The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-21

WASHINGTON, May 20.-The proceed
ings of Congress bristled with sensations
and excitement to-day. The play was
earlier getting started in the House and
was nearly through before the fun really
began in the Senate. The perfect ma
chinery of the majority in the House rode
down the minority under the well-sustained
and clever leadership of Mr. Bailey, OF
Texas, and refused to engraft his beliger-
ency rider into the RELIEF proposition, hold
ing and maintaining that the proposition
was not germane to the subject under con-
sideration. The administration had better
friends and more of them in the House
than in the Senate, and they were under
much better control and discipline. The
Republicans of the House respected the ex-
press wishes of the President that Con-
gress refrain from mixing into the Cuban
business until he could have time to ascer-
tain the exact situation on the island and
frame an administration policy. The press
dispatches tell the story of the House pro-
ceedings very clearly and fully.
In the Senate, however, the Democrats
reinforced by sufficient number of Re-
publicans to constitute a majority took a
long step towards forcing the Presidents
hand. There We're two test votes before a
vote on the main proposition was reached
The first was when the Senate, by a vote
of Al TO 10, refused to send the Morgan
resolution to the committee on foreign re-
lations, and the second was when, by a
still larger majority, it declined to enter
tain a substitute resolution offered by SEN
ator Fairbanks directing the President to
extend the kindly hand of mediation to
Spain and to Cuba. The Fairbanks propo-
sition was recognized as an administration
movement for delay, and 1t was knocked
on the head with very little ceremony. 1t
having been decided not to send the mat
ter back to the committee, the sense Of
the Senate was for immediate and decisive
action, and several Republicans who voted
on the administration side the first time
took the other tack and joined the forces
of Cuban sympathizers.
Senator Fairbanks made gallant effort
to give his substitute resolution respect
able standing, but the current was too
strong, In vain did Senators Spooner Hale
and Hoar lift their voices in warning and
protest against the proposed action and
call the attention of their colleagues to the
fact that the opposition was being per-
mitted to take possession of the executive
branch of the government and shape
it's foreign policy. The majority was deaf
to appeals and arguments. The remarkable
revelations and disclosures in Senator For
aker's speech of yesterday, coupled with
the incidental admission (second-hand)
that the paramount reason advanced by the
President and secretary of state for wish
ing the names of the people giving the in
formation suppressed was the fear that the
lives of the consuls of the United States in
Cuba might be endangered thereby, was
used with great effect to drive the resolu-
ton through. The excuse was held to be
cowardly, and an overwhelming feeling de-
veloped that if the situation was as rep
resented by the administration the time
might well be fastened when this govern
ment would be obliged to send war vessels
and troops to Cuba to protect it's represen-
tatives. On the final vote the administra-
ton element dwindled down to fourteen,
and two of these were Democrats
Tonight Senator Foraker is being given
the credit of having effected the deciding
change of the Senate and opinion is divided
as to whether his motives in doing so were
entirely friendly to President Mckinley
and his colleague, Senator Hanna. The
actuated by the kindliest regard for the
desires of the executive and that it gave
him no pain to see and realize that through
istra ton might be obliged to adopt a Cuban
policy at once instead of taking its time
about it.
Whether the House majority will be able
to sidetrack the Senate belligerency resolu-
ton when it comes over next Monday is
somewhat doubtful. The strong argument
which the Republicans advance to-day in
the House was that they merely wanted a
chance to discuss the proposition by itself
and when given that opportunity they
would quickly show the country that they,
too, were boiling over with patriotism and
Cuban sympathy. This coveted opportunity
will be presented Monday, and it would
seem the only way that immediate favora-
BILE action can be avoided without stultifca-
ton will be for Speaker Reed to appoint a
committee on foreign affairs and have the
matter referred there for temporary inter-
ment.
All storts of crazy stories are afloat to-
night about the Presidents intention of
making a sensational move within the next
few days for Cuban independence, annexa-
ton or purchase. There is absolutely no
foundation at present for any such stories.
The subject however, is too fascinating
for those given to the production of think
dispatches to resist and the newspapers
will be full for some time of romances
bearing upon this theme of speculation.
Taken by and long. as they say, this has
been the most exciting day that has been
seen this special session Of Congress. 1t is
in the air that the proceedings foreshadow
momentous events.