The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-09
WILL Be VOTED on MONDAY
THE FATE OF THE CUBAN RESO-
LUTIONS WILL BE SETTLED
IN THE HOUSE.
c0CKREA FAVORS The MEASURE.
In Vigorous Speech-Others Speak for
and Against Resolutions-A Bill
Reconveying Lands in Val Verde
County, Texas, Passed.

Washington, April 4.-The house today
decided to vote ON the Cuban resolutions
Monday next Immediately after the read
ing of the journal. This agreement was
accompanied by an understanding that
today's debate on the resolutions should
be continued until the evening.
With the exception of an hour of mis-
cellaneous business at the beginning of
the session the entire day and night ses-
sions were devoted to discussion of the
wisdom and expediency of adopting the
resolutions recognizing Cuban belligerency
and rendering the friendly offices of the
United States for the settlement of the
trouble. Speeches were madeFdn behalf
of the Cubans anffsin favor of the adoption
of the resolutions by Messrs. Adams of
Pennsylvania, Knox of Massachusetts,
Quigg of New York, Cockrell of Texas,
and others, and in opposition to this
course by Messrs. Turner and Russell of
Georgia, Gillette of Massachusetts, Ell
let of Virginia, and others.
On the one hand it was cOntended that
the United States should take position
in favor of the Cubans because the Gu
bans had earned and were entitled to our
sympathy and support, and on the other
hand it had not been demonstrated that
they had made sufficient progress in the
war to justify, under the tactics of ma
tons, recognition as belligerents.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington, April 4.-The house was
the only branch of congress IN session to-
day, and the attendance thefp, both on
the floor and in the galleries, atthe open
ing of the session, was slim, notwithstand-
ing the Cuban resolutions were to be the
subject of consideration for the day.
Several bills of minor Importance were
passed, among them being the following
For the relief of settlers within the in
demnity grant of the New Orleans and
Pacific railroad; to authorize the secretary
of the treasury to recOnvey to former own
ers certain lands in Val Verde county
Texas.
Mr.. Fisher of New York created brief
ripple of interest by Offering a resolution
directing the secretary of agriculture to
comply with the resolution of congress
directing the distribution of seed and have
the seeds enclosed in packages in accord
ance with the directions of senator's and
members. lie asked Tor immediate con-
sideratiOn, but Mr.. Loud (Rep.) of Cali
fornia objected and the resolution went
over.
Mr.. Wilson (Rep.) of Ohio called up the
bill for the protection of the salmon fish
cries of Alaska. prohibiting the erection
of dams, barricades, ETC., in the salmon
streams, such as will prevent the ascent
of salmon or salmon trout, and authOriz-
ing the secretary of the treasury to re-
move such distractions where they exist.
Mr.. Durham (Rep.) of California object
ed and the bill went over.
trar inn .g
month to General John Nj. Thayer was
passed.
Mr.. Leonard (Rep) of Pennsylvania
presented the report of the committee on
elections in the case of w. G. Robert
son VS.. George b. Harrison from the
Third Alabama district, recommending
the adoption of resolution declaring
Mr.. Harrison to be entitled to his seat.
The resolution was agreed to without
debate.
Mr.. Adams (Rep) of Pennsylvania, a
member of the committee on foreign af-
fairs, was the first speaker on the Cuban
resolutions He said he should have
restrained from addressing the house
further on this question but "for the eX.
traordinary performance of the gentle
man from Maine (Ir. Boutelle) yester-
day."
Referring to the charge that the peo-
pie were not behind the effort of con-
gress to grant proper recognition to Gu
ba, he asserted that congress had sell
dom before received so many petitions
on any subject as this. What better
proof could we have of the popularity
of the resolutions? He controverted
Mr.. Boutelle's proposition that the SEN
timent was subsiding and said that the
opposition which had been made had
been for the mere purpose of obstruc
ton. Continuing, Mr.. Adams contend
ed that handful of senators had taken
advantage of the rules of the senate to
prevent the adoption of the conference
report, by filibustering. Speaking to
the merits of the resolutions, Mr.. Adams
said that the Cubans had organized a
form of government and were in every
way entitled to the recognition contem-
plated by the resolutions.
Mr.. Adams read resolutions adopted
by the leading citizens of the town of
Mantau in the province of Pinar del Rio.
announcing adherence to the cause of
the insurgents, to refute the charge that
they had no support in the cities. The
original draft was in Senator Sherman's
possession.
Mr.. Knox (Rep) of Massachusetts
was recognized to read a letter from his
colleague, Mr.. Draper, a member of the
foreign affairs committee, opposing the
adoption of the conference report. Mr.
Knox took occasion to say that he diff
fered from Mr. Draper and made a plea
for affirmative action. He thought that
measures should be taken to put an end
to the barbaric warfare and that for
this country to fail to do this would be