The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-05
They Are willing, However, to Give
the President Reasonable Time
to Prepare His Message.
SET SPEECHES IN THE SENATE
BUT NO EFFORT TO CONSIDER CUBAN
RECOGNITION RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Perkins Charges Spaniards with
Treachery and Responsibility
for the Maine Disaster.

WASHINGTON, April Awhile there
resolution regarding the Cuban situation in
the House to-day, there was a brief out
break, in the course of which the warlike
temper of the crowded galleries was so
manifest that Speaker Reed threatened to
clear them If it was repeated. The out
break occurred over bill to authorize the
President to erect temporary Notifications
in case of emergency on land when the
written consent of the owners was obtained
without awaiting the long process of legal
condemnation. This led to a demand by
Mr.. Bailey, the Democratic leader, for in
formation as to the facts which warranted
al these war measures The particular
statement which aroused the galleries was
to the effect that. while the Democrats were
willing to wait any reasonable time for the
President to transmit message that would
meet the approval of the American people,
they would not wait a minute for him to
continue negotiations with the butchers of
Spain" When the demonstration in the
galleries was rebuked by the speaker, Mr..
Bailey declared that the galleries were the
American people in miniature. Mr. Cannon
accused Mr. Bailey of "posturing'' and
passed and it was arranged that the army
reorganization bill should be taken up on
Wednesday unless a report was made from
the committee on foreign affairs. The re-
mainder of the day passed without incident
in the transaction of District of Columbia
business. During the morning thousands
swarmed through the corridors of the
House end of the Capitol clamoring for adj
mission to the galleries.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the committee
on appropriations. asked unanimous con-
sent for consideration of the Senate resolu-
ton suspending a portion of Section $50 Of
the Revised Statutes so as to permit the
United States to erect Notifications in
cases of emergency upon any land upon
obtaining the written consent of the owner.
This is another war measure" inter-
posed Mr. Bailey. 81 shall object until /
find out whether we are going to have any
war"
Mr.. Cannon explained that the passage of
the bill was urgently recommended by the
chief of engineers. He moved to pass the
bill under suspension of the rules.
MR.. BAILEY's SPEECH.
Mr.. Bailey took the floor after Mr.. Can
mons explanation and made the speech
which aroused the galleries. He called at
tention to the fact that on several occa-
sions within the last thirty days the House
had been called upon to vote upon several
propositions which indicated that war was
directly ahead of us. Yet, he said, Congress
was not in possession of any fact which
warrants this belief He had voted, he said,
for the extraordinary emergency $4,000. 600
appropriation but he had voted for it under
the impression that we were periously near
to war. If a Democratic President had
asked Democratic House to authorize such
an expenditure without control or limitation
he should have denied it, He should have
demanded the estimates. But In this case,
believing that danger was at hand, he had
voted for it. Much of the vast appropria-
ton had already been expended, yet in
formation, except such as came through the
newspapers, was still withheld.
To-day the House vas asked to meet an
other emergency. Last Wednesday when
the House was asked to meet the vital ques-
ton the majority had refused to meet it.
1t was then everywhere announced that the
President would be prepared to send a mes
sage to Congress to-day. The House adj
journed Friday until to-day with that i'm,
man knew there was to be none to-day
When was the message 10 come in, he asked
'fIt seems to me important said he, that
the House and the country should know
what the government was doing and in
tended to do. We ought not to be asked to
vote blindly. If the occasion warrants it
we are ready to vote for every proper mea-
sure to prepare for war and if war comes
We are ready to vote for every measure
designed to prosecute it to successful con-
clusiOn.''
A perfect storm Of applause swept the
galleries, which the speaker had consider
able difficulty in subduing. The speaker
wa 1p6 ha M TlqfY a ion
of approval or disapproval would be per-
mitted. But the. next. utterance of Mr..
leries," said Mr.. Bailey, waving his hands
about the thronged galleries, "are but
miniature of the American people. If Con-
they would force this House to action
This time the speaker sternly warned the
galleries that, If the, demonstration was
again repeated he wouldsorder them cleared.
MR.. STEELES REMARK
ooh! think that would hardly be fair
interposed Mr.. Steele Rep., Ind.) The gen.
tleman is only talking to the galleries."
Naughter.)
1T is better retorted Mr.. Bailey, "to
speak to the listening galleries than the deaf
ear of the majority. 1 say now that If the
President wants one, two, or even three
days to prepare a message which will meet
the approval Of the American people we on
this side are willing that he should have
time but if he wants one day or one hour 4
to continue negotiations with the butchers
of Spain not one minute will we give him."
(Great applause on the Democratic side and
scattering applause on the Republican side)
Mr.. Hopkins (Rep., Ill) suggested that
there was need of discretion at such times
as these. I'VE cannot advertise our weak
nesses," said he, nor make war prepara-
tionS with q brass band
Mr.. Lentz Dem, o. said he thought an
amendment he desired to offer to recognize
the independence of Cuba should be at
taehed to the bill Spain had recognized the
Confederacy within thirty days after Sum-
ter was fired on. Why should we hesitate
Mr.. Williams (Dem.. Miss.), member Of
the foreign affairs committee, at this juno
ture made an important statement consid-
ering the fact that the committee had ad-
journed within an bour. and that some dis
closures had been made which sealed tho
lips of all the members OF the committee,
and Democrats alike. He SAID
the proposed amendment at this time was
inopportune. 7 lpelAegess said he that