The morning times., 1897-01-12
MILLS PLEADED FOR CUBA
The Texas Senator Eloquent in
Fayoring Her independence.
.CENSURED THE PRESIDENT
He Declared the Executive Had
been More Concerned a I6Et
Pleasing Spain Than Carrying Out
the Wishes of the People of
the United States.

SShoeoi nhiSoh q dppedTeu III tuc AudiitDSi
yesterday Ior the firsttime this session. tax
ing his seat just as Senator Mills was
complirnenting him on his eminent quail
fications for the office Of Secretary of
State in Mr.. McK?inley's Cabinet
MIR. Allison smiled benignantly at the
suggestion, but gave no further sign a s to
how far it conceded with mis- own views.
resolution on the subject of u viola
ton OF the eight-hour law on the part of
contractors with the Navy Department, on
work in Brooklyn, N. Y, was the subject of
resolution offered by Mr.. Allen. He was
informed by Mr.. Chandler, a former Sec
retary OF the Navy, that the law only ap-
piled to work done directly for the govern
ment, and not to work done under con-
tract. The resolution went over until to-
morrow.
The House bankruptcy bill was made
special order in the Senate for Monday,
January 25.
An argument was made by Mr.. Proctor
in favor of a proposed Constitutional amend
ment, making the Presidential term six
years, and making the President ineligible
for reelection; also making the term of
Representatives. in the Lower House of
Congress three years.
Mr.. Mills on Cuba.
Then the great feature OF the days ses-
son was begun with Il speech by Mr.. Mills
in support Of his joint resolu-
t'oa introduced last Thursday declar
ing that the expediency of recognizing the
independence of new government belongs
TO Congress-: recognizing the independence
OF the republic cf Cuba; and appropriating
$1,000 for the salary of a minister to
the new republic.
The resolution went over without action,
Mr.. Bacon OF Georgia giving notice that
he would speak uponit on Wednesday, and,
after an executive session, the Senate, ut
s. 546, adjourned until today.
MIR. Mills said: ION the 18th of De-
cembcr last the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations agreed TO report Joint
res olution recognizing the independence Of
the republic of Cuba. On the morning of
the 18th a statement was made 10y au-
tEority of the Secretary of State challeng
ing the authority of Congress to deal with
that question.
He stated that in -,rdel 10 allay misap-
prehcns.ons of injurious results that might
it his duty to announce to the world that
the President had the exclusive right 10
deal with the question OF the recogni-
ton of foreign states; and that if both
houses of Congress should pass 4 joint
resolution recognizing the independence of
a foreign state and if that joint resolution
should be vetoed by the President and
passed by n two-thirds majority over the
Presidents veto. the law would be in
operative and of no effect.
Il propose to meet this contention. 1t
is an extraordinary contention; and this is
the second time n the history ofthe republic
that it has been presented. When it was
first presented it met with signal re-
bnke 10y Congress, and | doubt not that it
will meet with the same rebuke now.
Criticising the President.
where the distinguished Secretary of
State obtains his authority do not know.
The Constitution gives the President power
to appoint ambassadors to foreign gov
ernmcnts; but the foreign government must
exist before he can do so. 1t gives the
President authority to make appointments
to offices, but the power to create the
offices is vested in the legislative branch
of the government.
80, too, the power to recognize for
eign government rests with the Congress
of the United States"
Mr. Mills went on to criticize the presi-
dent for declining TO recognize the re-
public of Cuba, because it had no cities
or towns or courts and did not collect
taxes; and he said that the report OF Mr
Money OF Mississippi showed that the
Cubans collected taxes from Captain Gen
eral Weyler himself as not a potato nor
a pound of flour reached Havana that did
not pay taxes to the Cubans. Not cigar
could be smoked by Weyler. which did not
pay tax TO the republic of Cuba of which
Mr.. Cisnera was president. There was q
government there, in full operation col
Iecting taxes, raising and supporting ar
mics, and fighting battles.
And yet,'' said Mr.. Mills, scornfully,
1.-THE President says that the time has
not come for recognition, although two
thirds Of the territory OF Cuba is in the
hands of the insurgents.
IF he had said nine-tenths,' Mr.. Mills
added, che would have been more correct.
And the distinguished Senator who-is-to-be
(Mr Money of MissssippD says that the
armed power of Spaincaunot gettwenty-five
miles from Havana without making a
raid and running back again to shelter.
And yet tile President thinks that because
the Cubans donot come out and give pitched
battle to the Spaniards, they are not worthy
of recognition.