The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-17
May Promptly Vote Relief so Starving
Americans, but VIII Also Push the
BeIIigerency Proposition.
ATTITUDE OF CONGRESSMEN
TOWARDS THE POSITION PRESIDENT
M'KINLEY HAS TAKEN.
Mass Meeting I'm Interest of Cubans, at
Which Letter from Senator
Chandler Was Read.
reolal 70 the indianapolis Journal.

Special 20 the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, May 16.-The President
having at last made his purpose clear with
regard to Cuba excitement has Gained
down, and now no one expects that trouble
of moment will grow out of his promised
message and attendant congressional ac-
tion for the relief of suffering Americans
on the devastated island. The Cuban SYM
pathizers in Congress do not propose to let
the relief incident divert them from their
determination to secure the adoption OF
belligerency resolutions, and half believe
that the sudden introduction of the relief
proposition at this juncture was to side
track belligerency agitation for the present
They will not permit this to be done and
it is expected that the Morgan resolution
will probably come up soon for further dis
cussion. It's opponents will try to delay a
vote until the tariff bill comes along to
claim the right of way, but it is doubtful
whether they can succeed.
Leaders of the House of Representatives
have not yet decided OF the methods
by which they will make their response to
the Presidents message, which will be
sent 10 Congress tomorrow or Tuesday,
asking for relief for the starving Americans
in Cuba. That the response will be quick
and complete, however, there is no reason
to doubt. In the present condition of affairs
in the House three methods of procedure
are open. Ordinarily the message would go
to the committee on foreign affairs for con-
sideraton, and that committee would re-
port bill, which would come back to the
House for action through the regular cham
nels. The speaker could, in the present
emergency, simply appoint this committee
and let the whole subject take the regular
course. But it is hardly likely that this
will be done. The subject is so we'll un-
derstood that it will probably be thought
that the members, with the message and
the accompanying documents which the
President will transmit before them, can
act intelligently without committee re-
port. If the committee is not appointed
two other courses will be open. First, after
the receipt of the message a bill may be
formulated by the leaders and a special or
der reported by the committee on rules for
it's consideration This would bring the
whole question at once before the House
for action. But this method would be dis
advantageous, perhaps, in tnat both houses,
struggling to the same end simultaneously,
would act on different bills, thus entailing
delay for adjustment of differences in con-
ference. The most likely course is that
the house Will await the dcIlOn OF the SEM
ate, if action is had promptly, and then
consider the Senate bill or joint resolution
under a special order The sentiment in
favor of the recognition of the Cuban in
surgents is strong in the House and a
very radical measure might be passed If
the House were allowed free action With
Senate measure dealing only with the
question of the relief of the suffering Amer
leans before the House under a special or
der, possibility of amendment would be cut
off and the House would be compelled TO
accept or reject X as passed by the Senate.
The proceedings in the Senate this week
are by means settled. All will depend
on the course the Cuban question may take.
Senator Morgan's joint resolution occupies
the favored place on the calendar, and there
is little doubt that it will be taken up at
the appointed hour Monday. Still there is
q slight possibility that the expected mes
sage of the President may cause a post
ponement and that the character of his rec
concentrations may have a bearing that
will influence the tenor of the resolution
that ultimately will be adopted. The Ala
bama senator will not stand in the way Of
action in accordance with such recom-
mendaton as the President may make on
this subject, but he will insist that il shall
be independent Of and that it shall in no
wise interfere with his resolution providing
With the Cuban question in its present
shape and with no other pressing business
before the Senate, the debate on this SUBJ
ject will be Of uncertain duration II may
continue practically all the week, and it
may come to very sudden and speedy
termination. There is little or no doubt
that the Morgan resolution will pass when
a vote is reached, and the indications are
that the majority for it will be the greater
for the recent delay. There will continue to
be some opposition, and the plea will be
made that any material aid given in ac-
cordance with executive recommendation Is
all that can be reasonably expected.
If Cuba does not occupy the entire atten-
ton for the week, much of the time is
likely to be given to the general calendar.
Senator Gear will make an effort to have
the Pacific Railroad bill considered while
Senator Lodge will, If the opportunity Of
fers, make the same effort in behalf of the
immigration bill. Senator Pettgrew will
call up the resolution for the investigation
Of the Pacific Railroad land patents. The
Indian appropriation bin Will be brought
in on a conference report In it there re-
mains only the one point Of difference on
the UncOmpaghre lands to be settled. The
sundry civil conference probably will be
postponed until Senator Allisons return TO
the city. Senator Mallory, the new Florida
senator, will be inducted into office early
in the week. Senator Aldrich will make
the opening statement in behalf of the tariff
bill on the part of the majority of the
finance committee on Tuesday, but it will
rest with individual senator's whether the
debate shall be continued beyond this
speech at that time. The probabilities are
that tile statement will produce some badi-
mage and that after this the Senate will
adjourn until the following Monday, when
the debate will begin in earnest. Senator
Aldrich is expected TO fully explain the
position of himself and colleagues and to
make quite an elaborate pt esentaticn of the
subject
It was learned late tonight that Presi-
dent Mckinley has not yet decided whether
he will send message to Congress on the
Cuban situation. He still has the matter
under consideration and VIII not finally de-
termine what he will do until tomorrow
morning