The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-28
A STRING INCIDENT.
The House Wildly Excited Over the
Cuban Resolutions.

The House Wildly Excited Over the
Cuban Resolutions.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28.-An exciting
incident occurred just before the House
adjourned yesterday. The strong
resolutions prepared by the foreign
affairs committee for the recognition
of the Cuban belligerents had been
presented earlier in the day amid
scene of great enthusiasm.
Several times during their reading
the clerk was interrupted with rounds
of ringing applause from the floor and
the galleries, and the reference to sin
tervention if necessary" was greeted
with cheers. On the conclusion of the
reading Mr.. Sulzer, Democrat, of New
York, jumped to his feet and asked in
view of the great public interest in
the question raised by the resolutions
that they be made a special order for
Tuesday next
Mr. Meredith, Democrat, of Vir-
gInia suggested that they be passed
Immediately, a suggestion that was
approved with more cheers.
Mr. Hit, however, interviewed and
said the committee had instructed him
to press the resolutions at the earliest
possible moment.
Thereupon the excitement su bsided
and the debate on the Van Horn
Tarsney election case was resumed.
1t was after this casehad been decided
that Mr.. Hit again arose to call up
the Cuban resolutions
So many gentlemen, said he, had
asked him to lay the proposition be-
fore the house, that in obedience to
their request and the instructions of
the committee to call up the resolu-
tiOns at the earliest possible moment,
h
their immediate consideration. A
scene of enthusiasm that put the house
into a perfect furore greeted the re-
quest.
II do not wish to make speech on
these resolutions" continued Mr.. Hit.
'They are brief and present a plain,
simple proposition on question with
which everyone is familiar"
Amid cries of vote" ''vote," Mr..
Bailey, Democrat, of Texas said he
would make no objection to voting on
the resolutions separately, but he was
opposed to the last resolution, which
pledged the support of Congress in
advance to anything the executive
might do. Mr.. Hit was saying that
he thought there would be objec-
ton to striking out that resolution,
and Mr.. Turner, Democrat, of Georgia
was on the floor asking if unanimous
consent were required, when Mr.. Bou-
telle, Repu b1ican, of Maine sprang to
his feet, fairly bristling with pugnac-
itY. In a voice that arrested The in
slant attention of the House, he said:
81 understand these resolu tons accord
belligerent rights to the Cuban insur-
gents, an action that might involve
the United States in a war with Spain"
That's what we want" cried sew
eral members.
WELL" continued Mr.. Boutelle, i'm
petuously, Il object to their passage
without word of explanation"
Mr.. Hit tried to dissuade Mr.. Bou-
telle, but the latter was obdurate.
why" said he. lit is already 8
o'clock, and l consider this proposition
to take up resolutions of such mo-
mentous gravity in this way an amaz-
ing one. 1 want the reasons; 1 want
to see whether the resolutions appeal
to my judgment as an American citl-
patriot l object to the present con-
sideration of a resolution of that
gravity"
These latter words were delivered
with great emphasis. Mr.. Hit was
evidently greatly chagrined. He had
prepared the request, he said, in de-
ference to what he thought was the
unanimous wish of all. Meantime,
other members were continuing their
appeals to Mr.. Boutelle, until that
gentleman turned savagely upon them
and declared that he did not propose
to vote at a moments notice to in
volve his country in war with coun-
try with which we are now at peace.
The House then at 5:1o o'clock, ad-
iOurned.