The Press., 1896-12-24
.;WaslaanwtOn Letter.
Washington. Dec. 91 at. 1s9G

Washington, Dec. @1 St, 1898
 Secretary Ol1ey Is much chagrined at the action of the senate committee on foreign relations in unanimously report ing clean cut resolution for the recogni- | tion, of'the independence of the Cuban republic, after he had taken the trouble to personally appear before the committee and give the reason why the administra- tion did not deem any action advisable at the present. While it is not probable that anything Secretary Olney could have said would have prevented the action of the committee, 1t Is said that the con- mittee would not have been unanimous had MT. Olney not attempted to argue that the right to recognize new state rests alone with the president, ,independent of congress, an argument which he later elaborated and made public. Senators are especially jealous of any encroach- ments by the executive upon the preroga- lives of the legislative branch of the government. 3<J ~.. .--
 There are few men in either branch of congress who doubt that war with Spain would follow the recognition, at this time of the independence of Cuba by the U.S., but there are many who do not expect to see that recognition by the present ad- ministration, unless public opinion shall declare itself so strongly in favor of the recognition resolution, which has been re- ported to the senate, as to cause those who are now determined to oppose that resolution by all parliamentary methods at their disposal to content themselves with voting against 1t. To be effective this resolution must not only be adopted, but 1t must be able to command tWo-t thirds of both the senate and the house, as 1t is no secret that it will be vetoed by PresidentClevelandi if it ever reaches him, and Mir. Olney says he will not act upon 1t if 1t be adopted over his veto. The resolution being reported to the senate on the eve of the christmas recess will give the public chance to discuss it during the next two weeks, and to make known whether the sympathy of the people for Cuba Is strong enough to justify our taking step that will almost surely lead to war, as our recognition of the fn- dependence of Cuba would mako it in .eumbent upon us, under the Monroe doctrine, to assist in maintaining that in- dependence if Cuba Is unable to do it with out assistance.
 There are some seandalous rumors floating around Washington to the effect that the decision to report the Cameron resolution for the recognition of Cuban independence, which was so sudden that none of the members of the house con- mittee on foreign affairs had any advance notice of 1t, was the result of a stock jobbing scheme. According to this rumor if some of the senators were not in this scheme they were made he victims of outside spectators. It Is said that heavy orders to sell stocks which would be likely to fall on 8 war scare went from Washington to New York before the committee met on the day that it was decided to. report the resolution.
 The house committee on public build ings has reported-a big batch of public building bills, and they have been placed on the. calendar, but unless the powers that De shall relent between this and the 3rd of March there isn't much hope for these measures.i
 It would not be bad idea to compel all men elected to either the senate or the house to show by. a thorough examination l that they know at least the fundamental principles of the IS. constitution. There isn't session in which some senator or representative doesn't make conspiclous display of his ignorance ofthe constitution The latest offender is Representative Barrett, of Mass, who. introduced abill making only senators and Representatives eligible for the president's cabinet, which would directly conflict with provision of the constitution. MT. Barrett is a college graduate and has been a successful newspaper man. Secretary Olney's claim that congress has no power for the recog- ! Ol u uOW SlbG0 ILoG CdUIuCL officers might also be included in the ex- amipation. .:
 Representative Bailey, of Texas, stren- uously objected to the bill appropriating $30,O for federal building at the Tennessee centennial exposition and $10O- 900 for government exhibit, and twenty four other members voted with him, and enough to break quorum refrained from voting, but Speaker Reed counted quo rum and the bill passed.
 The Huntington railroad lobby will eat their Christmas turkey and trimmings in better spirits than they hoped to when they saw congress decide to take two weeks recess from Dec. g to Jan. 5, owing to the committee on Rules having report ed resolution which was adopted by the house setting aside the four days beginning Jan. 7th, for the consideration of the Pacific Railroad Funding Bill