The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-03-11
THE F|FTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
The Senate Visitors Listen to
Fervid Oratory
THE RECOGNITION OF CUBA
Sidetracked While Senators Argue Over
Ministerial Privileges
The House Increases the Difficulty Of OettinR
Divorces In the Territories and Disc
cusses Appropriations

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, March 1O.-The crowds
which filled the senate galleries today in
anticipation of an exciting Cuban debate
were not disappointed. Today two new
phases of the subject made their appear
ance and each afforded debate which
aroused senators and spectators TO high
state of interest and excitement.
Mr.. Lodge of Massachusetts, rose to q
question of personal privilege and in viR-
orous words rebuked the Spanish minister,
Senior de LONE, for his recent criticisms Of
senators. Senator Teller added bis opinion
that repetition of the minister's action
should be followed by his dismissal. Sem
ators Gray and Hale maintained that
senatorial privilege and prerogative should
not be strained to close the mouth of the
Spanish minister. Lodge did not press for
any definite action.
The incident was hardly closed when the
subject came up in another form. Mr..
Hoar had asked that his resolution post
poning the entire Cuban subject until April
9th. go over until tomorrow. This aroused
Mr.. Sherman to an energetic and feeling
protest. He declared that Mr. Hoar's reso-
foreign relations and was an effort to
sheve the Cuban resolutions after weeks
of discussion and overwhelming votes in
both houses. Inc two venerable, senators,
Sherman and Hoar. engaged in u vigorous
colloquy.
Mr.. Morgan and other senators were
drawn into the personal conflict and for
half an hour it waged, sometimes with deep
earnestness. but more often with amuse-
ment caused by the energy of the white
haired participants.
Mr.. Sherman finally withdrew his obiec-
ton and Mr.. Hoar's resolution went over
until tomorrow, but not until Hoar had
made brief but telling speech against
what he termed the meddiing policy of
congress in foreign questions.
The latter part of the day was given up
to a continuance of Mr.. Turpie's speech in
opposition to the claim of Mr.. Dupont.
AS soon as tho senate journal had been
read, Lodge of Massachusetts rose to a
question of personal privilege. He sent to
the desk and had read the Spanish minis
ter's reference IN an interview to Lodges
utterances calling in question the transla-
ton of the statement attributed to General
Weyler. in which the latter declared he
would exterIninate the insurgents. Lodge
said the literal rendering of Weyler's lam
guage would be that he would ''clean out''
the large insurgent bands and "extermin-
ate" the small ones. Lodge said he did not
wonder at the extreme sensitiveness of tho
Spanish people, but he did not think this
offered an excuse for the Spanish minister
adopting the course he had. 1t was pretty
we'll established that debates in the senate
and house were purely domestic matters,
and it was not proper for the representa-
tive of foreign country to communicate
except through the state department. If
an American minister in Europe should
discuss political affairs there he would
be seat home. Lodge read from letter
OF Daniel Webster, when secretary of state
protesting against the statement by the
Austrian minister as to a domestic matter.
The senator added it was met with an en-
phatic protest against public comment by
any diplomatic representative on the de-
bates of congress. The constitution pro
tected senators for language used in de-
bate. 1t was one of the safeguards of frer-
speech.
Gray, Democrat. said the United Sta
should proceed according to the judgment
OF self-respecting nation. unmoved by
emeutes at Valencia or Madrid, and with
out being turned aside to discuss the Ques-
ton of translation between a senator and
minister. There should be some concession
to the stress of the situation.
Teller. Colorado. said the rule was un-
varying against communication by for
eign minister except through the state de-
partment. Twice had foreign ministers
been sent home for statements of less inn
portance than this. "But, considering
the circumstances" added Teller, had
been in authority, / would not have
sent him home for this offence, but |
would have had the secretary of state
III most kindly way suggest that repe-