Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-04-28


bill is in the same language as that
passed by the house The debate was
based on an amendment offered by
Turpie, providing for recognition OF
the belligerent rights of the Cubans.
Mr.. Turpie contended that as long as
the insurgent rights of the Cubans
were unrecognized they could only be
regarded subjects of Spain, and
hence urged that our position in de-
claring for recognition of the freedom
and independence of the Cuban peo
pie was entirely inconsistent with our
refusal to recognize their belligerent
rights. The amendment was defeat
ed, "a to SO. There was also some
criticism of the fact that the bill fixed
date in the past when the war be-
gun. Mr.. Pettigrew declared that
the the 2lst was evidently used to
make legal the ;apture of the lumber
vessel, Buena Ventura, on that date
He characterized this as a small piece
of business. Mr.. Davis said that the
date was not fixed by the capture of
the Buena Ventura, but by the recog
milton of the state of war as made on
the 21st Mr.. White took up Mr.
Pettigrew contention, holding that
the president had not indicated any
date for the beginning of hostilities,
but rather had shown in his message
that he considered the negotiations
had by no means reached the point of
hostilities. Mr.. White said that it
was his purpose to support the admin
istration in all reasonable measures
for the prosecution of the war, but he
did not regard the fixing of this date
as being in response to a presidential
request. There was no division on
the passage of the bill
When the message of the president
urging congress to declare the exist
ence OF war was laid before the senate
ii was referred without comment to the
foreign relations committee. Mr..
Allen (Neb } introduced the following
Joint resolution: Resolved, that a
state of war now exists, and has since
the 18th of February, between the
United States and Spain" 1t was re-
ferred to the foreign relations COM
mittee. Consideration Of the naval ap-
preparation bill was then resumed, the
question being upon the amendment
offered by Mr.. Butler On. CO. to reg
ulate the price of armor. The
amendment provided that for the three
battleships now in the course OF con-
struction the government shall not
pay to exceed $500 a ton and that sub
seuuent contracts are not to call for a
greater price than $500 ton. In case
/ the price cannot be obtained the sec
rotary of the navy is authorized at
once to purchase or establish a govern
ment armory factory for which $780,
coo is appropriated and in addition ST.
| 100000 is appropriated for the manu-
/ facture of armor. MIR. Stewart tNeyD
I inquired of Mr.. Hale whether the naval
bill in any way committed the govern
ment to pay $500 ton for armor for
\ the proposed battleships authorized
4 by the bill Mr.. Hale replied that
nothing in the bill could be construed
as committing the government TO pay
any price for armor. Mr.. Chandler
pointed out that il was impossible for
/ the government to secure better
+. price than $500 a ton for armor unless
\ il should enter into longtime con-
I tract, whereby certain specified
4 amount of armor should be
taken each year, Mr.. Hale
declared that both the naval af-
fairs and appropriations committee
opposed to construction of govern
ment armor factory as they were
thoroughly satisfied it would save
neither time nor money Mr. Hale
moved TO lay the amendment upon
I the table Ii was so ordered by a
vote OF 36 to 49, MIR Hale offered an
amendment authorizing the secretary
/ OF the navy to enlist as many sea-
men. landsmen and boys as he may
deem necessary 10 man the ships OF
/ the navy or for the use of the navy as
Ia temporary force, and appropriating
i $3.50. Gee for the purpose Mr. Hale
. j ttA th''A W an slttAh AAiAAAtAtA N'ANA '+ -
+ CockreN that the time limit be dur
I ing the existing war The amend
ment WIS agreed to and the amount
appropriated made Immediately avail
aDle The bin as amended was then
( passed
/ The bin for the better organization
of the army Of the United States pro-
yidiug for three battalion forma-
tiou. was called up by MIR. Hawley
i The amendments offered by the com
mittce were agreed to without diyi-
sion The bill was then passed
At . IS p IN. the message clerk Of
1.-THE house informed the senate that
the house passed the act declaring a
state 81 war between the United
states and Spain The senate went
into secret legislative session to con
slider the measure and ait 4.37 p. m il
was passed 81 455 II N. the mes
sage clerk az the house announced
THAT the speaker had signed the bin
declaring the existence Of war and