Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-01-27

A Red Hot Debate I'm Congress on the
Cuban Question.

A Red Hot Debate in Congress on the
Cuban Question.
Cuba had q hearing in the House,
and for time ii looked as if parlia-
mentary precedents would be set aside
and the Senate resolution recognizing
the insurgents as belligerents would be
attached as rider to the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill. Mr..
DeArmond, Missouri Democrat, pre-
cipitated the Issue by offering the reso-
luton as an amendment, but point
of order against ii was sustained. Mr..
DeArmond appealed. He urged the
Republicans who had professed friend
ship for the struggling Cubans to over
ride the decision of the chair as the
only chance of securing action on the
proposition. Mr.. Bailey, the leader of
the minority, and other Democrats,
joined in the appeal. The excitement
became intense, but the appeals of Mr..
Dngley, floor leader of the ajority,
associates not to join in the pro-
gramme, succeeded. Mr. Colson,
Kentucky Republican, warned his side
that unless he was soon given an OPP
portunity to vote his sen timents on the
Cuban question he would cooperate in
any revolutionary methods to secure
action. The Republican tactics kept
to the front the point that the minor
ity were seeking to override the rules
of the House and they got every Re-
publican vote, sustaining the chair by
vote of l59 to III.
The debate was continued the fol-
lowing day by Rep. BuclSer, Democrat,
of Michigan, offering resolution to
instruct the committee on foreign af
fairs to report at once the Senate reso-
luton recognizing the belligerent
rights of the Cubans Mr.. Hit, chair
man of the foreign affairs committee,
at once raised point of order, which
was sustained by the chair. An APP
peal was taken, but was laid on the
table by vote of the House. The de-
bate was very exciting. Mr. Hit,
chairman on the foreign affairs com
mittee, made an impressive speech, eN-
planning at length the situation which
made action by congress inadvisable.
He said that belligerent rights could
not aid the insurgent cause, and de-
clared the insurgents only wished for
belligerent rights in the hope and be-
lief that this country would be en-
broiled in a war with Spain, which
would give them their freedom with
our triumph. He said the President
must assume the responsibility of any
action which might eventuate in war,
and appealed TO both sides of the
House to periodically support the ex-
ecutive if a crisis shall come. At the
conclusion of the debate Mr.. Williams,
Dem, Mass.) gave notice that on the
following day he would move TO re-
commit the bill with instructions.
The action of Mr.. Williams led to a
clash between Speaker Reed, as the
leader of the opposition to the Cuban
resolution, and Mr.. Bailey. of Texas,
leader of the Democrats. When the
motion to recommit was made the
speaker ruled it out of order and Mr..
Bailey thereupon startled the House by
affirming that he had private under
standing with the speaker by which a
vote should be taken directly on the
motion to recommit This the speaker
emphatically denied and these two
leaders with white faces and voices
shaken by emotion set their statements
against each others, while the CALLER
les looked on in brcathless amazement
and the members were in an uproar.
Mr. Smith, (Rep., Mich who said he
was present, corroborated the speak
er's side of the case. The result of the
speakers position was that an appeal
was taken from his decision and by
strict party vote it was laid on the
table, 16S-1l4, the Democrats and PoT
ulists, as on the two previous days,
voting against the solid Republican
strength. The consular and diplomatic
appropriation bill, upon which the de-
bate had occurred, was then passed.