The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-22
The senate.

inc Seuute.
Washington, December 2i-The senate
galleries were crowded long before the
hour of assembling today. Petitions from
many quarters urged recognition Of Cuban
independence. The foreign delegation was
well represented In the diplomatic gallery.
At l2.20 p. m. while the routine business
was proceeding Mr. Cameron arose and In
voice hardly audible presented the re-
port of the committee on foreign rela-
tons favorable to the resolution for Cuban
independence. He asked that the resolution
and report be printed and laid on the table
and that 800 additional copies OF the re-
port be printed.
MIR. Sherman interposed to ask IL 1t was
understood that the resolution was to re-
main on the table until after the holidays.
Mr.. Cameron answered In the attirma-
tive.
Mr.. Morgan tDem.) of Alabama present
ed supplementary report on the Cuban
resolution. He said 1t was offered in be-
half Of himself and Mr.. Mills of the COM
mittee. who fully concurred ia the report
of Mr.. Cameron. but desired to give some
additional facts to justify tho action Of
the committee.
Mr.. Sherman presented two favorable
reports from the committee on foreign re
latons On the resolutions offered by Mr..
Call (Dem.) of Florida. The first reso-
luton requests the secretary of state to
furnish list of all United States citi-
zens confined In Spanish prisons. Tho
other resolution requested the executive
branch to demand the release of ali
United States citizens confined at the
Spanish penal colony on the island OF
Ceuta, of The African coast.
Mr.. Hi1l (Dem) of New York who had
been seeking TO secure recognition, now
asked II either OF the reports by Mr.. Cam
eron and Mr.. Morgan discussed the con-
stitutional power of congress TO pass the
resolutions az reported. and whether the
reports were confined to the propriety of
passing the resolutions.
Mr. Cameron responded that the conrtl :
tutonal power OF congress ought TO be
conceded by everybody.
From that l judge the constitutional
power is not discussed in the reports -
said Mr. Hill.
Mr.. Morgan. who was on his feet, turn
ed toward MIR. Hill and said
ITO discuss propriety is simply prepos-
ferrous"
Such a view may be entirely satisfac-
tory to the member from Alabama" an
swered Mr. Hill. Il simply desired to Tin
derstand that the constitutional question
| MIR. Vest, Dem.). OF Missouri. came for.
ward at this point in some pointed remarks
which promised to open the whole Cubar
| question He prefaced them with the pre-
| sentation OF resolution recitng that tn,
power of recognizing independence does no
reside exclusively with the president, bu
is vested in congress and the presiden
jointly
The resolution is as follows
| "RagnlypH that the president 10 In
| vested by the constitution with cxclusiv
powers TO determine when the indepen
dence Of a foreign people shall be recog
nized by the United States, but this pc We
is vested n congress and the president t
be exercised in conformity with section
article ]. Of the constitution"
Mr.. Vest said he had been astonshed a
seeing the extraordinary statement mad
by Secretary Olney saying that the actio
of congrers concerning Cuba would be or
tirely ineffective.
II was the first time. Mr. Vest said ths
cabinet minister had thus addressed ii
public. When the Hawaiian question wa
under consideration the senator had e,
amined the subject OF recognition and ha
reached the conclusion that the preslder
did not have the exclusive power of recct
nition
at is to me a most astounding produC
tion." said Mr.. Vest, that while the col
stitution gives to congress the oyolusi'
war making power, the president alone
able TO take action toward recognizing IL
dependence which may bring on war"
The senator cited the recognition OF Vel
ezuelan independence by congress and nj
by the president
As Mr. Vest was about to proceed, NJ
Hale tRep.) OF Maine interposed poll
of order, He did no, think this discussic
could proceed under the senate rules will
out unanimous conseat.
Since the resolution and report ha'
gone over" said Mr. Hale, II do not thin
1t proper that tine senator ,VesD shou
precipitate debate on this subject at tn
time"
Mr. Stewart fPop) of Nevada. asked I,
unanimous consent, but MIR. Vest proceeds
with his remarks.
This furry over. Mr.. Hill again secure
recognition and offered joint resoiutid
declaring that state Of war existed