The herald., 1896-03-24
THE F|FTY.FOURTA CONGRESS
THE CUBAN DEBATE REACHES A SOME
WHAT UNEXPECTED CLIMAX
Mills introduces Q Very Warliks RESOLUTION
and Then the Whole Question Is Recon-
ritted-B Blackburn Welcomed With a
TweIve.foot Bououet-Leglslatlve Notes
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, March 23.-An unexpected
climax to the Cuban debate was reached in
the Senate today when on motion of Mr..
Sherman, chairman of the committee on
foreign relations, the Cuban relations were
recommitted to the committee. The vote
to recommit was unanimous and without
the formality OF a roll call, representing
general consensus of opinion that the COM
mittee should 20 change the resolutions as
to overcome the opposition that has devel-
oped. Messrs. Sherman, Morgan and
Lodge were appointed to represent the sem
ate in a further conference. Simultan-
eously with this action Mr.. Mills reported
a resolution which proposed to go further
than has been suggested at any previous
time. Mr.. Platt also introduced resolu-
tions limiting the action of congress to an
expression of sympathy for Cuba's strug-
gle and authorizing the president to extend
the friendly offices of the United States to-
ward securing free, Independent repuh-
lican form Of government. With the Gu
ban resolution recommitted to the confer
ence the senate turned its attention to the
executive appropriation bill, which was
not disposed of when the senate adjourned.
Senator Blackburn's return to the senate
today after the exciting and fruitless sena-
torial contest before the Kentucky Iegisla-
ture was signaled by an unusual demon
stration by his colleagues. On the sena-
tors desk was the most mammoth and
elaborate floral design ever brought to the
senate, rising twelve feet from the floor
and overhanging the desks of Senators
Walthall and Vest on either side. The
main design represented the coat of arms
of Kentucky, with two huge dolls claspng
hands as the central figures, around which
were worked the state motto, "United we
stand. divided we fall" Above this was q
large horseshoe of La France and PearIe
It'll
sheaves of oak leaves and lily of the val
ley. The whole was topped with wide.
spreading branches of American Beauty
roses. The tribute came from Mr.. Black
burns senatorial associates.
Mr.. Blackburn entered the chamber
shortly after the session opened and was
warmly greeted by his associates.
In presenting petitions from Edward
Everett Hale, Julia Ward Howe, the facul-
ties of Yale and Williams colleges and
many distinguished public men and scien-
lists, Mr.. Gailingcr showed the heavy NOR
tality from pulmonary diseases and urged
that the government might well give at
tention to saving human life.
When Mr.. Sherman brought forward the
Cuban resolutions there was an animated
debate as to securing final vote. Mr..
Cullom. in charge of the legislative appro-
priation bill, said he conld not give way to
an indefinite extension of the Cuban de.
bate to the exclusion of appropriation
bills.
Mr.. Sherman responded that the COM
mittee desired a vote, and he thought it re.
markable, with the war proceeding in
Cuba, that the question could not be
speedily acted on.
Mr.. Platt, Republican of Connecticut,
said the trouble with the resolutions was
that three senators on the conference COM
mittee had thrown aside the senate resolu.
tons and had accepted the house resolu-
tions. ''And | venture to say.' proceeded
MIR. Platt, 'sthat not five senators approve
the house resolutions now before u.s."
The senator suggested to Mr.. Sherman
and his associates that they recede from
agreement to the house resolutions which
senators did not want and present some
thing more acceptable.
s'If we had any assurance" said Mr..
Sherman, "thlt the senate would accept
and dispose of the subject in another form,
then we would be quite willing to accept
the suggest;on.'
Mr.. Platt went on to say that he could
speak only for himself. yet it must be ap-
parent that senators did not wish to adopt
resolutions which were contradictory in
their terms.
II suggest to the chairman of the COM
mite," said Mr.. Hoar, rising and address
ing Mr.. Sherman, "that he ask the unani-
nous consent of the senate to a disagree
ment to the conference report, thus send
ing the subject back to the conference
committee"
"But why not vote?" insisted Mr.. Sher-
man.
Mr.. Hoar said the whole thing could be
dealt with In two minutes If Mr.. Sherman
would ask unanimous consent to recommit
them.
"Then," said Mr.. Sherman dersively,
~ will make the motion to test the ques-
tion."
This colloquy proceeded out Of order. as
Mr.. Palmer OF Illinois had the floor for q
speech against the Cuban resolutions, and
insisted on going on. He yielded, however,
to allow Mr.. Sherman to give the following
formal notice:
II now give notice that in order to ex Pc
dite action on this subject and in order 20
dispose of the question, l will more to re-
commit the pending resolutions to the con-
ference committee"
As Mr.. Palmer had the floor, Mr.. Sher.
man did not secure immediate action ON
his motion.
Mr.. Palmer urged the unnecessarily Of
fensive and contradictory terms of the
house resolutions.
They embraced a needless threat OF in
tervention which, if executed. meant inter-
vention by war. The senator spoke of the
unorganized condition of the Cubans. This
brought out protests from Mr.. Nj organ and
Mr.. Call. The former read the proclama.
ton of Cisneros, president of the insur-
gents, together with letter from Crosby
{. Noyes, of the Washington Star, giving
assurances of their authenticity.
Mr.. Morgan said he approved every
word of that splendid appeal of Cisneros.
Mr.. Mills offered the following joint res
olution, after which he said he would speak
OH the resolution tomorrow:
Be it resolved by the senate and house OF
representatives of the United States OF
America, in congress assembled, that the
president of the United States is hereby
directed to request the government OF
Spain to authorize The people of Cuba, sub.
ject to the sovereignty of Spain. to insti.
tute such local government as they may
wish, and to invest it with such powers as
they may think necessary to secure to the
people of Cuba, the right of life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness.
Section Two In case Spain shall refuse
to grant to the inhabitants of Cuba the
rightFul power of self-governnent. then the
president of the United States is hereby
directed to take possession of the island OF
Cuba with tho military and naval forces Of
the United States and hold the same until
the people of Cuba can organize a govern.
mcnt deriving its just powers from the con-
sent of the governed. and arm and equip
such military forces as may be necessary
to protect them from invasion.
MIR. George of Mississippi spoke in orpo.
sitiou to the resolutions.
At o'clock there was a lull In the
speeches. whereupon Mr.. Sherman sought
to secure vote on his resolutions to re.
commit the resolutions to the conference
committee. A vote was about to be taken
when Mr.. Allen offered speech. Many