The herald., 1896-02-11
The Senate Lays Out a Definite
Program
TALK ON TARIFF TOPICS
Recognition of Cuba and Monroe Doc.
trine Resolution
Are Each Given a Set Time for Hearlng-The
Work Done Yesterday in House
and Senate

senate failed to accomplish much today,
the session served to make definite the
program on a number of important sub
jects.
Mr.. Morrill,, chairman of the finance
committee, gave notice that he would call
up the tariff bill on next Wednesday.
Mr.. Call secured unanimous consent that
the Cuban question be made the special
order following the deficiency appropria-
ton bill.
Mr.. Davis, author of the Davis resolution
on the Monroe doctrine, gave notice that
on next Monday he would call up the reso-
luton. Thus the three most important
pending questions were given a dehnita
time for hearing.
During the morning hour Mr.. Cameron,
Republican, Pennsylvania, offered the
following joint resolution relative to the
termination of the war in Cuba:
"kesolved, That whereas the president
of the United States in his last annual
message to this body says. Neither the
warmth of our peoples sympathy with the
Cuban insurgents nor our losses and ma
terial damage consequent upon the futile
endeavors thus far made to restore peace
and order. nor any shock our human re-
sponsibilities may have received from the
cruelties which appear to especially char
acterize this sanRcinary and fiercely con-
Quoted war, have in the least shaken the
determination of the government to hon
estly fulfill every international obligation: !:
yet it is to be earnestly hoped, on every
flict may speedily be stayed and order and
quiet restored to the distracted island,
bringing in their train the activity and
thrift and
"Whereas, He also declares that the
present revolt is more active than the one
which continued from 1868 to 1878, and
as it appears there are no means of secur-
ing permanent peace to Cuba except by
the recognition of its right to self-govern-
ment, the good offices of the United States
are earnestly recommended to the favor
able consideration of the Spanish govern
| ment for the recognition OF the independ-
| ence of Cuba.''
Mr.. Thurpton, Republican of Nebraska,
briefly called attention to published re-
ports that he was the author of bill re-
Gently introduced giving pensions to ex-
slaves. The senator explained that the
! measure was introduced "by request" and
| he was entitled to no credit for it.
When the routine business cleared away
Mr.. Smith, Democrat of New Jersey, adj
dressed the senate on the Monroe doctrine.
Senator Smith announced that he was
opposed to the adoption of the resolutions
proposed by his colleague, Mr.. Sewell, and
quite as strongly opposed to those reported
by the foreign relations committee, and he
supplemented these two assertions with the
remark that he had very little sympathy
with the position assumed by the senator
from Colorado (Woicott). There was, he
argued, no occasion for any act of any
kind upon this subject by the senate at
this time. Both houses of congress, by the
passage of the resolution providing for the
appointment of a commission to determ-
inc the true divisional line between Vene-
zuela and British Guiana had done all that
the president and secretary of state,
charged with the responsibility of diplo-
matte negotiations with other powers, de-
sired and all that the people expected.
"We have," he said, 'done all that either
prudence can justify or patriotism demand.
We have met the situation outlined to us
by the president in such Il manner as to
show that there is no division of sentiment
in the government of the United States
when any question of national honor is in
volved. 1t is not only unnecessary but I'M
wise either to qualify or intensity our ac.
ton thus taken in response to both an ex-
ecutive and public demand"
Later on in his speech Senator Smith
said: 1.-THE Monroe doctrine does apply to
the controversy between Great Britain and
ly as il the flying squadron were now in a
Venezuelan port demanding the submits
sion of people who have achieved their
independence. To define the methods by
which a foreign power may accomplish it's
purposes by evading technicalities is to
nulfffy absolutely the American principle
upon which we take our stand"
The proper way and the only way 10
apply effectually the Monroe doctrine in
dealing with foreign powers was to apply it
to each individual case as it might arise.
The ringing message of the president of
the United States promptly supported by
the unanimous vote of both houses of con-
gress and by the unanimous sentiment of
the country was, he said, sufficient notice
to every power IN the civilized world that
the Monroe doctrine was fixed principle
of this government, to be maintained in
all cases and at llhazards. ,
The senator believed the people were
satisfied.
'.They,'' he said, shave had enough.
They want no more jingoism. They are
sick and tired of the constant injection of
party politics and personal ambition into
our dealings with other nations. They are
suffering from our inaction upon matters
of most vital Importance. Indeed, it is a
fact, and we may as well admit it first as
last, that the great majority of the people
throughout the country are disgusted with
congress in general and the senate in par
ticuar. The most popular thing we could
do today, and probably in the present con-
diton of affairs the most beneficial thing
we could do, would be to pass the neces-
sary appropriation bills and go home. The
mere fact that we are in session is O
menace to the revival of business and the
return of prosperity"
Mr.. Lindsay, Democrat, of Kentucky,
gave notice of an amendment to the house
tariff bill, proposing to repeal the provis-
ions of the present tariff law which pro-
vides d duty of one-eighlh of cent per
pound on all sugars above No. l6 Dutch
standard and OH all discolored sugars
Consideration was resumed of the reso-
luton directing the secretary of agricul-
ture to carry out the law for the distribu-
ton of seeds. and Mr.. Vest, Democrat, of
Missouri, renewed his criticism of the Sec
retary. The senator called attention to O
published interview with the secretary of
agriculture inviting impeachment, and inn
plying that the president would veto the
resolution if congress passed it. In view
of these statements, Mr.. Vest said the
president should have full information on
the subject, and he proceeded to show
from agricultural department reports that
the secretary had himself, though oppos.
ing the seed law, fused the appropriation