The Portland daily press., 1898-04-26

| was received from the House announcing
l0s enlargement with the Senate amenu
menus TO tne army reorganization pilI ana
asking 1or conference. The conference
was agreed to and Messrs. Hawley, Proc
tor and Cockrell We're named as the SEN
| ate conferees.
A bill providing for life saving station
on the westerly side of the harbor OF
Gloucester, Mass. has passed
At 535 p. NJ, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE MADE QUICK TIME.
War Resolution Went Through With a
Rush.
Washington, April 25.-The House of
Representatives today passed the bill de-
claring the existence of state of war be-
tween the United States and Spain. The
representatives of 100000 goo people voted
for it without word of debate, without
a dissenting vote, and without roll
call, but with solemn appreciation of
the gravity of their action. 1t required
but one minute and forty-one seconds to
accomplish this. The House was consid-
ering an election and simply paused to
declare war. There was no excitement,
no cavil, no word or question. 1t was
only IN the great cheer that went up
from the floor and galleries when Speak
or Reed announced its passage that the
tremendous import of the act and the
suppressed enthusiasm behind it was
shown. After the Presidents message
was read. the committee on foreign
affairs framed the resolution, acting
chairman Adams wrote the report and it
mn IT, L. ~
in an hour and six minutes
The Speaker signed it at 4.49.
| Inc 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 re-orga-
nization bill and it was sent to confer
| ence.
| The galleries of the House were
thronged in authorization of the Presi-
DENTS message asking Congress to make
| formal declaration of war. The blind
chaplain made an impressive invocation.
While the journal was being read, Ma
jor Pruden, the Presidents executive
clerk, appeared with the message. The
Speaker Immediately directed it to be
| read by The clerk. There was no demon
stration at the conclusion of the reading
and no demand for the reading of the
diplomatic correspondence that accom-
panied the message. The Speaker simply
ordered 1T referred under the rules to
the committee on foreign affairs and
printed for the information of the House.
The House then proceeded with the con-
sideration of District of Columbia bust
ness.
The contested election case of Wise VS.,
Young from the second Virginia dis
trict was called up with the understand
ing that four hours should be allowed
upon each side.
Shortly after one o'clock, acting Chair
man Adams entered the hall and the
news that the committee had unanimous.
ly agreed upon bill declaring the exis-
lance of state of war was known all
over the House. Mr.. Adams held hurried
consultations with the Speaker and
Messrs. Dinslnore and Berry of the mi
nority OF the committee.
At 1.20 p. H., he interrupted Mr.. Mesick
of Michigan, who was talking on the
contested election case and asked unani-
nous consent for the consideration of
the bill declaring the existence of a state
OF war between this country and the
Kingdom of Spain. There was not
murmur OF dissent. 1.-The bill was read
The House held its breath.
Mr.. McGuire, Republican of California.
arose to ask a question. but refrained.
The question was put on the third read
ing and passage of the bill and in mag
nifcent chorus the whole House respond
ed: aye
The announcement of it's passage was
greeted with round of applause and
cheer or two from tine floor and galleries
and then the House resumed considera-
ton of the election case.
Ihere was no excitement. 1t required
exactly one minute and forty -one seconds
for the House to pass the bill. No such
impressive action can tie recorded in the
legislative annals of any country.
The House of Representatives had simp-
ly paused in the Consideration of it's rou-
tine business to pass a declaration of war
Mr.. Mcguire explained subsequently
that his purpose in rising was to ask
whether the declaration in the bill that
war had existed since April 81, was in
tended TO legalize the seizure of the
Buena Ventura. II consider that act and
the other seizures up to this time . said
piracy
The Wise Young election contest was
next taken up. Mr.. Mesick made the
opening argument in the election case in
favor OF the claims OF contestant MIR.
Wise. On the face of the returns the sit
ting member, MIR. Young, Democrat, had
1899 plurality.
Mr.. Mesick claimed that a conspiracy
existed TO prevent the negroes from vot-
ing. The testimony before the commit.
tee, he commended, showed that the con-
testant, Mr.. Wise, was entitled to plu-
rality OF 5,117 in the district. Messrs
burke, Democrat of Texas, Yost, Repub-
lican OF Virginia, and Dearmond, Demo-
GRAFT OF Missouri, spoke on the election
case. just prior to adjournment Speaker
heed signed the bill declaring the exis-
tence OF a state of war.
When the army reorganization bill
with Senate amendments came back to
the House on motion OF Mr.. Hull, the
amendments were non concurred in, and
10