The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-19
HOUSE APT TO CALL A HALT.
SENATE COMMITTEES ACTION A
SURPRISE.

Members That the situation in
Cuba Does Not Warrant Interfer-
ence at This Time-The Members
KinIey by Action in Advance Of
His Inauguration.
Washington, Dec. 1S.-The House heard
with surprise of the action of the Sem
ate foreign relations committee in recog-
nizing the independence of Cuba, and if
the opinion of the members of the foreign
affairs committee and some of the demo-
cratic and republican leaders in the House
is to be taken as a criterion the popular
branch of the government will not sustain
the position taken by the Senate commit
tee.
Mr.. Hit of Illinois, the chairman of the
House committee, is out of the city, and is
not expected to return until after the holi-
days recess. Several other members of
the committee were not in their seats to-
day, and have presumably left town. OF
those who remain-and of this number a
Southern Associated Press reporter talked
with five--the entire quintette strongly op-
posed any action at this time. The re-
publicans objected to any step which
would, in their opinion, bring about a
war with Spain on the ground that the
Mckinley administration ought not 20 be
met at the very moment of coming into
power by so serious an International prob
lem. 1t was thought better that Mr. Nc
Kinley should formulate his own Cuban
policy and in this conclusion the demo-
Gratis fully concurred.
Other members felt that it would be in
judicious on the part of the United States
to recognize either the independence or the
belligerency of the Cuban rebels until the
real situation in the island was known.
Thus far, members of the House, at least,
are in absolute ignorance except so far as
conflicting newspaper reports are concern
ed, of the strength of the rebels or their
ability to maintain more than a guerilla
warfare against the Spanish crown
Another gentleman, also a member of the
House foreign affairs committee, said the
time for action had passed. that the island
was bankrupt; that American interests in
Cuba are destroyed; that our commerce
with the island has practically disappear
ed, and that recognition now would be
mere sentiment without practical consid-
Grafton behind it. IT. said he, we want
a war with Spain for a sentiment, we are
at liberty to have it, but not with my con-
sent. If we had interviewed year ago the
war in the island would have been ended
in thirty days, American property rights
would have been saved and our trade
with Cuba would have suffered only
partial interference. To-day, as l say,
the island is bankrupt and their trade will
be worth nothing to the United States for
twenty years."
Another member of the committee ex-
pressed the belief that the United States
had better attend to its own business and
not go dancing through the congress of
nations with a chip on its shoulder spoil
ing for fight There is great difference
of opinion" he said, "among our own peo-
pie to-day as to the financial policy which
we should adopt. About half the Ameri-
can people favor bimetallism and the re-
mainder are a unit for the gold stan
dard. We had better settle our own diff
iculties and get our affairs on a satisfac-
tory basis before taking any further
trouble upon our shoulders"
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 COM
mittee who at the last session, were radi-
cal in their opposition to Spain and bub-
bling over with enthusiasm for the Cuban
patriots. have changed front since their
return to Washington and are now
among the most conservative men on the
committee. The prediction was freely
made that notwithstanding the unanimity
with which the resolution was reported
by the Senate committee, it was doubtful
if the Senate would adopt it, or at least
not without a very considerable delay.
Not a single member of the House. out of
a score or more of the leaders, could be
found who believed that the Senate reso-
luton could pass the House, even though
it be favorably reported by the House
committee which is also regarded as
Impossible. Opinion was freely expressed
that the Senate, from being the conser5a-
tive branch of the government had
changed places with the House, and that
the latter to-day is by long odds the con-
servatve branch of congress
One of the members of the foreign al
fairs committee, who did not hesitate to
express his views publicly was Mr.. Quigg.
a New York republican. He said; Il
don't think the Senate resolution can pass
the House at this session of congress. L
do not know a member of the House COM
mttee on foreign affairs who is in favor
of It, nor do l think 1t possible to obtain
from the House committee any resolution
of any sort at this session. The dispose
ton of the House committee Is to leave
the matter to the incoming admlnistra-
tion. Personally, while | entertain the
liVeleSt sympathy With OuBdg an tD-
posed TO the conduct of foreign affairs by
congress. l think there is nothing more
dangerous to the public peace than tho
discussion in congress of serious internal
tional controversies"
Mr.. Pearson Of North Carolina, another
republican member of the committee, ex-
pressed his position in this wise: 81 have
no criticism or comment to make on the
action Of the Senate committee as to the
no rits of the question OF recognizing the
Independence of Cuba. / feel a delicacy
in expressing a positive opinion in the abb
sence Of positive Information. Before TAX
ing 80 grave a step, leading to unknown
and momentous consequences, IL seems to
me that the Information should be not on
ly accurate, but official. The republican par
ty has promised the country prosperity,
and the question presents itself. VIII war
or rumors OF war or apprehensions OF war
lead to the promised result?
differing as / do almost wholly from
Mr. Cleveland's views and policy on most
subjects / am constrained to say that the
state department. since the appointment or
Mr.. Olney, has been ably and wisely con-
Quoted and his foreign policy discreet,
firm, conservative and successful It