The herald., 1896-04-07
'F|F1Y-FOUR1H CONGRESS
The House Votes on the
Cuban Resolutions
PASSED ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY
Presidential Action Will Be
Asked Today
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL
Passes After Forty Minutes Of Some-
what Spirited Debate
Several Millions Are Not Provided for
Southern California Harbors
Consideration Of the Postoffiee Appropriation
Bill Gives Rise to Sensational Charges
Regarding the Abuse Of the Civil Service
Presidential Action Will Be
Asked Today
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL
Passes After Forty Minutes Of Some
what Spirited Debate
Several Millions Are Not Provided for
Southern California Harbors
Consideration Of the Postofiee Appropriation
Bill Gives Rise to Sensational Charges
Regarding the Abuse Of the Civil Service
Systcm-Minor Notes
Asso ciated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, April 6.-The house
today adopted the conference report
on the Cuban resolutions by a vote of
224 to 81. and passed the river and har-
Dor appropriation bill under a suspen-
sion of the rules, after lively debate
Of forty minutes, by a vote of PIG to 40.
The report on the Cuban resolutions
had been debated Friday and Saturday
and the vote today was taken directly
after the reading of the journal Eight
cen Republicans and nine Democrats
voted against the report. After the
most determined opposition of those
opposed to the recognition of the In
surgents in the senate and house. there
were but ten more votes against the re-
port than against the original resolu-
tions The former vote was 262 to II.
By its action today the house agreed to
the senate resolutions and disposed of
the Cuban question for the present.
These resolutions were as follows:
Resolved, That in the opinion of con-
gress a condition of public war exists
between the government of Spain and
the government proclaimed and for
some time maintained by force of arms
by the people of Cuba, and that the
United States of America should MAIN
tain strict neutrality between the
contending powers. according tO each
oil the rights of belligerents in the ports
and territory of the United States.
Resolved. Further, that the friendly
Offices of the United States should be
offered by the president to the Spanish
government for the recognition of the
independence of Cuba.
The resolutions will be brought to the
attention of the president tomorrow by
the secretary of the senate, who will
present him an enrolled copy of the res
olutions. Ordinarily concurrent reso-
lutions are not forwarded to the presi-
dent, as they do not require his sigma
ture, but these resolutions will be laid
before him as the Armenian resolutions
were, as they express the opinion that
he should tender the offices of the
United States to Spain for the recogni-
ton of Cuban independence, and are,
therefore, a direction to him, in so far
therefore. a direction to him, in so far
such a proceeding.
Only forty minutes debate was al
lowed. MIR. Hooker. charmen of the
river and harbor committee. attempted
to secure an extension of his time, but
first Mr.. Mcguire democrat of Calfor-
MAJ, and then Mr.. Grosvener (Repub-
lican of Ohio, objected. The debate
was very spirited. Mr.. Dockery Dem-
ocrat of MissourD attacked the reck-
lessness with which it was proposed to
extend the continuing contract sys-
tenn Of the bil-a natural result, he
claimed. of the policy of giving the gov
ernment's promise to pay instead of
paying cash. He admitted. however,
the great economy of the contract sys-
tenn, which Mr.. Burton (Republican of
Ohio) had stated from official reports
to be 80 per cent Mr.. Hepburn (Re-
publican of Iowa) also made a vigorous
assault on the bill, which, he said, had
enough pork" in it to insure it's pass
age. He devoted himself particularly
to the Mississippi river commission, the
work of which he denounced. This
brought forth reply from Mr. Catch
1ngs, the former chairman of the river
and harbor committee, and defense of
the measure from Mr. Hooker (Repub-
1ican of New York;, the present chair
man. When the vote was finally taken
the majority in favor of it was so over
whellning that it's opponents were un-
able to secure the ayes and nays.
Before the house adjourned the New
Mexican bond bill was defeated and the
bill to open the Assinaboine military
reservation was passed
Under agreement made SATURDAY. a
vote on the adoption of the report of
the conferees on the Cuban resolution
was first in order after reading the
journal. Before Chairman Hit de-
manded the regular order. Wadswortb.
chairman of the committee ON agricul-
ture, presented a letter from the secre-
tary of agriculture notifying him in
ueIeIelCe W NIdl ScellleQ the un3ni-
nous desire of the house. He had tele-
graphed accepting the proposition to
put the seeds to be distributed by con-
gressmen into packages of five, instead
of fifteen. packets (making 2,025, 600
packages instead of $4,000 packages).
Members expressed qualification by ap-
plauding.
A few minutes were given to Mr.. Bur-
ton (Rep., Ohio, a member of the riv-
ers and harbors committee who quick
ly exploited the contract system extend
ed by the bill to go new contracts. This,
he said, was the most conspicuous as
well as the most commendable feature
of the bill The reports of the engi-
neer department of the army showed
that the contract system, inaugurated
by the Fifty-first congress, had eff
fected saving of so per cent on all work
so authorized. The system was not
only the most economical, but it was
the most courageous and honest.
Mr.. Dockery (Dem., Mo- led the oppo-
sition to the bill. He favored, he said,
just appropriations for the great water
ways of the country but he did not be-
lievesuch appropriations should be op-
posed by the improvement of unim-
portant streams. He added that even
though he might favor every item in
this bill. he would oppose it's passage
under motion to suspend the rules,
which would prevent debate and amend
ment.
An explanation of this unusual pro-
ceeding was that some of the MEM
bers were clamoring for larger appro-
priations and it was not safe to trust the
bill in their hands. lest it's items should
be largely increased. That might be
the correct explanation. This bill car
ried liabilities amounting to over $751;
100000, which, with the amount actually