The San Francisco call., 1898-04-11
CONGRESS- TO
 ACT TUESDAY Both Houses Expect the Presidents Message
 To-Day.
Will Be Referred tc the Proper Committees Without
 Debate.
Resolutions Will Be Reported Back Within Twenty-Four
 Hours.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,

Washington, April 10.
 Upon the presumption that Spain's offer of an armistice to the Cuban in- surgents will make no change in the plans of the administration and that the Presidents message will go to Con- gress tomorrow, the House this week will make history. In anticipation of stirring scenes and momentous action, every Congressman has been besieged by hundreds of friends for tickets to the reserved galleries, and the general multitude that takes its chances in the public galleries on the principle of first come, first served" are prepared to as- sault the Capitol at dawn tomorrow. It is likely that hundreds will camp out on the marble steps all night, so in- tense is the desire to be present when the message is read. The public gener- ally regards the message as the pro- logue to a drama which may end in war before the curtain goes down.
 After the message is read tomorrow it will probably be referred to the Com mittee on Foreign Relations without de- bate. Such is the programme to which both sides have practically assented, with the tacit understanding that the committee will report on Tuesday the resolutions upon which the House will be expected to act. Any individual at tempt to fruStrate this part of the pro- gramme will prove abortive.
 With the gravity of the situation con- fronting them, members on both sides have been sobered and seem impressed with the idea that things should pro- ceed in a regular and orderly way. It seems almost certain now that there will be a conflict both in the committee and the House as to the nature of the resolutions upon which the House will be called upon to act. Individual views vary greatly from those who desire a direct declaration of war, based on the theory that the blowing up of the Maine was a hostile act to the few who are opposed to any action whatever. But the real contest, of course, will be between those who desire to follow what is now generally accepted as the Presidents recommendation, and those who desire the recognition of the Gu ban republic.
 The Demecrats, both of the commit tee and the House, have taken an un- equivocal position for the recognition of independence, although there is a difference of opinion as to whether 1n- tervention should follow. A majority of the Republicans of the committee have within a few days declared them dence. Two of them-Messrs. Quigg of New York and Henry of Indiana while they do not favor recognition of the existing republic, have earnestly advocated a declaration to the effect that Spain's dominion over the island cease, leaving to the future the ques- tion of the actual government Of the island. But in the desire of the Re- publicans of both houses to secure har- mony of action, some of the advocates n the conclusion that the difference be- tween armed intervention and recogni- tion Is more technical than SubStan- tial, as, unless the island should be an- nexed. to which they are opposed, a republican form of government Tor the island must follow.
 It seems probable that existing dif- ferences may at least to some extent be adjusted, and, whether all the Re publicans agree to a resolution de- claring for intervention only or not. such resolution will be reported. 1t seems equally certain that resolu- tion for the independence. possibly coupled with intervention, will be pre- sented by the minority.
 The week in the Senate probably will be given entirely to the Cuban ques- tion. The Presidents message is counted upon to arrive soon after the assembling at noon tomorrow. It will be referred promptly to the Com mittee on Foreign Relations and the present understanding is that no re- port will be made by the committee before Tuesday The report may, in case of the development of radical diff ferences in the committee, be delayed to even later day.
 There is a decidedly strong disposi- ton on the part of the many Senators who are not members of the commit tee to have the Senate as body take up the subject of the shaping of the committees report, contemporaneous- ly with the committee, and it is not improbable that a secret session of the Senate may be held with this purpose in view.
 To Cure a Cold in One Day