The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-12
MILLS FIERCE ATTACK MADE.
his SPEECH ON CUBA FINALLY
FIRED OFF IN THE SENATE.


ton of the Fiery TcXnn-ItaliHn
and French Statesman Also Given
Roasting For Their Inclination
to MeddIe in the Spanish-American
Affairs.
Washington, Jan. 11.--Senator Allison,
rep, of Iowa, appeared in the Senate
chamber to-day for the first time this
session. taking his seat just as Senator
Mills, dem, of Texas, was complimentins
him on his eminent qualifications for the
Office of Secretary of State in Mr.. McKn-
ley's cabinet Mr. Allison smiled be
nignantly at the suggestion, but gave no
further sign as to how far it coinciied
with his own views.
a resolution on the subject of viola
ton of the eight-hour law on the part of
contractors with the navy department on
work at Brooklyn, \. ", was the sub
ject of a resolution offered by Mr.. Allen
pop of Nebraska.
He was informed by Mr. Chandler, rep,
OF New Hampshire, a former Secretary Of
the Navy, that the law only applied to
work done directly for the government
and not to work done under contract.
The resolution went over until Tomorrow
The House bankruptcy bill was made
special order in the Senate for Monday,
Jan. %.
a Senate joint resolution authorizing the
Secretary of the Treasury to solicit pro-
posals and to contract for the erection Of
a government building at the Tennessee
centennial exposition without public adj
Karae ffafr naA lxr a 20
dem, Of Tennessee, and passed.
An argument was made ny Mr.. Proctor
rep, OF Vermont. in favor of a proposed
constitutional amendment, making the
Presidential term six years, and making
the President ineligible for re-election;
also making the term of representatives
in the lower house of congress three years
Then the great feature of the days ses-
sion was begun with a speech by Mr.. Mis-
dem, of Texas, in support of his joint res
olution introduced last Thursday declar-
ing that the eXpediency of recognizing the
independence of new government be-
longs 10 congress; recognizing the inde-
pendence of the republic of Cuba. and APP
propriatng $4,000 for the salary of "A min
ister to the new republic.
Much of his speech was argumentative,
and was supported by precedents in the
cases OF the Spanish American republics,
and of the republic of Texas; but the prin-
cipal part of it, and that which attracted
the greatest attention, was in severe crit
icism Of the President and Secretary of
State, and in an angry denunciation of
the Italian and Spanish statesmen, who
had ventured to suggest an interference
by European powers with the government
OF the United States, in case of recogni-
ton of Cuba In the course of his invec-
tive he derided Italy as a power whose
symbol of greatness was a monkey and
organ grinder.
Several other senators took part In the
discussion. but only on the question of the
exclusive power of the President to recog-
nize foreign powers.
The resolution went over without action
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia giving notice that
he would speak on il on Wednesday.
Mr.. Mills began his speech on the Cuban
matter at 1870 o'clock with thirteen DEM
ocratic senator's and six republicans in
their seats, He spoke without notes. in
the high-keyed voice natural to him, and
which it is so difficult to maintain in a
long continued address. The public CALLER
les were about half filled.
AT the outset, Mr. Mills assailed the DO
sition assumed by President Cleveland in
his annual message on the Cuban ques-
ton, and when interrupted by Mr. Gray,
dem, of Delaware, who asked whence the
senator derived one particularly pungent
extract he was reading, Mr.. Mills answer
ed that he was reading from the message
of President Monroe.
Mr.. Mills had numerous books spread
out on the two desks he occupied for the
time being. Mr.. Mills drew into the con-
troVersy Henry Clay Andrew Jackson
and made a point on the recognition of
the independence OF Texas-"whose repre-
sentative am he said but Immediately
corrected himself by adding-"one of
whose representatives 1 have the honor
to be-"
He asserted with much emphasis. after
reading an extract from President Jack
sons message on the Texas question, that
the power to recognize foreign govern
ments was in the province of congress,
and did not rest with abe executive.
To this Mr.. Gray retorted by reading
the concluding sentence of Andrew Jack
sons message. which said that while he
thought expediency might vest this mat
ter in congress, he did not express any
opinion on the subject
Mr.. Hale rep, of Maine. then came into
the discussion with number of lues-
tons interjected into Mr.. Mills speech to
which he submitted with good grace for
time but finally asked MIR. Hale to
wait IAN hour or so" till he got to the
end of his speech, and then TO answer
him in toto.
Mr.. Hale promised not to interrupt Eur
Their but within five minutes propounded
from his seat three or four more questions,
which went far to break up the contin-
uity of Mr.. Mills argument
Mr.. Mills quoted the action Of congress
i'm 1864 in regard to the French interven-
ton in Mexico, when congress- by a vote
of 126 to s, practically administered re-
proof to those great statesmen so dear to
the republican heart-Abraham Lincoln
and William II. Seward-and asserted that
congress had the constitutional right of
recognizing foreign governments. but that
the time and method of so doing belonged
10 the executive department. He raised "A
laugh on the floor among democrats and.
republicans alike by saying that among
those who voted for this resolution were
MIR Morrill, of Vermont, the Nestor of the
Senate, and Mr.. Allison Of Iowa who. ac.
cording to newspaper report was to be
the next Secretary Of State. and no moro
capable man could be found on the repuD-
lican side.
Warming up as he approached the end
of his remarks, Mr.. Mills said with much
bitterness Of tone that he did not envy
Mr.. Cleveland the compliments he was
receiving from CASTELAR, and Weyler at the
same time that these officials We're de-
nouncing the Senate and House Of Repre-