The Indianapolis journal., 1898-03-31
WILD, UPROARIoUS SCENES
FOR WHICH CROWDS IN THE Gall
LERIEs WE'RE RESPONSIBLE.
Several Speeches THAT Caused Excite
ment and Evoked Cheers-Senate
Proceedings Quite Tanc.

/ -~--=
| WASHINGTON, March SO--A wild and
| uproarious scene occurred in the House of
| Representatives to-day, when Mr.. Bailey.
| the Democratic leader, attempted to force
| the hand of the Republicans on a PROPOSE
| tion to overrule the speaker and pass
resolution recognizing the independence Of
| the Cuban republic. He was cheered on by
the crowded galleries. but the members of
the majority refused to support him. Many
of them sympathized with the purpose of
the resolution. Mr.. Hull. chairman of the
military committee, going 50 far as to in
dorse the proposition under the impression
that it provided for a declaration of war
but most of the radicals who yesterday
were in favor of any sort of revolutionary
methods had been won over to the policy
of sticking to the party organization and
refusing to do anything until the initiative
came from their side. They were rallied by
two of the leading advocates of armed in
tervention and the speaker himself from the
chair made indirect appeal to his party as
sociates to stand firm, at the same time in
timating that IL their impatience was
curbed little longer they would have the
opportunity they coveted. When the vote
was taken only two Republicans-Messrs.
Acheson and Robbins, of Pennsylvania
broke from the party lines. About dozen
more sat silent in their seats and refused
to vote. The scene throughout was most
dramatic and the members and spectators
in the galleries were wrought up to a high
pitch of excitement. Several times later in
the day during consideration OF the udYal
BILL whenever the Cuban question was
broached, the members swarmed about the
especially the case when MIR. Cummings,
of New York, spoke. Mr.. Boutelle, who OBJ
jected to a request for extension Of his
time was hissed. The only important ac-
tion on the naval bill to-day was the re-
fusal of the chair to sustain a point of order
against the provision for a floating steel
dock at Algiers La.
THE STORM BREAKS.
The storm broke Immediately after the
reading of the journal when Mr.. Bailey
the Democratic leader, demanded recogni-
ton as a matter of privilege and offered a
resolution. A. profound sensation followed
Members rose en- masse all over the House.
No one knew what the resolution contained,
but all knew that it related to the alI-ab-
sorbing topic of Cuba.
Mr.. Evans (Rep., Ky.) interposed to de-
clare that pension bill coming over from
last night was in order. and amid intense
excitement the speaker, with white stern
face, held that the regular order was the
consideration of the pension BILL which he
directed the clerk to read. While it was be-
ing read Mr.. Bailey requested that the reso-
luton be sent back to him. AS soon as the
pension bill was passed he was again on his
feet demanding recognition. But Mr.. Bou-
telle, chairman of the naval affairs commt-
tee was also calling for recognition, and
the speaker recognized him, pauSing amid
the clamor and confusion to inform Mr..
Bailey calmly that his rights would be re-
spected.
Mr.. Boutelle then moved that the House
go into committee of the whole and resume
consideration of the naval appropriation BILL
Pending that notion announced the
speaker, "the gentleman from Texas states
he desires to present privileged question.
The gentleman will state it,"
Mr.. Bailey then offered the resolution for
the recognition of the independence of Cuba
as follows:
Resolved by the Senate and House of
Representatives That the heroic struggle OF
the Cuban people against the force of arms
and the horrors OF famine has shown them
worthy to be free, and, second, the United
States hereby recognizes the republic of
Cuba free and Independent state"
The reading was listened TO amid a silence
profoundly impressive, and at its conclusion
cheer after cheer was given from the gall
leries and the floor The Republican side
was ominously silent. The speaker raped
vigorously for order and warned the gall
leries that no demonstration would be al
lowed.
Mr.. Boutelle Immediately made the point
ileged, and on that Mr.. Bailey demanded to
be heard. He demanded that the subject
with which tho resolution dealt was too
serious and the occasion too important to be
hastily disposed of He insisted that he had
a right to present the resolution under the
rules and rulings. and the responsibility
must rest with the majority IL II was ruled
out of order and the ruling sustained. He
called attention to the fact that in the F'if-
ty-third Congress, when Mr.. Crisp was
speaker, Mr.. Bouteile. who now made the
point of order that this resolution was not
privileged. presented a resolution of a sim
liar character relating TO Hawaii, which
the speaker held was privileged. but must
go 10 u committee Against thas latter ruiz
ing an appeal was taken, and the whole Re-
publican side had voted against tabiing the
appeal When he said that at the head of
the list of distinguished Republicans who
voted on that occasion was the honorable
speaker of the House the Democrats went
into rapturous applause.
REPUBLICANS RALLY.
Meantime the confusion was great. The
Republican leaders were evidently railying
their forces MIR. HUI, chairman of the
committee ON military affairs, who was one
of the prime movers in the movement for
prompt and vigorous action on the Repub.