The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-22


Congress. Mr.. Shermln, from the commit
tee on foreign relations, reported favorably
the resolutions of Mr.. AL asking ;nr inter
lined in Spanish prisons, AMI which was
agreed to by the Sena-e. Aside from the
Cuban subject the session was not e: :cntful
Mr. Gear made an unsuc esssful Effort to
take up the Pacific Isail-oads retundihE
bill and then give notice 1. would be Urged
after the holidays.
DELUGE OF RESOLUTIONS.
1t was at 1920 p. m. while the routine
business was proceeding, that Mr.. Cameron
arose, and, In a voice hardly audible, pre-
sented the report on foreign relations Ia
vorable to Cuban independence. printed
elsewhere. He asked that the resolution
and report be printed and lay on the table,
and that five hundred additional copies of
the report be printed. Mr.. Sherman inter
posed to ask IL it was understood that the
resolution was to remain on the table until
after the holidays. Mr.. Cameron answered
in the affirmative.
Mr.. Morgan presented supplementary
report on the Cuban resolutions. He said
it was offered in behalf of himself and MIR.
Mills, OF the committee; who Iully coii- or
Cured in the report of Mr.. Cameron, bur
desired to give some additional facts TO
justify the findings of the committee.
Mr. Sherman presented two favorable re-
ports from the committee on foreign reia-
tons on resolutions offered by Mr.. Can.
The first resolution requests the secretary
zens confined in Spanish prisons. The other
resolution requests the executive branch to
demand the release of all United states
citizens confined at the Spanish penal COL
ony on the Island of Ceuta, of the African
coast.
Mr.. Hill. who had been seeking TO obtain
recognition asked III either the reports by
Mr. Cameron and Mr.. Morgan discussed the
constitutional power OF Congress TO pass
the resolution as reported, or whether the
reports were confined 10 the propriety VI
naesipo the resolution.
Mr.. Cameron responded that the constitu>
tional power of Congress ougat 10 be con-
Prom that / Judge the constitutional
power is not discussed in the reports, Re-
marked Mr.. Hill.
Mr. Morgan who was on his feet, turied
toward Mr. Hill and said ITO di;0t IS tha;
proposition is simply preposterous.
Such a view may be entirely satisfactory
10 the senator from Alabama answered
Mr. HILL II simply desired to un lat:tarG
that the constitutional question was rot
discussed
solne pointed remarks which promised TO
open the whole Cuban question. He pre-
faced them with the presentation of reso-
luton reciting that the power of recognlz-
ing independence does not reside exclusive
ly with the President. but Is vested In Con-
gress and the President jointly. The reso-
| luton follows:
"ResoIved etc That the President is not
invested by the Constitution with exclusive
power to determine when the independence
n government for themselves shall be rec
| ognized by the United states, put this
| power is vested in Congress and tne fresi- resi-,
dent TO be exercised in conformity WIN
| section :, Article /. of the Constitution
VEST ASTONISHED AT OLNEY.
Mr. Vest said that he had been aston
ished at seeing the extraordinary statement
| made by Secretary Olney saying that the
action of Congress- concerning Cuba, would
| be entirely ineffective. 1t was the first time,
| Mr.. Vest said that a Cabinet minister had
| thus addressed the public When the Ha-
| waiian question was under consideration
| the senator had examined the subject OF
] recognition and had reached the conclusion
| that the President did not have the exciu-
| sive power of recognition. 1T is to me n
most astonishing proposition. said Mr
| Vest, that while the CONSERVATION gives to
| Congress the exclusive war-making power
! the President alone is able to take action
| toward recognizing independence, which
may bring on war; The senator cited the
| Congress and not by the President.
| AS Mr.. Vest was about TO proceed Mr.
| Hale interposed Gtppint of order. He did
| not think this discussion could proceed un-
der the Senate rules without unahlnous
| consent "Since the resolution and .eporl
have gone over" said Mr. Hale. Il do not
| think it proper that the senator Vest
| should precipitate a debate on this grave
| subject at this time.
Mr.. Stewart promptly asked for una IL
! his remarks, but Mr.. Vest shook his head
| an ! remarked that he did not care to pro
| ceed with even one unwilling auditor. HI
| would. however, call up his resolution to-
| morrow.
With this furry over Mr. Hill again Sc
| cured recognition and offered a joint reso
luton declaring that a state of war exist:
| in Cuba that the parties thereto are en-
titled to the recognition of belligeren
| rights. and that the United States will
| ms a a towards them
| The resolution is as follows:
"A joint resolution declaring that stat'
| of war exists in Cuba and recognizing th'
| parties thereto as belligerents.
| Resolved by the Senate and House o
Representatives of the United States o
| America in Congress assembled. that ii Il
| hereby declared that a state Of public wa
exists i'm Cuba and that the parties thereto
are. entitled to and are hereby accordet
| belligerent rights. in accordance with tn
| principles of international law, and tn
United States will preserve a strict neu
Two more C:iban resolutions made thei
appearance, oL2 from Mr.. Bacon and an
other from Mr.. Chiffon. Mr.. Bacon sai'
his resolution was designed TO get from IN
judiciary committee an authoritative state
| ment as to the power of the executive am
the legislative concerning recognition. Hi
nition resides exclusively with the iegi;
latiye branch, and that the prerogativ
does not belong to the executive. except s.
far his veto may affect. The resolution
follows:
Resolved by the Senate. the Hous
of Representatives concurring. that tn
question of the recognition by this govern
ment of any people as free and inde
pendent nation is one exclusively for tn
determination of Congress in it's capacit
as the law-making power.
Resolved, further that this prerogativ
of sovereignty does not appertain TO tn
executive department of the government
except I'm so far as the President Is, unde
the Constitution by the exercise of tn
veto made a part of the aw-making powe
of the government.
The Bacon resolution was referred to tn
judiciary committee.
CHILTONS RESOLUTION.
The Chiffon resolution recites that stat
| of war exists i'm Cuba which entities tn
! parties to recognition belligerents an'
| that the United States should maintain
strict neutrality. Mr.. Chiffon said h
would urge the resolution as an amendnen
to those reported from the committee oi
foreign relations. The resolution reads:
Resolved That a condition of public wa
| exists between the government of Spa
and the government which has been 70
| some time maintained by force of arms b.
the people of Cuba, and that the Unite
states of America shall maintain a Stric
! neutrality between the contending powers
| according to each all the rights of belliger
ents i'm the ports and territory of the Unite
States. SO
On motion of Mr.. Sherman the Call reso
luton favorably reported by him. askin,
for a report on American citizens held il
\ ~