Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-04-13
CONGRESS-.
Senate.

Senate on the 4th by Mr.. Perkins Of Cali
fOrnia in a set speech, that Spain was re-
| sponsible for the Maine disaster, as it had
| been brought about by Spanish machina-
tons and Spanish treachery:. The speech of
| Mr.. Perkins was only one Of four prepared
| addresses upon the Cuban question delivered
| in the Senate. Mr.. Clay Of Georgia, while
| hoping for a peaceful solution of the prob
lem the country is now facing, declared
| strongly in favor of independence of the
| Cubans and pledged to The administration
the loyal support of the South which, in the
| event Of war; would have to bear the brunt
| of conflict. Mr.. Perkins took substantially
| the same ground and his vigorous treatment
| of the Maine disaster aroused the crowded
| galleries to enthusiastic applause. Mr.. Man
| tie of Montana, while expressing confidence
| in the administration, maintained that the
| time for action had now arrived and that
| action must be to the end that Cuba should
| be free.
| debate which occurred in the executive
| session of the Senate late on the 9Th, would
! indicate that no matter what was the char
| acter OF the resolution to come from the
| committee on foreign relations, the resolu-
| ton would cause serious and perhaps
! prolonged discussion. 1t emphasized the
| fact that there are two elements in the
Senate-one for independence with inter
] these two factions will fight vigorously for
| their ideas. The relations of the United
| states with Spain was the uppermost topic
| IN the executive session and constituted the
subject Of many conferences among senators.
The ACTIVITY was due to the announcement
| that the Presidents message would recon-
mend the adoption of a policy looking to
| intervention in Cuba on the part of the
| executive branch of the government rather
! than the recognition of independence, and
| TO an effort to make smooth the way for
| the reception Of such a report. The execu-
tive session was devoted to a general dis
| cussion Of the policy to be pursued towards
| Spain, and developed the fact that much op-
| position would be made to the acceptance
Of policy in line with the Presidents de-
SlreS. The question was raised by Senator
Allen, who made q long speech predicting
| much dissatisfaction in the country at large
with a policy on the part of the executive
| that did not go to the extent of giving the
Cubans their entire independence of the
mother country.
When the Senate met on the 9th intense
! expectancy amounting to excitement pre-
| vailed both on the floor and in the galleries.
| as the Presidents message had been posi-
| lively promised. Ten minutes after the
Senate metz consideration of the sundry civil
| Dill was resumed and with the exception Of
e!ght minutes consumed by executive ses
sion, In which Senator Davis announced that
no message would be sent for the present
almost the entire session was consumed by
the appropriation bill. 1t was practically
completed when laid aside for the day
Some sharp war talk was INDUCED in by
the Senate on the 18th. When consideration
of the sundry civil appropriation bill was
resumed the question pending was the
amendment Of Mr.. PettuS (Ala.) providing
Tor such improvement Of the harbOr at Mo-
| bile as would enable war vessels to obtain
coal and other supplies there. Mr.. Allison
| of Iowa, in charge of the bill, made point
| of order against the amendment. This
called out a bitter speech by Mr. Morgan
OF Alabama who charged the appropriation
committee with discriminating. 1T o'clock
| the bill had not been completed and was laid
aside, the Senate devOting the remainder
OF the AFTERNOON to eulOges of the late Sen
atOr James Il. George of Mississippi, after
which adjournment was taken to the 11th.
House.
While there was no attempt to force con-
sideration for resolution regarding the
Cuban situation in the House on the 4th,
thnra hIiof in +bn
of which the warlike temper of the crowded
I galleries was so manifest that Speaker Reed
| threatened to clear them if it was repeated.
The outbreak occurred over q bill to au-
thorize the President to erect temporary
fortifcations in case Of emergency, upon
land. when the written consent of the own
ers was obtained, without awaiting the long
process Of legal condemnation. This led to
a demand by Mr. Bailey, the Democratic
warranted all these war measures. The
particular statement which aroused the gal
IerieS was to the effect that while the Demo-
Gratis were willing to wait any reasonable
time for the President to transmit message
that would meet the approval of the Ameri-
can people, they would not wait a minute
butchers of spain" When the demonstra-
tions in the galleries were rebuked by the
speaker. Mr.. Bailey declared that the gal
ture. Mr. Cannon accused Mr. Mr. Bailey Of
The bill was passed and it was arranged
that the army reorganization bill should be
taken up on Wednesday, unless a report
was made from the committee on foreign
affairs. The remainder of the day passed
without incident in the transaction Of Dis
trict of Columbia business.
The crowds which thronged the galleries
Of the House on the 9Th were disappointed.
There were no outbreaks of any kind on the
floor on the Cuban question. The whole
day was spent on the private calendar,
with the result that se-eral bills were
passed, among them one to pay the heirs
Of John Roach, the shipbuilder, $4,000 on
q claim which has been pending a dozen
years.
After waiting patiently ~ the galleries
and corridors of the House for hours on the
9Th, many of them from O'Clock in the
morning until shortly before 3 O'Clock in the
afternoon, the thousands who had come to
hear the Presidents Cuban message turned
away weary and disguised at the delay.
Never was there such disappointment at the
capitol. The members felt it more keenly
than the spectators and for two hours after
ward they stood about the Hobbies discussing
this latest phase of the situation. The news
of the proposed armistice which came on the
heels of the announcement that Gen. Lee
had cabled for delay received quite as much
attention as the request Of Gen. Lee. The
debate in progress in the House over the
army reorganization g bill attracted little or
owed by the more absorbing question Con-
| siderable opposition to the bill developed
on the ground that its provision for an eX-
tension of the regular army in time of war
| to 100000 men would be inimical to the
national guard and the volunteer forces up
| on which the country had heretofore relied
| in time Of stress. There will Ge a strong
| effort to recOmmit the bill.
| There was a scene of great excitement in
the House on the 18th during the considera-
| ton of the bill for the reorganization of the
army. It was caused by Mr.. Lentz,
| Ohio Democrat, who made vicious assault
On the administration, charging that the
policy of delay in the interest of stock
! iobbers III Wall street. The debate on the
army bill developed more and more Opposi-
ton. Mr.. Hull tried to save the bill by
agreeing to strike out all its provisions,
even the three battalion formation features,
but it was in the end recommitted 150-61.
| The House adjourned until the 18th.
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