The San Francisco call., 1896-03-10
Saws the Natives Have No Gov
ernment and Are Strag.
CLING Bands.
GIVES GRANT AS AUTHORITY.
Believes the Views of the Great
General Should Apply to the
Present Situation.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 9.-The
Cuban belligerency resolution as reported
from the conference CON mittee did not
have the plain smooth sailing in the Senate
to-day which the resolutions OF the same
import had when they were reported from
the Committee on Foreign Relations. AT
that time there was practically no obstacle
interposed to them, but to-day when the
conference report was taken up in the Sen
ate it was attacked by Hale OF Maine in
two hours speech of great force and earn
estness, and then it had to give way to
question of still higher privilege than
conference report-that is, the right OF
each State to be represented in the Senate
of the United States. That question is di-
rectly involved in the report of the Com
mlttee on Privileges and Elections, to the
effect that Dupont is entitled to the vacant
seat in the Senate from the State OF Della
ware.
The negative of that proposition was
asserted to-day in speech by Turpie CD
of Indiana, one of the minority of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections.
His contention was that Mr.. Watson,
while acting Governor OF Delaware, was
State Legislature and had a right to vote
IN the general assembly, and that his vote
being counted Mr.. Dupont had not a
majority of all the votes cast.
The question may come up tomorrow
whether this report of the conference
committee is not matter of higher privi
lege than the claim to a seat in the Senate.
Sherman, it is understood. holds that it is,
but if the decision should be otherwise,
and if there be any real desire to defeat or
postpone the Cuban resolutions, the Du-
pont case may be used as parliamentary
means for doing SO.
There were large crowds in the galleries
at the opening of the session this morning
in anticipation Of action and discussion of
the Cuban resolutions. The chaplain's
prayer was terse and comprehensive. 1t
was comprised in a single sentence and
was an invocation to the divinity to
''streteh out thy right hand to be a de-
fense against all our enemies.
Numerous petitions were presented from
the States of Delaware, South Dakota, Ar
kansas and Kentucky in favor OF recog
nizing God in the constitution OF the
United States.
a bill for the punishment of offenses on
the high seas (revolt. mutiny, assault and
riotl was reported from the Judiciary Com.
mittee, and was, after some opposition on
the part of Call (D.) of Florida. passed.
Dubois Or. } of Idaho repor ted from the
Committee on Public Lands bill, which
he explained as one meeting the objec-
tions of the President and of citizens of
Arizona to the bill on school lands, re-
Gently passed by Congress and vetoed by
the President. He said the report was
unanimous and that he would ask action
upon it very soon.
Cockrell 3D. of Missouri gave notice of
his purpose to address the Senate to-mor-
row on the question of amending the reve-
nue. bill.
AT 10 P. NJ. Sherman (R.) of Ohio called
up the conference report on the Cuban
resolutions.
Thereupon Hoar (R.) of Massachusetts
offered a resolution, which went over
under the rules, that the consideration of
the conference report relating to Cuba be
postponed until Monday, April 6, and that
the Committee on Foreign Relations be
directed to report the facts which, IN its
opinion, justify the adoption of such reso-
lutions with the evidence therefor.
Hoar also offered a resolution, which
was agreed TO, requesting the President to
communicate to the Senate ESQ far as not
incompatible with the public interests) all
the facts in his possession relating to the
existing conflict in the island of Cuba, and
especially such as effect the interests and
duty of the United States in the premises.
The conference report on the Cuban con-
current resolutions having been laid before
the Senate Hale (R.) of Maine spoke in
opposition 10 it. He was one of the few
Senators, he said, who had voted against
the concurrent resolutions reported from
the Committee on Foreign Relations, and
he had seen no reason since to regret his
action, and should vote against the con-
ference report.
All the reasons that he gave since then
had grown in strength. The conditions
existing did not, he believed, justify a
recognition of those in rebellion against a
friendly Government as beiligerents. The
inhammatory appeals of Senators, based
upon statements that were not corrobo-
rated, were not sufficient to persuade him
to act other than he had acted. Subse-
quent events and later information only
proved, Hale said, the business of the posi-
ton he had assumed.
Hale then reviewed the history Of the
previous insurrection in Cuba and the ac-
ton of the House then, which was almost
identical with that had at this time. For
tunately for the country and its peace,
General Grant was in the Pre- sidentiaI
chair at the time and refused to take the
action urged by the House. General Grant
was as great lover of liberty, Hale said
as was any member of the Committee on
Foreign Relations, and knew PROBABLY
great deal more about the subject of bel
ligerent rights. The message he sent to
Congress was such a clear expression of
the law that the resolution of the House
went for naught and all the excitement
was at once abated.
Hale said he did not intend to speak at
length upon the subject, but would be
content TO cite quotations from President
Grants message, which, although sent to
Congress during the previous insurrection,
was as applicable to the present day as
though it had been freshly laid on the
desk OF the presiding officer of the Senate.
Hale then sent to the clerks desk and