The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-18
President Mckinley Sends a Message
to Congress Urging an Appro-
priatiOn of $4,000.
ACTS WITHOUT DELAY
BUT YOUNG MIR. BAILEY CAUSES
TROUBLE IN THE LOWER HOUSE,
And Adjournment Is Taken TIL
Thursday-Spirited Speeches by
Senator's ON MOrgan's Resolution.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, May 17.-Cuban matters
had the floor in Congress to-day and moth
ing startling came of the performance. At
the opening of both houses the following
message from President Mckinley was
read
ITO the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States
Official information from the consuls in
Cuba establishes the fact that a large num-
Der OF American citizens in the island are
IN state OF restitution, suffering for want
of food and medicines. This applies partic-
ulariy 10 the rural districts of the central
and eastern parts.
The agricultural classes have been forced
from their farms into the nearest towns,
where they are without work or money.
The local authorities of the several towns,
however kindly disposed are unable to re-
lieVe the needs of their own people and al
together powerless to help our citizens.
The latest report of Consul General Lee
estimates six hundred to eight hundred
Americans are without means of support. 1
have assured him that provision would be
made at once to relieve them To that
end L recommend that Congress make an
appropriation of not less than $50, 000 to be
Immediately available, for use under the di-
rection CT the secretary of state. 1t is de-
sirable that a part of the sum which may
be appropriated by Congress should, in the
discretion of the secretary of state, also be
used for the transportation of American
citizens who, desiring to return to the
United States, are without means to do so.
WILLIAM M KlNLEY."
The executive and the majority of Con-
gress are working together for the relief
of Americans in Cuba, but 'scrappy'' mi
nority in the House is playing politics. to
the embarrassment of the philanthropic en-
deavor of both branches Of the national
government. The determination of young
Mr.. Bailey and the Democratic House mi
nority to attach belligerency rider to the
Cuban relief resolution may delay and en-
barrass the humanitarian project suggested
by the President in his message, not de-
feat it. The House Republicans are plan
ming to extricate themselves from the
dilemma into which Bailey has put them,
and they expect to dispose of the Texan
proposition irrelevant and matter to
be treated by itself. That was the way they
did when the opposition tried to tack an
antitrust provision to the DingIey tariff
bill. The Republican leaders, one and ALL
declared with varying degrees Of earnest
ness and emphasis that they were opposed
to trusts and would move for their extirpa-
tion, but at the proper time and in a proper
way-not as an embarrassing rider to a
revenue measure. The same leaders are
speaking on identicalIy the same general
line on Baileys supplement to the Cuban
relief resolution They insist that they are
full of sympathy for Cuban belligerency
recognition, but opposed to making such
expression a part and parcel of a charity
contribution. This position will be backed
OF course by the majority and will pre-
vail after parliamentary struggle that
promises to bristle with sharp points and
by-plays. Baileys objection has sent the
House resolution over He is pressing his
point not with any expectation of having
it adopted, but to harass the enemy and
try to put the majority in a position before
the country which may require more or less
explanation.
There is nothing in the Presidents mes
sage or in the Senate relief resolution to
suggest the slightest breach in the friendly
relations existing between this country and
Spain, and nothing in the whole proceed
ings, so far as they have the sympathy and
endorsement of the President, which could
provoke criticism in any quarter or which
could be tortured into move having a. con-
cealed purpose of reviving agitation which
might lead to unpleasant developments
The discussion on the Morgan belligerency
resolution in the Senate seems to be draw
ing to a close, and indications point to it's
reference to the committee on foreign rela-
tions, although the friends of Cuba claim
majority opposed to that action and in fa-
of direct adoption The weight of the
administration is thrown against the reso-
luton on the theory that the time is inop-
perfume, and that the interests of the Ma
ton will be best served in this very i'm
portant matter by awaiting reports from
the special envoy, who has been dispatched
to Cuba to ascertain the exact conditions
on the island and who is now there pur-
suing his inquiry.
There is a possibility of clash between
the friends of the Cuban belligerency res
olution and the tariff bill. The advocates
of the Cuban resolution apprehend that
their opponents will make an effort to pre-
vent a vote before next Monday, when the
tariff bill is to be taken under agreement.
Senator Morgan IS hopeful Of securing a
vote before that time Senator Mason,
who is an enthusiastic supporter of the
Cuban cause, said tonight that if a vote
should be prevented this week by fiibus-
tering tactics the tariff bill could not be
taken up Monday I'VE must have a vote
on Cuba before the tariff is considered
he said "or we shall see some filibustering
such as the Senate is not used to-"
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