The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-20
EXPLANATIONS
IN The SENATE
Both Democrats and Republicans
Defend Their Action.
SPICY AND INTERESTING
Were the coIlOquies That Ensued- cOnsidera-
ton Of the ,Sundry Civil AprOprIa-
ton Bill Was Re-
sumed.
SPICY AND INTERESTING

of the sundry civil appropriations bill was
resumed and the wide latitude of debate
permitted under the rules of the senate at
forded opportunity for some explanations
to be made concerning the action of the
senate upon the Cuban question. Mr.. Cock
rell, of Missouri, and Mr.. Bacon, of Geor-
gia, explained the action of the democrats
in voting against the conference report in
the early hours of tbs morning and the
colloquies that ensued between them and
some of the republican senators were spicy
and interesting. A running fire of debate
which was participated In by Mr.. Mantle,
of Montana, Mr.. Cannon. of Utah, Mr..
Hale, of Name. Mr.. Spooner and others, the
discussion lasting about three hours.
At the opening of the session the excit-
ing scenes of the past week had given way
to some WEAKNESS.
At 1921 p. m. message was received
from the house announcing the signature
Of the speaker to the Cuban resolutions.
Eight minutes afterward the vice-presi-
dent announced his signature to the Cuban
resolutions.
In accordance with his announcement
made yesterday that he proposed to insist
upon the independence of the Cuban re-
public, Mr.. Allen, of Nebraska, offered the
following resolution which was referred
to the committee on foreign relations:
Resolution for Recognition
"That the political independence of the
republic of Cuba, the capital of which is To-
Gated at Cubitas is hereby recognized by
the United States of America as the law
full government of the island of Cuba and
LODI fn
SAID republic its friendly offices in the adj
justment of it's financial affairs width the
kingdom of Spain or the holders of Spanish
bonds or Indebtedness, issued against or
made chargeable to Cuba, that SO far as
the influence of the United States may be
properly exercised, it will insist that said
republic shall not be charged with the
bonded or other indebtedness of Spain, con-
tracted during of prior to hostilities be-
tween the respective governments of Cuba
or Spain"
Mr.. Stewart, of Nevada, said the resolu-
ton reminded him of the very ancient and
very sapient scheme of locking the door
after the horse is stolen.
Mr. Allen declared that he was quite sat
isfied that, under the present arrangement,
the island of Cuba would pass into the
hands of financial cormorants and tinan-
cial buzzards,' unless the United States
should at once take measures to protect
the island and its people.
The senate then resumed consideration of
the Sundry civil bill.
Mr. Petus offered an amendment provid-
ing for the admission of ships of war and
their barges at the wharfs at Mobile, Ala,
and providing an appropriation of 100000
to be expended by the secretary of war as
he may decide.
Mr.. Pettus urged that this was a war
measure and ought to be adopted.
German, of Maryland, urged Mr.. Pettus
to withdraw the amendment. Other sena-
tors, he said, withheld similar amendments
which they had been urged to press because
it was not desirable that the sundry civil
bill should be a river and harbor measure
Pettus Amendment Withdrawn
Mr.. Pettus then withdrew the amend
ment.
In the course of dry routine discussion
minor amendment to the pending bill, Mr..
Cockrell, of Missouri, injected some life
into the debate my throwing down the
gauntlet to Mr.. Hale for some utterances
the latter had made during the Cuban de-
bate. He expressed the desire that Mr..
Hale would use his great influence to get
the rpublicans in lin upon the pending
amendment.
Mr.. Hale expressed the hope that all re-
publicans would be found in solid phalanx
in support of their president and their
party
IT may be pardoned, too, for expressing
the hope" said Mr.. Hale tauntingly, that
all democrats and all members of other
parties shall be found supporting not the
president alone, but the country In all pa
triotic matters"
st, too, shall welcome the day when men
of all parties may join with the president
in support of patriotic policies" declared
Mr.. Cockrell, "but If the president of the
United States expects me to be tail to his
kite and to swing along to his coat tails,
he will find himself greatly mistaken"
Mr.. Cockrell then launched into an ex-
tended speech in which he sharply attacked
the administration and congress for their
action on the Cuban question. Mr. Cockrell
adverted to the purpose OF the resolution
passed early this morning, intimating that
it would enable those so inclined to take
advantage of the Cuban patriots.
When he referred to the action of the
senate and of congress late at yesterdays
session Mr.. Hale interrupted him to inquire
why 1t was that the democrats OF the sem
ate practically as a badly voted against the
action for which they had been clamoring
for months. IT can understand" he said,
"the senator from Missouri may be trife
sensitive over night"
Proud of His Vote
"Not at ALL" declared Mr.. Cockrell, 1T
never was more glad Of any vote I ever
cast than of that of yesterday in the early
hours of this morning. The votes cast were
a manifestation of devotion to principle; to
the principles long upheld by the Cpban pa
triotS."
Mr.. Hale then called attention to the fore
cast he had made last Saturday night,
which was in effect that the democrats
were opposed to any action. He did not
expect his forecast to be so soon substan-
tiated.
Mr. Cockrell replied that when the ques-
ton finally came before the senate 1t was
as to whether the recognition of indepen-
dence should be incorporated in the reso-
buttons. That amendment, Mr.. ockrell con-
tCended,. was the only point in issue on the
final vote.
'As matter of fact. interjected Mr..
Spooner, this whole business was party
playa democratic play-and they can't
put men ON this side of the chamber in a
hale by any exhibition Of 'holier than
thou policy on that point"
Mr.. Bacon, of Georgia. continued the dis
cussion of the position of the democrats