The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-05-18
SEN ATE DOiNCS.
Cuba the Leading Topic Of Prolonged
and Fruitless Debate.

Cuba the Leading Topic Of n Prolonged
and Fruitiess Debate.
Washington. May 17-Cuba en-
crossed the attention OF the senate to-
day. The public interest In the subject
was shown by the great crowds which
besieged the galleries throughout the
day Among the occupants OF the dip
lomatic galleries were Sir Julian
Pauncefote. the British ambassador,
and Minister Hatch Of Hawaii and in
the reserved gallery was Gen. Dan
Sickles. ex-United States minister To
Spain. Neither the Spanish legation in
Washington nor the Cuban junta was
represented. so far as could be observed.
Two phases OF the subject were pre-
sented. First came the question of re-
lief to the destitute and starving Amer
leans In Cuba and at . o'clock Nor
gan's resolution caused spirited debate.
The first question was presented In the
presidents message as soon as the ses-
sion opened. Immediately following its
reading Davis. chairman of the COM
mittee on foreign relations. presented
favorable report on a joint resolution
originally introduced by Galiinger. ap-
propriating $4,000 for the relief of
American citizens In Cuba.
Davis asked for immediate considera-
tion of the resolution and there was no
objection. The only speech made was
that OF Gallinger. who spoke briefly.
He said he had been impressed at the
great mass meeting attended by 5000
persons and In statement made there
by correspondent who had Travelled
through the stricken district of Cuba.
This gentleman had stated that there
was an abundance of food In Cuba and
that II was needless to give relief In
that direction. The real trouble, he
said. was that the Cubans were herded
In the towns and prevented from going
out to get the food. The most effective
relief. Gallinger said. would be a de-
mand by the president and the govern
ment that the Cubans be released from
their bondage in the towns and permit
ted to go where they could secure food.
The senator was ready to assume his
share OF the responsibility for such a
step. Still. IL the resolution just re-
ported gave some measure of relief he
would heartily support II without urg-
ing the other plan of relief he had sug-
gested.
The resolution was then put on its
passage. and without division Il passed
unanimously. there being no response to
the call for the nays. 1t had taken ex-
actly Is minutes for the reading Of the
message, the presentation of the com
mittee report and the brief speech and
final passage OF the resolution.
Promptly at 2 o'clock the Morgan
resolution was taken up. At that time
the galleries were filled to overfiowing,
as the crowds awaited something In
addition to the relief resolution pro-
posed at the outset. Morgan's resolu-
tion declares that a war exists in Cuba,
and that strict neutrality should be
maintained by the United States. Nor
gan stated that unless some senator
desired to speak. he would ask a yea
and nay vote on the pending motion OF
Hale. to refer the resolution to the COM
mittee on foreign relations. Hale sug-
gested the absence OF a quorum and a
call. after some delay brought 4s SEN
ators. just quorum, in the senate.
The vote was about to be taken when
Wellington, republican OF Maryland.
arose for his maiden speech. which
proved to be vigorous protest against
the resolution and a plea for its refer
ence TO the committee on foreign re-
lations. He said while a declaration
of belligerency might not be serious.
yet the senate should pause and con-
slider the serious results that might
follow such a declaration. new ad-
ministration had just come into power.
ne said. Back OF II stretched four years
of depression and disaster. Capital
had been in hiding or had sacrificed its
principal as we'll as its returns Back
of US stretched four years OF idleness,
The republican party had come into
power on certain propositions. First OF
these was the question of an adequate
tariff bill. He believed the first duty OF
congress was To the American people
rather than to the Cubans and Greeks
The policy pursued by the late admin
istration and by Grover Cleveland
meets my approval" declared yelling
ton. and as a republican I am pre-
pared to say that Grover Cleveland did
his duty In refusing to rush headlong
into radical Cuban policy. This reso-
luton is a defiance Of Spain. You may
say Spain In a weak power and that We
| can annihilate her In 90 minutes. Ars
you ready for war; Do the American
people want war; l do not believe il
Until you are ready for war do not take
steps which will involve war
Pettus OF Alabama was on his feet AZ
Wellington closed. and inquired: "rh'
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