The record-union., 1896-12-22
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
WAS NO SPECIAL EXCITEMENT
MANIFESTED
In the Matter of the Joint Resolution
Acknowledging the Inde-
pendence of Cuba.

WASHINGTON, Dec. o1.-There was
no special excitement manifested to-day
by either the Senators or by the general
public in the matter of the joint reso-
luton acknowledging the independence
of the Republic of Cuba. The galleries
We're not occupied to the extent of two
thirds of their capacity. The proceed
ings were of a formal and uninterest-
ing character. They consisted merely
of reporting the joint resolution by
Cameron R) of Pennsylvania from
the Committee on Foreign Relations,
and of the offering of various substi-
tutes for it on the part of the Sena-
tors.
Vest Cd of Missouri presented a res
olution declaring that the exclusive
power to determine when the indie
rendence of a foreign nation strug-
Cling to establish a government for
themselves is vested by the Constitution
not in the President of the United
States, but in Congress, and he gave
notice that he would address the SEN
ate tomorrow in support of that dec
laration.
Hill CD offered a substitute for the
Committee joint resolution declaring
that a state of war exists in Cuba, ac-
ccrding belligerent rights to Cuba, and
announcing that the United States will
provide a state of neutrality between
the belligerents.
Bacon Cd of Georgia offered a res
olution asserting that the question of
recognition of any people as a free and
independent nation is a question ex-
clusively for the determination of Con-
gress, and does not appertain to the
Executive Department. and still an
other resolution was offered by Chiffon
CD Of Texas declaring that a condi-
ton of public war exists between the
Government Of Spain and the Govern
ment which for some time has been
maintained by force of arms by the
people of Cuba, and that the United
States will maintain a strict neutrality
between the contending parties, accord
ing to each all the rights of belliger-
ents in the ports and territory of the
United States.
These various resolutions and sub
stituteS We're either laid on the table
with the Foreign Relations Committee
report or were referred to the Commit
tee ON Judiciary. The whole subject,
however, will be open to discussion to-
morrow, when Vest calls up his reso-
luton.
The Senate to-day passed Calls res
olution referring to the alleged impriS-
onment of American citizens in Span
ish penal settlements. 1t directs the
Secretary of State to send to the Sen
ate a report of all naturalized citizens
of the United States whose arrest and
imprisonment, trial or conviction, or
sentence, either to imprisonment at the
penal colony of Ceuta or elsewhere, he
has any information, and that he shall
inform the Senate in such report of the
persons now held in confinement at
Ceuta. and of the charges, briefly
stated, on which they were condemned,
and the nature of the evidence, so far
as the same appears ON the files of the
State Department.
There was no other business of i'm
portance transacted to-day.
An effort was made by Gear (R.) of
Iowa to have the Pacific railroad fund
ing bill made the unfinished business,
but objection was interposed. and Gear
gave notice that he would call up that
bill Immediately after the rcassembling
of Congress after the holiday recess.
At $3.50 the Senate, after short ex-
ecutive session, adjourned until to-
morrow.