The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-24
CUBAN MEASURES GALORE.
SENATE WAS DELUGED WITH
REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS
YESTERDAY.
GOES OVER TILL AFTER HOLIDAYS
q'he Cameron Measure Set Aside for the
Time Being-The immigration Bill
Was Sent to Conference BY
the House.

ltTleS were CrONueu lOuS DelOTe tue uOu
for assembling today. Petitions fron
many quarters urged recognition of Gu
ban independence.
The foreign delegation was well repre-
sented in the diplomatic gallery.
AT 1920 p. M, while the routine bust
ness was proceeding, Mr.. Cameron aros,
and in voice hardly audible presented
the report of the committee on foreign
relations favorable to the resolution fol
Cuban independence. He asked that the
resolution and report be printed and lait
on the table and that 500 additional
copies of the report be printed
Mr.. Sherman asked if it was under,
stood that the resolution was to remain
on the table until after the holidays.
Mr.. Cameron answered in the affrma.
tive.
Mr.. Morgan (dem.) of Alabama pre-.
sented a supplementary report on the
Cuban resolution. He said it was Of
fered in behalf of himself and Mr.. Mills
of the foreign relations committee, who
fully concurred in the report of Mr.. Cam
eron, but desired to give some additional
facts to justify the action of the COM
mittee.
MIR. Sherman presented two favorable
reports from the committee on foreign re-
lations on the resolutions offered by Mr..
Call (dem.) of Florida.
The first resolution requests the sccre-
tary of state to furnish list of all
United States citizens confined in Span
ish prisons. The other resolution re-
quested the executive branch to demand
the release of all United States citizens
confined at the Spanish penal colony on
the island of Ceuta, off the African
coast.
Mr.. Hill (dem.) of New York, who had
been seeking to secure recognition, now
asked if either of the reports by Mr.. Cam
eron and Mr.. Morgan discussed the con-
stitutional power of congress t. pass the
resolutions as reported and whether the
reports were confined to the propriety
of passing the resolutions.
Mr.. Cameron responded that the con-
stitutional 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
turned toward Mr.. Hill and said:
ITO discuss propriety is simply pre-
posterous"
"Such view may be entirely salts
factory to the member from Alabama"
answered Mr.. Hill. 81 simply desired
to understand that the constitutional
question was not discussed
Mr.. Vest (dem.) of Missouri came for
ward at this point in some pointed re-
marks which promised to open the whole
Cuban question. He prefaced them
with the presentation of a resolution re-
citing that the power of recognizing in
dependence does not reside exclusively
with the president, but is vested in CON
gress and the president jointly. The res
olution is as follows:
Resolved, That the president is not
invested by the constitution with exclu-
sive powers to determine when the indie
pendence of foreign people, struggling
to establish a government for themselves,
shall be recognized by the United States,
but this power is vested in congress and
the president, to be exercised in con-
formity with section Z, article 1 of the
constitution"
Mr.. Vest said he had been astonished
at seeing the extraordinary statement
made by Secretary Olney, saying that
the action of congress concerning Cuba
would be entirely ineffective.
1t was the first time, Mr., Vest said
hot mi OH haI hnc
ed the public. When the Hawaiian
question was under consideration the sen.
ate had examined the subject of recog.
milton and had reached the conclusion
that the president did not have the ex.
elusive power of recognition.
1T is to me a most astounding produc.
tion," said Mr.. Vest, that while the con.
stitution gives to congress the exclusive
war-making power, the president alone
is able to take action toward recognizing
Independence, which may bring on war
The senator cited the recognition OF
Venezuelan independence by congress and
not by the president.
AS Mr.. Vest was about to proceed, Mr.
Hale (rep.) of Maine interposed a point
of order. He did not think this discus,
sion could proceed under the senate rules
without unanimous consent.
"Since the report and resolution have
gone over" said Mr.. Hale, II do not
think it proper that the senator Vest
should precipitate debate at this time"
Mr.. Stewart. (pop.) of Nebraska asked
for unanimous consent, but Mr.. Vest
yielded, saying he would speak on the res
olution tomorrow.
This furry over, Mr.. Hill again secured
recognition and offered joint resolution
declaring that a state of war existed in
Cuba; that the parties thereto are en-
titled to q recognition Of belligerent rights
and that the United States will maintain
a strict neutrality towards them.
Two more Cuban resolutions, one from
Mr.. Bacon (dem.) of Georgia and an
other from Mr.. Chiffon (dem.) of Texas,
were introduced.
Mr. Bacon said his resolution was de-
signed to get from the. judiciary commit
tee an authoritative statement as to the
powers of the executive and Legislative
branches concerning recognition. His
resolution recites that the power of rec
ognition resides exclusively with the leg.
islative branch and that the prerogative
should not belong to the executive, eX.
cept in so far as his veto may affect.
The Bacon resolution was referred tc
the judiciary committee.
Mr.. Chilton's resolution is as follows
Resolved, That a condition of public
war exists between the government OF
Spain and the government which has
been formally maintained by force OF
htr hn Af La