Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-05
HARRISON WON, COBB LOST
Elections Committee No. | Re-
ports to the House
TWO ALABAMA CONTESTS
The Cuban Resolutions Were Called Up and
Fully Discussed.
a VOTE WILL BE TAKEN ON MONDAY
Hit Icied to Get a Vote Y Yesterday-G en-
eral Wheeler Spoke in Opposition.
Bartlett Explained His Connection
With the Gibson Circular.

Washington, April 4.--Under considera-
tion by unanimous consent the following
measures were passed by the house:
House bill authorizing the New Orleans
Pacific Railroad company to take wild
lands ia lieu of lands in its grant settled
ON by about 100 settlers in Louisiana.
Concurrent resolution authorizing the
printing of $500 copies of the CONNER
cial Relations" and 10000 copies of the
Commercial Review of the World"
Mr. Fisher, republican, of New York,
asked unanimous consent for the present
consideration of the resolution directing
the secretary of agriculture to carry out
seed distribution as formerly and put
up packages as members should direct.
He said they were divided into packages
of fifteen each, which was undesirable
2 in many cases
Mr. Loud, republican, of California, OBJ
jected.
MIR Daniels presented the majority re-
port of elections committee No. l in the
contested election case of GOODWIN VS..
Cobb from the Fifth Alabama district,
which favored the contestant. He an
nounced that the minority would have
week to prepare their report and that
the case will be called up one week from
Monday next,
Mr.. Leonard presented the unani-
nous report of the same committee in
the case of Robinson against Harrison
from the Third Alabama district in fa-
vor of the contestee and asked its inn
mediate consideration. 1t was agreed to
unanimously.
Mr. Hit of Illinois then called up the
conference report on the Cuban resolu-
tions and Mr.. Adams. republican, of
Pennsylvania, one of the members of the
committee, took the fioor He devoted
his opening remarks to the consideration
of the statement made yesterday that
sentiment had changed with respect to
recognizing the belligerency of the Gu
bans since the passage of the original
resolutions in the house. He denied this.
Sentiment on this subject he said, had
not changed, either in congress or among
the American people, and the only MEN,
bers of the senate who opposed recogni-
tion now are those who objected when
the pending resolutions were before that
body. He deprecated the attempt to cre-
ate race prejudice against the Cubans
and asserted thatsall the leaders, except
Ing Maceo, were whites, and not negroes
and mulattoes, as has been reported He
quoted from the correspondence sent to
congress some weeks ago to show that
the best class of Cubans had Joined the
insurgents. Spain had not kept the
promises which she had made to the Gu
bans after the last rebellion. and this
was the cause of the present uprising.
Mr.. Adams, in concluding, said that
Spain would not conquer Cuba and that
Cuba would join the ranks of those ma
tions whose governments are dedicated
to the highest and best interests of man.
where white and black had fhe same civil
and religious rights. and which were ad-
ministered without domination from any.
European power. (Applause.)
Mr.. Knox. republican, of Massac chu-
SnttS. said that a state of did axiSt
dn Cuba that somewhere among the fast
ness of the mountains of that island, the
ancient stronghold of liberty. there had
been established government founded
upon justice and equality of msn, and
that the Cuban army had made marches,
fought battles and endured privatIons
which had challenged the admiration of
the world. The duty devolved upon the
United States. where free government
had Its highest development, to recognize
the belligerency of the Cuban insurgents
that they might have their liberty and
that they might sbe as free as ourselves.
Mr. Gillette, republican of Massacilu-
sets. opposed the resolutions. He ad-
mitted that the overwhelming sentiment
of the house as manifested by the vote of
several weeks ago probably represented
public opinion But this matter should
not be directed by public opinion. for the
reason that public opinion was not the
law and right of the case, but considered
II only as an expression of sympathy
with the Cubans. The passage of these
resolutions, Mr.. Gillette said, would ac-
cnmplish no good result. Granting bel
ligerency rights to the Cubans was not
a function or prerogative of the legi5la-
tive power. but of the executive, and the
passage of the resolutions would be an
usurpation on the part of congress. The
motive behind the resolutions Mr.. Gill
lete said. the reason why the Cubans de-
sired their passage was that they would
fn ua Gnaip nd "a
United States. Such a conflict. In his
opinion was the only hope of Cuban in
dependence, and that explained why the
resolutions were here.
When Mr.. Gillette had concluded an ef-
fort was made by Mr.. Hit to secure an
agreement to close the debate and take
a vote today, but in this he was unsuc-
cessful. A great majority of members
present wanted to vote at o'clock, but a
number desired TO speak, and it was
finally arranged to debate the report the
rest of the day, including night session.
and take a vote on Monday Immediately
after the reading of the journal.
Mr.. Cockrell. democrat of Texas. earn
estly advocated the cause of Cuba. 1t
was time he said. that belligerent rights
were accorded those struggling for free
dom. If the matter were left to him he
would go further than the resolutions
proposed. Spain had for years sucked
the very life blood out of every one of
her colonies. If he had the power he
would take Spain by the throat, have her
remove WeyIer, and free Cuba and COM
mand her to Keep her hands off. (Ap-
plause.l
Mr. EIlet, democrat of Virginia, oppos
ed the resolutions on the ground that the
insurgents had not yet reached that con-
dition which would justify extending bell
ligerent rights to them He advised that
the house tuf it's attention to the nter-
nal affairs OF the country and leave In
terpattorat matters alone for a time at
least.
Mr.. New,ands silver;te, OF Nebraska.
advocating the adoption OF the rerort.
said the senate resolutions were suhstan-
TALLY the same as those which had re-
Gently passed the house, although prob
: ably not couched IN such diplomatic Ian