Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-03-04
DAILY DoIN0s OF CONGRESS-


SENArE.-56th day. Attention was
the presentation of three resolutions
on that subject. One of these came by
unanimous vote from the committee on
foreign relations and called for the inn
mediate and the unconditional release
of Julio Sanguilly, held at Havana.
Another resolution by Mr. Allen, of
Nebraska, calls on the President TO eff
fectively protect American citizens in
Cuba and for that purpose TO send bat
tleships To Cuban waters. A third res
olution by Mr.. Hill, of New York, was
agreed to. requesting the secretary of
state for the correspondence with Con-
sul-General Lee relative to Americans
imprisoned in Cuba. Little progress
was made with the Indian appropria-
ton bill and it was decided to hold ses-
sions until midnight. HOUSE,. The
feature of the session was the appear
ance of William Jennings Bryan, late
silver candidate for President, on the
floor. lie as an eX-member was en-
titled to the privileges of the floor.
The Democrats gave him a round of
hearty applause, the people in the gal
leries took up the demonstration. lie
was surrounded on all sides by his
former colleagues Most of the day
was devoted to District of Columbia
business. The conference report ON the
bill to define the rights of the purchas-
ers of the Atlantic & Pacific Il. II. un-
der the foreclosure sale was adopted.
do of
the most remarkable days in the annals
of the upper house of congress Cuba
was the theme and seemed to stir all
the pent up emotions of months. 1t
brought about the complete displace-
ment of appropriation bills, threaten
ing their failure and the advancement
of the Cuban question TO the very front
of Senate business The first resolu-
ton coming over from the previous day
was that of Mr.. Allen. asking the Pres
ident to use effective measures to pro-
tect American citizens in Cuba, and to
that end to- send u. ;. warships To
Cuban ports. Mr.. Allen said American
citizens were daily being arrested in
Cuba and thrown into prison without
trial. many of them being denied access
To the II. :. consul-general. 1t seemed
To be the disposition of Spain to punish
every American citizen i'm Cuba. 1t
was, he said story fun of barbarity
and atrocity. Mr.. Morgan, Of Alabama,
who reported the resolution demand
ing of the Spanish the immediate re-
lease of Sanguilly, followed in a speech
reciting the serious breach of treaty
rights in Sanguilly's case. Mr.. Daniel,
of Virginia, in fervid plea for San
gully stirred al the latent passion of
the Senate and became involved in a
heated combat of personalities with
Mr.. Hale. of Maine. This was followed
by series of explosive incidents, cul-
minating with ringing declarat ton by
Mr. FRYE that if he had his way a war
ship would start forthwith for Havana.
HoUsE-The Cuban fever was even
more acute in the House; at least one
member was very hot-headed. Rep.
Snlzer. of New York. introduced bill
declaring war against Spain. The bill
provides: That war be declared to ex-
list between the kingdom of Spain and
her colonies and the United States of
America and their territories to use
the whole land and naval forces of the
United States to carry the same into
effect and to issue to private armed
vessels OF the United States commits
sions or letters of marque and general
reprisal in such form as he shall think
proper and under the seal of the United
States against the vessels, goods and
, effects of the government of the said
kingdom of Spain and the subjects
thereof. The banking and currency
committee brought forward the bill 10
authorize national banks to take out
circulation TO the par value of the
bonds deposited. The bill was bitterly
opposed and there was a lively debate,
but the bill was passed IA To 46. A
resolution was unanimously adopted
requesting the President to transmit
to the House all correspondence on file
at the state department relative To the
imprisonment of American prisoners
in Cuba. Final action was had on both
the agricultural and army bills
SENATE-5sth day--The fact that in
formation had been received of the re-
lease of Julio Sanguilly by the Spanish
in Cuba somewhat cooled the Senators
who quite generally assumed, as SEN
ator Lodge expressed it. that the
threatening attitude of congress and
of American public opinion had shown
Spain that patience had almost reached
its limit and consequently Sanguilly
was Immediately given his freedom
Mr.. Morgan called attention to the
case of George Washington Aguirre. an
American boy aged 10. who surren-
dered July 4 last to the Spaniards after
two or three weeks experience as an
insurgent and who is yet in vile
prison. Mr.. Lodge said these two
eases were but samples Of many others.
Mr.. Call scored the Cleveland admins
tration for not going To the aid of
American prisoners in Cuba and said
that the latter were actually appealing
TO Great Britains representatives. for
protection. Mr.. White and MIR. Gray
defended President Cleveland and Sec
rotary Olney, declaring that they had
been untiring in urging the rights of
American citizenship. The Indian
appropriation bill was passed at the
evening session and the postoffice APP
preparation bill was taken up. House.
The last six days Of the session are sus-