and
the commissioner of the general land
Office. The statement was also made that
the lands proposed to be leased were now
in the possession Of cattlemen and others,
rent free.
The house on Monday passed the fol
,acrIrrtiot-c on fhe (Nrhan matter
Resolved, By the House Of Representa-
tivcs the Senate concurring) that III the
opinion of Congress a state of public war
exists in Cuba, the parties to which are
entitled to belligerent rights and the
United States should observe strict
neutrality between the belligerents.
Resolved, That Congress deplores the
destruction of life and property caused
! by the war now waging in that island and
believing that the only permanent solu-
ton of the contest equally in the interest
of Spain, the people Of Cuba and other
nations, would be in the establishment OF
a government by the choice of the people
of Cuba, it is the sense of Congress that
the government of the United. States
should use its good Offices and friendly
influences to that end.
Resolved, That the United States has
not intervened in struggles between any
Emopeon governments and their colonies
on this continent, but from the very close
relations between the people of the United
States and those of Cuba, in consequence
of its proximity and the extent Of the
commerce between the 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 the legitimate interests
Of our citizens by Intervention, if neces-
sary