The San Francisco call., 1897-01-12
SENATOR MILLS
PLEADS FOR CUBA
Sharply Rebukes the Atti-
tude of the Admins
tTation.
What He Would Do Had He
the Power of the Presi.
dent.
q" Reduce These Fortresses and Make
the Atmosphere Smell of Powder
for a Month"

AoA44AOAON, ~, Jau. LII uAAHS 3
the morning business IN the Senate to-day
Perkins (R.) of California presented the
joint resolution of the California Lsgisla-
ture declaring unalterable opposition to
any extension OF the deb of the Pacific
railroad companies. favoring immediate
collection OF the debt and asking for q
hearing before the Pacific Railroads Com
mittee. The resolution was read in full
and was, on motion of White CD OF Cali
fornia, ordered to be printed in the Record
and referred 10 the Pacific Railroads Com
mittee.
Senate JOINT resolution authorizing the
Secretary of the Treasury to solicit pro-
posals and to contract for the erection al
a Government building at the Tennessee
Centennial Exposition without public ad-
yertisement was introduced by Bate (D.l
of Tennessee and passed.
Allen (Pop.l of Nebraska offered q reso-
luton with regard TO the violation OF the
eight-hour law by contractors under the
Navy Department, specifying particularly
the work on the navy hospital at Brook
lyn.
Chandler (R.) of New Hampshire de-
clared that there was no law that prohib-
tied contractors for Govern ment work
from employing men for more tnan eight
hours day.
The resolution being objected to went
over until to- morrow.
On motion of Hoar (R.) of Massachu-
setts the House bill to establish q uniform
law on the subject OF bankruptcy through
out the United States was made the spe-
cal order for Monday, January %
In Of tffrn iaS Sf Z
Proctor (R.) OF. Vermont. who mad Just
returned from q visit 10 the President
elect, ed tresSed the Senate In advocacy of
his proposed constitutional amendments
10 make the Presidential term six years
with q prohibition of reelection, and 70
make the term OF Representatives IN the
lower House three years. The reasons
given by hum were these:
First-A longer Presidential term and in
eligibility Tor reelection are more in accord
with The ideas and purp poses OF the trainers OF
the constitution than Is the present system, as
Il has developed practical results.
SscOnd-Ihe proposed change IS not radical
or revolutionary, but Is IN the line OF true con-
servatism. 1t Is g change OF the letter 70
preserve the spirit of the constitution.
Third-ke-eligIbilI Is wrong in theory and
vicious IN practice, for IL results IN the use OF
patronage Of this office by the President for the
promotion for MS chances of reelection, or
else subjects him 10 the imputation OF such
Use
Fourth-The change VIII more thoroughly
divorce the -ag isis. I've and executive branches
OF the Government an end most strongl ydeSIr red
by the constitutional convention.
FifJh-EVen if the present system was wise
in the beginning, the changed conditions, the
growth OF the country IN population, es-
pecialIy IN cities, the great increase IN our
territory and the growing danger OF sudden
popular revulsIons make the change desira-
be.
Sixth-Thereby the business interests of the
country viii be saved from such frequent dis
turbances aud the time and expense incident
10 campaigns viii be proportioustely reduced.
Seventh-By IengthenIng the terms OF Repre-
sentstIYes TO three years, laws will be better
considered, and viii have & longer and fairer
trial before their friends 90 out Of power in
Congress.
At the conclusion OF his remarks, Proc
tor moved that the resolution be referred
TO the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tIons, but as Stewart (P. Of Nevada desired
to speak on the subject, the resolution
was permitted TO lie on the table.
Mills ID Of Texas then addressed the
Senate in support of the joint resolution
introduced by him last Thursday, IN the
course OF which he said:
''On the 18Th Of Decemb Der last the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
agreed TO report a joint resolution recog-
nIZIng the independents of the republic
of Cuba On the morning of the 18th a
statement was made by authority of the
Secretary OF State challenging the author
ity of Congress to deal with that question.
l propose to meet this contention. It IS
an extraordinary contention, and this Is
the second time in the history of the re-
public that II has been presented. When
it was first presented it met with a signal
rebuke, and l doubt not that it will meet
with the same reouke now. Where the
distinguished Secretary Of State obtains
his authority do not know"
The Senator epitomized the course of sf-
fairs which led up to the recognition OF
the Spanish-AmeTican colonies by Presi-
dent Monroe 10 snow that the subject was
let to the discretion of Cong :ess. He also
gave q history OF the recognition of the
Republic of Texas, III which President
Ja.kson eo-operated with Congress, saying
taat the ouestio was one of expediency
and should be left 20 Congress.
Gray CD Of Delaware read an ad1i-
tionaI sentence from the message of Presi-
dent Jackson IN relation to Texas in these
words: I'm this view, on the ground of
expedlency, l am disposed to concur; and
l do not therefore consider it necessary 10
express any opinion as to the strict con-
stiIutonal right of the executive"
MIlls-The first sentence embraced the
whole te1t-that 1t was question OF ex-
pedIency.
Mills proceeded with his argument and
Senate by Robert J. Walker. hen Sen
ator from Mississippi, tor the recognition
OF Texas
Hale (R.) of Maine asked Mills whether
that resolution contained an assertion of
the independence Of Texas or whether it
was only an expression of opinion that IL
should be recognized.
Mills demonstrated against Interruptions
which inter cred with the trend of MS ar
r1nent He said that he uouId ror sion
TO discuss the question of taste OF the
present Secretary OF State in declaring to
The world that Congress had no authority
10 do what was proposed and that if Com
gress did 50 It would produce disaster.
Morgan CD of Alabama-On th- oues-
tion Of taste, nave you examined the re-
port Of Henry Winter Davis from the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs in
regard 10 the establishment Of monarchy
in Mexico2
Mills said he had got that report before
him and would refer to it. He recalled
the instructions given to Mr.. Clayton.
Secretary of State under President Tay-
lor. 70 the agent sent to report on the
Hungarian revolution IN 1S48. One of the
senten ces in these Instructions read /:
Should the new Government prove to be
firm and stable, the President will cheer
fully recommend 10 Congress the recogni-
ton of Hungary.
Mills also recalled the resolution adopted
unanimously by the House of Representa-
tives condemning the action of Secretary
Seward IN instrucJing Mr. Dayton, United
States Minister to France, that the admin
istratIon of Mr.. Lincoln did not propose
abandoning its policy in reference to the
French army in Mexico; and he read ex-