Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-25
HOUSE QUICKLY ACTS
Declaration of War Passed in a
Moment.
nc One WAS IN 0PP0SITI0 n
Prompt Action on the Presidents
Message.
TAKEN Up IN THE SENATE

The gail. rieS OF the House were throngcd
this morning. il anticipation OF The Pre~i-
dent message. asking Congress 70 make
formal declaration OF war. The blind
CHI plain made an impressive Invocation.
'StrenEthcn us.' ne prayed. in the con
fict upon which We are about 10 enter. r
gracious 20 the fathers and mothers who
are called upon 10 give up their sons and
comfort them with the thought that their
sacrifice Is in the interest of humanity and
a larger civilization. Wisely direct the
Presi,ilnt and his advisers. and strengthen
our forces on land and sed. that the end
may come speedily. in the interest of jus
tice. liberty and a more enduring peace
Will" the Journal was hein:, read Major
Pruirn. the Presidents executive clerk. APP
peared with the message. The Speaker I'M
media ,cly directed it 10 Ice read by the
clerk
The reading Of the message WAS listened
to with profound attention. There was no
demonstration at the conclusion of the
reading. and no demand for the reading of
the diplomatic correspondence that accom-
panied tine message. The Speaker simply
ordered it referred. under the rules. 20 the
committee on foreign affairs and printed
for the Information of the House.
The House then proceeded with the con-
sideration of District of Columbia business.
No interest was manifested in the pro
cee1irgs. Members and spectators waited
inpatientiy for the foreign affairs commit
tee to bring in the war bill. The contested
election case of Wise vs. Young from the
second Virginia district was called up with
the understanding that four hours should
b allowed upon each side.
Shortly after 1 o'clock Acting Chairman
Adams entered the hall. and the news that
the committee had unanimously agreed
upon = bill declaring the existence of n
state of war was known all over the House.
Declaration Passed.
Mr. Adams held hurried consultations
with the Speaker and Messrs Dinsmore and
Berry Of the minority of the committee.
At la p. m. he interrupted Mr.. Messick
of Michigan. who was talking on the con-
tested election case. and asked unanimous
consent for the consideration of the bill
declaring the existence of state of war
between this country and the kingdom of
Spain.
There was not a murmur of dissent. The
bill read. Following is the bill re-
ported:
"A bin declaring that war exists between
the United States of America and the
kingdom of Spain.
BE it enacted, etc.
First. That war be. and the same is here
by. declared to exist, and that war has ex-
listed since the 31st day of April. \. u.
1898. Including said day. between the United
States of America and the kingdom of
Spain.
Second That the President of the United
States be. and he hereby is, directed and
empowered to use the entire land and ma
val forces OF the United States and to call
into the actual service of the United States
the militia of the several states to such an
extent may be necessary to carry this
act into effect"
Mr. Mcguire Cal) arose to ask a uues-
ton, but refrained.
The question was put on the third read
ing and passage of the bill and in a mag
nihcent chorus the whole House responded:
Aye
The announcement of it's passage was
greeted with a round of applause AMI a
cheer or two from the floor and galleries,
and then the House resumed consideration
of the election case. There was no excite
ment- 1t required exactly one minute and
forty-one seconds for the House to pass
the bill. No such impressive action can be
recorded in the legislative annals of any
country The House of Representatives
had simply paused in the consideration of
its routine business to pass declaration of
war.
Mr. Mcguire explained subsequently that
his purpose in rising was to ask whether
the declaration in the bill that war had ex-
listed since April 21 was intended to legalize
the seizure OF the Buena Ventura
consider ba
ures UP to this time, said he emphatically,
"Eothing more than piracy"
As soon as the war bill was passed by the
House II was hastily conveyed to the print
Ing office. where orders had been given to
have X printed. AT the same time it was
printed on parchment ready for enrolment
II the Senate passed II without amendment
The calculation was that the printed bill
attested by the clerk of the House would
reach the Senate at 2:40 pm. and If passed
there without amendment, would be en-
rolled. signed by the Speaker and Vice
President. and on the desk Of the President
before o'clock.
SENATE.