The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
FOR TEMPORARY COMPLICATIONS Passage of a Significant Bill in the House of
 Representatives
Bailey of Texas Denurs in Vain, but Secures Applause
 Frcm the Galleries.
no wever, the Democratic Leader Admits That Uncle Sam Should
 Prepare for War.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs Houpse, Washington, April 4.

Special Dispatch to The Call.
 Call Office, Riggs Houpse,
 Washington, April 4.
 While there was no attempt to force consideration of a resolution regarding the Cuban situation in the House, there was brief outbreak, in the course of which the warlike temper of the crowd ed galleries was so manifest that Speaker Reed threatened to clear them II IL was repeated. The outbreak oc- cured over q bill to authorize the Pres ldent to erect temporary Notifications Tn case of emergency upon land when the written consent of the owners was obtained, without awaiting the long process Of legislative consideration. This led to a demand by Bailey, the Democratic leader, for information as to the facts which warranted all these war measures. The particular state ment which aroused the galleries was to the effect that while the Democrats were willing to wait any reasonable time for the President to transmit a message that would meet the approval Of the American people, they would not wait minute for him to continue negotiations with the butchers of Spain. When the demonstration in the galleries was rebuked by the Speaker Bailey said that the galleries were the American people in miniature. Cannon accused Bailey of 'posturing'' and playing to the galleries. The bill was passed and it was arranged that the army reorganization bill should be taken up on Wednesday, unless re- port was made from the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
 Bailey called attention to the fact that on several occasions within the last thirty days the House had been called upon to vote upon several prop ositions which indicated that war was directly ahead of us. Yet. he said, Congress was not in possession of any fact which warranted this belief. He had voted, he said, for the extra ordinary $50,000,000 appropriation, but he had voted for 1t under the impres sion that we were perilously near to war. If Democratic President had asked a Democratic House to author ize such an expenditure without con- trol or limitation, he should have de- nied it. He should have demanded the estimates But in this case, believing that danger was near at hand, he had voted for 1t. Much of the vast appro- priation had already been expended, yet information except such as came through newspapers was withheld. To- day the House was asked to meet an other emergency. Last Wednesday, when the House wGs asked to meet the vital question, the majority had re- fused to meet It. It was then every where announced that the President would be prepared to send message to Congress to-day. The House ad- journed Friday until to-day with that impression. Yet now every well-in formed man knew there was none to- day. When was the message to come in, he asked.
 Tt seems to me important" said he. that the House and the country should know what the Government is doing and intends to do. We ought not to be asked to vote blindly. If the occasion warrants 1t, we are ready to vote for every proper measure to prepare for war, and if war 1 comes we are ready to vote for every measure designed to prosecute 1t to a | successful conclusion"
 A perfect storm of applause swept the galleries, which the Speaker had l considerable difficulty in subduing. The Speaker warned the galleries that no demonstration of approval or dis- approval would be permitted. But the next utterance of Bailey redoubled 1 the applause.
 Those galleries" said Bailey, way 1 ing his hands above the thronged gal | leries, "are but a miniature of the American people. If Congress could face the galleries of the people they would force this mouse to action"
 This time the Speaker sternly warned the galleries that if the demonstration was repeated he would order them cleared.
 "Oh, I think that would hardly be fair" interposed Steele (R.) of Indiana ''The gentleman Is only talking to the galleries" Laughter
 | Mcguire of California: MT. Speaker, The gentleman from Illinois (Cannon) stated that the pending measure is not | intended to meet 8 present emergency and that it's effect is not confined to times of actual war. 1t makes a per- manent change in the law, giving un- usual power to the President of the l United States to put the country on a war footing at his discretion. It seems to me that we have gone far enough in that direction. We have gone far | enough toward abdicating the consti- tutional power of Congress to declare war;. to provide for the common de- 1 fense and to regulate the land and naval forces of the United States. I am willing to vote for resolution putting such power in the hands of u chief executive temporarily in time of war, but I insist that such extraordinary power should be confined to times of actual warfare My understanding of the existing law is that the President now has this very power in times of war, so that the purpose of the resolu- tion is taking advantage of the present war scare to clothe him with this im- portant power in times of peace To this I am opposed. It is simply an- other step in the scheme of centraliZa- ton which this emergency is being used | to promote"
 After some further debate. the bill was passed.