The herald., 1898-04-26

| was OHly III bAC 81 cot ShccA eAae> "SA2'
UP from the floor and the gallery wher
Speaker Reed announced its passage thai
the tremendous import of the act and thu
suppressed enthusiasm behind 1t wa.
shown After the presidents message
was read, the committee on foreign affairs
framed the resolution. Acting Chairman
Adams wrote the report, and it was passed
and on its way to the senate in an houi
and six minutes. The speaker signed II
at 4:24. The remainder of the day was
| devoted to the election case of Wise VS..
Young, from the Second Virginia district
The house declined to agree to the senate
amendments to the army reorganization
bill. and it was sent to conference.
| The presidents message was referred to
| the foreign affairs committee.
| After the message had been referred the
house proceeded with the consideration of
| the District Of Columbia business.
No interest was manifested in the pro-
ceedings until after o'clock. Acting
Chairman Adams entered the house, and
the news that the committee had unani-
mously agreed upon bill declaring the ex-
istence Of a state Of war was known all
over the house. Mr.. Adams held hurried
consultations with the speaker and men,
hers and Messrs. Dinsmore and Berry Of
the minority committee.
Alta y. m. he asked unanimous consid-
Grafton of the bill declaring the existence
of a state of war between this country and
the kingdom of Spain. There was not a
murmur of dissent. The bill was read.
The house held it's breath.
= Following is the report of the committee
On foreign affairs:
A bill declaring that war exists between
the United States and Spain.
Be it enacted, ETC.:
First-That war be, and the same Is,
hereby declared to exist, and that war has
existed since the 21st of April, A. D. 1898. in
cluding said day, between the United
States of America and the kingdom OF
Spain.
Second-That the president of the United
States be, and he is, hereby directed and
empowered to use the entire land and naval
force of the United States and the militia
of the several states to such extent as may
be necessary to carry this act into effect.
Mcguire CDem.) of California arose to
ask question, but refrained.
The question was put on the third read
ing and passage of the bill and in mag
nificent chorus the whole house responded
Aye" The announcement of its passage
was greeted with a round Of applause and
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 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 its routine business to pass a
declaration of war.
Mcguire explained subsequently that his
purpose in rising was to ask whether the
declaration in the bill that war had ex-
listed since April 21st was intended to le-
galize the seizure of the Buena Ventura.
II consider that act and other seizures
UP to this time nothing more than piracy"
said he.
The Wise-Young election contest from
Virginia was next taken up.
Messick made the opening argument in
the election case in favor of the contestant
Mr.. Wise.
Messrs. Burke Oem.) of Texas, Yost
Rep.) of Virginia and De Almond Oem.)
of Missouri spoke on the election case.
Just prior to adjournment Speaker Reed
signed the bill declaring the existence Of a
state of war. When the army reorganiza-
tion bill, with senate amendments, came
back to the house, on the motion Of Hull,
the amendments were non-concurred in
and the bill was sent to conference. Cox
Dem.) Of Tennessee and Marsh (Rep) Of
Illinois were appointed conferees.
At $40 p. m. the house adjourned.