The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-04

should exercise the veto power Congress
could pass it over his veto and it would
then become mandatory upon the execu-
i've. Inc Joint form is preferred by some
because 1t may be passed over veto.
There does not seem 20 be any ADEQUATE
authority on the question of the concur
rent resolution. Che Constitution seems
very explicit on one side of the question
while custom is almost uniformly on the
other. The custom has been to regard
such resolutions as merely an expression
OF opinion by Congress, not reau iring
action by the President and not having
the force Of law. But the Constitution
says that ''every order, resolution or vote
TO Which the concurrence of the Sena to
aud House of Representatives, may be
necessary Except on the question of adj
J0urnment) shall be presented to the
PRESIDENT of the United States and before
the same shall take effect, shall be ap-
proved by him, CT, being disapproved by
him, shall be passed by q two third vote, !"
etc. This proposition is as broad as posi-
Die, but 1T has been ignored i'll its appli-
oa6lon to DON current resolutions and or
ders. concurrent resolution has been
regarded as m erely of the declaration
intended to quicken the action of the
President. The Senate judiciary COM
mittee, to whom was referred the Hill
resolution calling for an investigation
and report on this subject, has referred
the matter to Senator Hill, as suboom-
mittee, and he is now making an inves-
tigation.
WOULD SIGN A JOINT RESOLU-
TION.
Men who have talked with the Presi-
dent on the subject say that if the ques-
ton were presented to him in the form of
q xnauf reco1Y1tiop bo mould ,,ndoub4od1v
sign it, but that if it comes in the form
OF concurrent resolution, he will not re-
gard it as mandatory, and will exercise
his own discretion both as to point of
time and character of action. The doubt
of the force of the concurrent resolution
arises form the silence of the Constitu-
ton i'll respect TO such measures Oh the
question of the ton days limit, which ap-
plies to bills neither vetoed nor signed.
The best informed men in Congress are
reluctant to express an opinion on the
subject publicly.
AS the effect of the action depends
upon this question, there is a great deal
of doubt as to whether the resolutions
when adopted will amount to anything.
The Armenian resolutions passed some
time ago have been thus far ignored by
the President, as fer as Congress knows,
and there is NO assurance that the Cuban
resolutions may not be treated in like
manner. The sentiment is So strong in
Congress that it is naturally assumed
that the President will regard it, but
this is based merely on assumption and
the inferences of men who have talked
with him.
EFFECT OF BELLIGERENT RIGHTS.
Assuming that the President acts at
once upon the resolutions SO far as to
grant belligerent rights to the Cubans,
the best authorities in Congress on in
ternational law say that the only advant-
age the Cubans will derive from it is that
they may then have ships of war (if they
can get them) without being regarded
and treated as pirates; and they may is
sue bonds and borrow money, as any
nation may, If they can find any one will
ing to take the risk of accepting such
contingent security as they are able to
offer. The right to ship arms and men
to Cuba will not be affected by their
recognition as belligerents, butt on the
other hand, our vessels will at once be-
come subject to search.
If the President GOES to the full extent
of the suggestion of the resolutions, and,
steps to procure the Independence of
Cuba, it becomes then much graver
matter. That, it is believed, would
amount practically to our giving assis-
tance to Cuba, and would probably lead
to hostilities between this country and
Spain, unless that country, feeling it's
weakness, should yield to some sort of
negotiations by which she would part
with Cuba for a consideration. For the
President to adopt the full recommends
tion of the resolutions would, it is be-
lieved result inevitably in the liberty of
Cuba. But ifithe resolutions retain their
present concurrent form, the President
will not be compelled to act on them if
he does not want to, or he may delay
action for some time and then take the
steps suggested.
SOME EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION.
The question is so delicate and doubt
full that most every Representa- tive and
Senator questioned ON the subject de-
olines to be quoted.
Representative Money of Mississippi,
member of the foreign affairs committee,
and authority on international law, said
today:
The adoption of the resolutions by Con-
gress Will dement, the 1nsurg ents to this
extent, AS an Indication of the senti-
ment of the government of the United
States and the temper of the people they
may absolutely prevent Spain from bor-
rowing the money necessary TO prosecute
the war. The insurgents themselves may
be able to float loan on the strength Of
the moral effect of the resolutions and
equip navy.
1.-THE adoption of the resolutions will
certainly give great encouragement to
the INSURGENTS, and stimulate them to
further efforts.
A to the binding power If the concur
rent resolutions upon the executive,
there is none, in fact. They do not bind
him to do anything. 1t was for the pur-
pose of placing some duty upon the Presi-
dent that I wanted to make them joint
resolutions
Samaritan Anniversary,