Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-05-26
CONGRESS.
Senate.


Cuba engrossed the attention of the Sen
ate on the 18th. Neither the Spanish lega-
ton nor the Cuban bureau in Washington
were represented so far as could be observed.
Two phases of the subject were presented.
First came the question of relief to desti-
tute and starving Americans in Cuba, and at
o'clock Mr. Morgans resolution caused
spirited debate. The first question was pre-
sented in the Presidents message as soon
as the session opened Immediately follow
ing it's reading Mr.. Davis, chairman of the
committee on foreign relations, presented q
favorable report on joint resolution origin
ally introduced by MI Gallinger, appropriat-
ing 500, Geo for relief of American citizens in
Cuba 1t was Immediately adopted. 1t had
taken exactly eighteen minutes for the read
ing of the message, the presentation of the
committee report and the brief speech and
the final passage Of the resolution.
Cuba again occupied the foreground in the
Senate on the 18th. It drew large crowds to
the galleries and brought two notable speech
es, the one by Mr. Mason of Illinois in
other by Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts in OPP
position to it. The Illinois senator pictured
in feryid terms the distress in Cuba, dwell
ing particularly on the starving condition of
500 United States citizens reported by
the President, and called upon the Senate
to throw off its lethargy and pass the Nor
sharp tits with Mr.. Wellington of Mary
land, the latter protesting that he was be-
commotion in the galleries, during which
Mr. Wellington declared that he could not
be choked off by the rudeness of the gal
leries. Mr.. Hoar spoke in his usual calm
and dignided style and took occasion to de-
ride buncombe appeals to constituents and
braggadocio as to our national strength.
Mr.. HOars criticisms, although impersonal,
were clearly aimed at Mr.. Mason. Senator'S
Gallinger of New Hampshire and Hawley of
Connecticut also spoke. the former for the
resolution and the latter urging that the
United States should not rush into war
while our coast defenses are manifestly in
adequate.
The secret archives Of the state depart
ment, which have held the consular reports
on the Cuban war from the public, were
partially disclosed on the 10Th by Senator
Foraker. During the week the debate in
the Senate has been pregnant with intima-
tions and innuendos of reports from United
States officials in Cuba held at the state
department which, if published would dis
close condition on Cuban soil which would
influence public opinion in decided man.
ner. The facts, therefore. which Senator
Foraker announced without stating from
whom they came, created decided stir
Especially startling was the letter from Sec
rotary Olney in which this country offered
mediation to Spain and the refusal of that
country to accept the proffered aid. While
one of the consular reports was read With
out the name of the author being disclosed
it is stated to be communication from
COnsul-General Lee which fully sets forth
his idea of the condition that exists in
Cuba. 1t is stated that innOcents are wan
tOnly murdered and the spread of disease is
horrible.
The long and exciting debate on the joint
resolution recognizing the existence of
state of war in Cuba and declaring that
strict neutrality shall be maintained by the
United States passed the United States
Senate by the decisive vote of Al to Il on the
10th. The announcement of the vote was
received with tumultuous applause, which
''mob demonstra ton" An analysis of the
vote shows that the affirmative was cast by
IS Republicans, 10 Democrats and Popu-
lists, and the negative by II Republicans
and Democrats.
The House confronted the Cuban question
on the 18th, made a party issue of it and
adjourned until the goth without taking any
acton President McKinley's message was
received without demonstration and on its
heels Mr.. Hit asked unanimous consent for
consideration of bill in response to the
Presidents request. Mr.. Bailey Of Texas
asked for consent to consider in connection
with the bill an amendment embOdying Sen
ator Morgan's resolution for recognition of
the Cubans as belligerents. Mr. Dingley
would not consent to consider the amend
ment nCr MIR. Bailey TO consider the bill
without the amendment, so, for the time,
the question was sidetracked Then the
House devoted two hours to debate on the
conference report on the feature of the In
dian appropriation bill opening to settlement
the gilsonite lands on the Uncompahgre In
dian reservation in Utah, refused to accept
the compromise agreed on by the conferees
and asked for another conference with the
Senate of the bill In the meantime the
Senate resolution, practically identical with
Mr.. Hits bill, had been sent to the House
and Mr.. Hit asked unanimous consent for
its consideration. The deadlock between
Mr. Dingley and Mr.. Bailey was re-enacted
and while Mr.. Bailey was endeavoring to
get consent for the consideration Of the two
Cuban propositions together Mr.. Dingley
put in a motion to adjourn This motion
was carried by vote of 80 to 60, thirteen
members answering present.
Cuban affairs furnished the House with a
day Of bitter partisan debate on the Goth.
The resolution appropriating $4,000 for the
relief of American citizens was adopted
without dissenting vote, but the Demo-
Gratis endeavored to force consideration also
of the Morgan resolution for recognition Of
the beligerency of the insurgents. They
accused the Republicans Of endeavoring to
evade the issue, but the dominant party,
through its spokesman, Mr.. Hit, made the
important statement that the Republicans
desired not to embarrass negotiations which
were being projected by President Mckinley
to secure the independence of Cuba. While
MI Hit disclaimed presidential authority
for his statement, it was well known that
he had been in consultation with Mr. Nc
Kinley on the question and knew whereof
he spoke.