Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-03-05
AGAIN TALKING ITAD
The Spanish Trouble the Principal
Topic at Washington.
NOTHING SERIOUS IS ApPREHgygg9
Generally Believed, However That some
Positive Action VIII Soon BE
Taken Looking to the
Freeing of Cuba.


Taken Looking to the
Freeing of Cuba.
Washington, March 3.-War talk is
again absorbing the attention of our
national lawmakers to the exclusion
of almost every other subject, and in
the hotel lobbies nothing else is heard
but discussion of the trouble with
Spain. Of course, no one seriously be-
lieves that nothing more than talk will
result in our relations with Spain, but
that it is the intention of this govern
ment to take some step looking to the
freeing of the Cubans, and that speedi-
ly, too, is the general belief here. No
significance can be attached to Spains
prompt action in disayowing and offer
ing to make amends to the United
States for the outbreak of mob vio-
lence at Barcelona. Nevertheless,
this action, and especially the fact that
it was taken Immediately after news
of the affair reached the Spanish gov
ernment, without waiting for any sug-
gestion from the United States will
tend greatly to relieve the situation
mob's attack on our consulate 1t is
perhaps in part owing to these official
advices that the excitement in Spain
over the action of the United States
senate, leading up to the insult to the
United States consulate at Barcelona,
fails to find corresponding reflex in
Washington, at least in official circles,
and almost everywhere the feeling is
that the affair is not one which neces-
sarily must lead to hostilities. A good
indication that no serious trouble is eX-
pected is afforded by the course of af-
fairs in the navy and war departments,
which ran along this morning in the
usual quiet manner
Authority To Enlarge Our Navy.
In view of the war talk, the action
of the senate yesterday in passing
bill to enlarge the navy is significant.
1t was agreed to without a dissenting
voice, and through it there is placed in
the hands of the president restricted
power with which to deal with the
Spanish-Cuban situation, should the
emergency arise The bill provides
for the enlistment this fall of 900 men
for the new ships now in commission,
and appropriates S3sO,ooO for their
compensation; it also gives the presi-
dent power, in the event such author
ity becomes necessary, to enlist such
part of the naval militia about 5000
men) for period of two years, giving
full compliments for such vessels that
do not have full crews, and authorizes
him to charter steamers as transports
for troops.
House Cuban Resolutions.
The Cuban resolutions passed by the
house yesterday just before adjourn
ment are now in the hands of the com
mittee on foreign affairs of the senate
and a report is expected tomorrow.
They were passed by the. house after
two hours spirited debate, under the
limitations of a suspension of the
rules, by a vote of 2Gs to
tions reported last week by the house
committee on foreign affairs declaring
that in the opinion of congress a state
of public war exists in Cuba the parties
to which are entitled to bclligerent
rights and between which the United
States should use its good offices
and influences to that end and that
the United States should be prepared
to protect the legitimate interests of
its citizens in Cuba by intervention if
necessary. The last of the series of
resolutions reported by the committee,
pledging the support of congress to
the president in carrying out the fore
going, was stricken out, it being
thought unnecessary, being covered
in the others.