The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-07
The House Passes the Billiger-
ency Resolutions.
ONLY 27 MEMBERS OPPOSE
The Queen of the Antilles
Must be Free.
RIVER AND HARsoR BILL PASSED
Carries Over Ten Millions IL Actual
Appropriations and Provides More
Than Fifty Miiltoos Dollars
for New Projects.
for New Projects.

for New Projects.
Washington, April 6.-The House
to-day adopted the conference report
On the Cuban resolutions by vote
of pa to %; and passed the River and
Harbor bill under smuspension Of the
rules. after a lively debate of forty
minutes, by vote of 216 to 40.
The report on the Cuban resolutions
had been debated Friday and Saturday
and the vote to-day was taken imme-
diately after the reading of the journal.
Eighteen Republicans and nine Demo
Gratis voted against the report. After
the most determined opposition oft those
opposed to the recognition of the in
surgcnts in the Senate and House,
there were but ten more votes against
the report than against the original
resolutions The former vote was 262
to III. BY its action to-day the House
agreed to the Senate resolutions and
disposed of the Cuban question for the
present. Those resolutions We're as
follows:
"Resolved, That in the opinion of
Congress, a condition of public war ex-
lists between the government of Spain
and the government proclaimed and
for some time maintained by force Of
arms by the people of Cuba; and that
the United States Of America should
maintain a strict neutrality between
the conLending powers, according to
each all the rights Of beiligerents IN the
ports and territory Of the United
States.
''Resolved, further, That the friendly
offices of the United States should be
offered bv the President to the Spanish
government for the recognition of the
independence OF Cuba"
Those who voted IN the negative
were as follows:
Republieans-Ar Arnold (Rhode IsElnd),
Atwood, Black (New York;, Boutelle,
Daniels, Draper, Gillet New York;,
Gillet (Massachusetts) Grout, Lefeyre,
Mccall MASSACHUSETTS, Moody, Poole,
Sinlpkins. Wadesworth, Walker Mas
sachusetts), Walker (Nirginia),
Wright-1s.
Democrats Berry, Black Georgia., (,
Culberson, Elicit, Elliott, Lockhart,
Tucker, Turner Georgia. Tyler-19.
The River and Harbor bill passed
to-day carries in actual appropriations
| sic, 1886. 500 and authorizes contracts for
80 new projects with a limit of cost
| Of $51, ,721 ,210.
Only forty minutes debate were al
lowed. Mr.. Hooker, chairman Of the
River and Harbor committee, attempt
ed to secure an extension Of this time,
but first Mr. Mcguire (Dem., Califor-
MAJ and then Mr.. Grosyenor (Rep.,
Ohio) objected.
The debate was very spirited. Mr..
Dockery Dem, Missouri) attacked the
/ recklessness with which it was pro-
posed to extend the continuing con-
tract system in the biIla natural re-
suit, he claimed, of the policy of giving
the governments promise to pay in
| stead of paying cash. He admitted,
| however, the great economy Of the con-
tract system, which Mr.. Burton (Kep.,
Ohio) had stated from official reports
to be 80 per cent. Mr.. Hepburn (Isep.,
Iowal also made a vicious onslaught
on the bill, which, he said, had enough
'sporlx" in it to insure it's passage lie
devoted himself particularly to the
Mississippi river commission, the work
of which he denounced This brought
forth d reply from Mr.. Catchings the
former chairman Of the River and HaF-
bor committee, and defense Of the
measure from Mr.. Hooker (Rep., New
Jersey, the present chairman. When
the vote was finally taken, the majority
ri favor of it was so Overwhelming
that it's opponents were unable to Sc
| cure the ayes and noes.
The Cuban resolutions will be official
~ brought to the attention Of the
| President tomorrow by the Secretary
~ the Senate, who will present him
with am enrolled copy of the document.
Ordinarily, concurrent resolutions are
| not forwarded to the President, as they
do not require his signature, but these
resolutions will be laid before him, as
the Armenian resolutions were, be
cause they express the opinion that he
should tender the offices of the United
states to Spain for the recognition OF
Cuban independence, and are, there
fore direction to him, insofar as
Congress can direct the President in
such proceeding.