Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-15
POLICY OF THE DEMOCRATS
Action Outlined by Last Nights eau
Gus.
The Hawaiian Question Avoided
ruptcy Law Secure Approval.

The democrats of the House at their eau
Gus last evening avoided the Hawaiian
question by common consent Warning was
given in advance OF the caucus that II the
question We're taken up there would be a
fight. and that those who favor annexation
would not be bound by the caucus action
should II be adverse to annexation. The
question was not referred to in caucus:
therefore the caucus was brief and wonder
fully harmonious. Apparently a substan-
tial majority Of the democrats in the House
are opposed to the annexation of Hawaii
but there are many who favor 1t more or
less earnestly, and these insist that il shall
not be made a party question.
1t Is estimated that the majority for an
nexation when the resolution comes to the
House will be above fifty.
The democrats feel that they have placed
themselves in a very strong position by de-
claring for the recognition of the Cuban
| insurgents, and that they have nothing but
advantage to gain from getting 1t in the
form of party question.
A very large number of the republicans
feel that such a situation will result great
ly to the advantage of the democrats II IL
is allowed to develop. and their present dis
position is to vote with the democrats for
the Morgan resolution. or for one recog-
MIXING Cuban independence, thus relieving
the situation from any party coloring. If a
and vote their convictions the resolution
will be adopted in the House 1t is posi-
BILE, however, that the republicans who
sympathize with the Cubans may refuse to
SUPPORT the resolution recognizing belliger-
ency, and instead of that support substi-
tute recognizing independence. IL this is
done the democrats will support the substi-
tute. but if it should be adopted it could
probably be hung up in the Senate.
casting at cross purposes in this way might
be made effective in preventing action and
yet would save the question from being one
on which party lines were drawn.
No doubt a ma jority of the Senate would
readily accept an independence resolution
in lieu of the recognition of belligerency,
but a small minority in the Senate could
prevent the resolution from coming to a
vote, whereas, the beligerency resolution
having already passed the Senate, its adop-
ton by the House would send the matter
at once to the President for approval or
disapproval.
Mr.. BniIey's Program.
By their caucus action last night the
democrats have decided to press the Nor
gan resolution. The purpose of Mr.. Bailey
is to seek recognition to move tine
adoption of the resolution, and failing
to secure recognition from the Speaker, to
move the belligerency resolution as an
amendment to some other motion. Ii this
motion is ruled out Of order, appeal will
be taken and a vote of the House can be
had on the appeal. This will afford an OPP
portunity for an expression of the House,
though not in the most satisfactory way,
since some members may vote to sustain a
ruling adverse to Cuba on the grounds that
1t is proper according to the rules, while
still protesting to DE favorable to the reso-
tuition. The determination with which The
democrats will press Cuba to the front,
however will make il probably the lead
ing ISSUE in political way. of the session.
The democrats disclosed much more
harmonious spirit among themselves than
heretofore. The antagonism to Mr.. Bailey
which ii intimated by some going
TO develop did not show itself at all. and
apparently there is very little left Of it
The only absence of unanimity In the eau
Gus was over the bankruptcy question, and
not more than half dozen opposed the ac-
ton favorable to bankruptcy legislation.
bankruptcy Legislation Assured.
This favorable action from a quarter
where opposition might be expected is re-
garded as practically assuring some sort Of
bankruptcy legislation. The democrats will
not. however. support the bill known as the
Observation-Disclosures bill, which the judi
ciary committee has prepared. They want
to still further modify the Involuntary fea-
lures of the measure and to change IL In
some other respects. 1t is not likely, how
ever, that this can become a party ques-
ton, and it is expected that a measure will
vote from both parties. This will give bet
ter promise of an agreement with the Sem
ate and will practically insure legislation.
Resolutions Adopted.
The following resolutions were adopted
by the caucus last night on motion Of Mr..
Bailey:
Resolved, That 1t is the sense of this eau
Gus that the democratic members Of the
House of Representatives ought to resist
all efforts. direct or indirect. to retire the
greenbacks and treasury notes.
Resolved, second, That We are opposed to
and will resist all attempts to extend the
privileges of national banks to reduce
the taxes which they now pay.
Resolved. third, That We favor the early
consideration and passage of the Senate
resolution recognizing that a condition OF
war exists in the Island of Cuba between
the government of Spain and the Cuban
people.
Resolved, fourth, That we favor the early
enactment OF a just and wise bankruptcy
law.