Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-04-14

Washington, April 13.-rhe burden
Of responsibility of, the next move in
the Spanish crisis having been shifted
on the shoulders of congress, the cap
itol Tuesday became the storm center
with the foreign affairs committees of
the two houses as the foci. The strug-
gle of each committee was long and
bitter. In the senate committee, the
democrats as we'll as the republicans,
participated, while at the house end
the task was to secure harmonious &C
ton among the republicans so as to
present, if possible, solid front, when
the democrats are finally called in
for action. Pressure from every quar-
ter was brought to bear. The radicals
and conservatives strained every nerve
The vital point of the contest hinged
upon whether the resolutions should
60 farther than the president had
gone, and declare for the independence
of Cuba from Spanish domination.
Last night compromise proposition
seemed certain to be reported to both
ends of the capitol. The senate COM
mittee's resolution will be the more
radical of the two. 1t surely will be
reported today and will declare for
immediate Intervention, for general
recognition of the rights of the Cuban
people to freedom and independence,
and demand the withdrawal of the
Spanish forces from the island. The
republicans of the house committee. as
ly united upon a resolution which also
directs immediate intervention Tin that
respect being beyond the presidents
recommendation and for the estab-
lishment of a firm and stable" gov
eminent in Cuba. Mr.. Smith (rep.
Mich } stood out stubbornly for recog-
milton of independence, but the com
mittee did not yield. When the reso
luton was submitted to the repub-
lican steering committee, it insisted
that unless the words land independ-
ent" before government" We're in
serted, so as to read firm, stable and
independent government" it would de-
cline to accept it. Finally assurances
that this would be conceded were given
and if those words go in, plain sailing
and harmonious action seems probable
today.
The democrats of the committee
olution with one declaring for indie
pendence and immediate armed inter
vention. Ultimate independence Of
the island, without recognition OF in
denpendce of the existing government
is step which both committees are
to take beyond the presidents recon-
mendations. The significant feature
of Tuesday in this connection was the
declaration of Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohio)
the administration spokesman, made
during the debate in the house that
the presidents recommendations must
be interpreted as a declaration for the
independence of the island from Span
ish domination. There is strong
impression that the debate in the
house will be made short to prevent
undue criticism of the administration
Many republicans are in favor of no
debate at all, contending that the psl )
sage of the resolution without debate
would strengthen our position before
the world. In the senate it is i'm
possible to predict how long the debate
will run. There is general feeling
in Washington among public men that
the action of congress as foreshadowed
in the resolutions submitted renders
the situation extremely critical, and
conservative leaders of both parties
consider war inevitable as the result of
their adoption. The situation is
regarded as SO critica! that the repub-
licans ways and means committee, as
a result of private conference, has
reached an agreement as to the method
of raising $100,O00,000 additional rev
enue annually for the prosecution of
war by increasing the tax on beer and
tobacco and placing a tax on tea and
coffee. 1t was also agreed TO author
lie an issue for popular loan of
$500, 600, 900 and issue certificates of in
debtedness to meet emergencies.
General Lee arrived Tuesday after
noon and at once became the hero of
the hour. There was great outpour
ing of people on the streets to witness
the serenade rendered him.
Outside of congress and the Lee
demonstration complete calm prevailed
in all official quarters. The cabinet
meeting Tuesday proved to be void of
significance. At the conclusion of the
meeting the cabinet members stated
that the situation was unchanged from
Monday. No word had come from
Minister Woodford Tuesday and there
were no new phases reported from
Cuba. With evident satisfaction the
members Of the cabinet stated that the
whole question is now committed to
congress, and any developments must
be looked for from that quarter rather
than from the executive branch