The record-union., 1898-03-30
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WASHINGTON, March 29,-COngrese
and the Cabinet divide dattention to-
day on the Spanish situation. In Con
gress the feeling. which began TO take
form after the Presidents conservative
and pacific message on the Maine re-
port was submitted yesterday, found
open expression to-day in resolutions
proposing a declaration Of war. recog-
milton Of the independence OF Cuba,
armed intervention and other decisive
and warlike steps against Spain, and
in conferences Of Republicans having
for their object the overruling Of the
Speaker, if necessary, to set prompt
action. Both on the floor in the cloak
rooms. in the lobbies and in the corri-
doris there vas little else discussed but
the Cuban situation, and the Maine dis
aster. Every Senator and Representa-
tive was furnished with a copy Of the
testimony sent to Congress yesterday,
and every person who could procure q
copy read the printed pages Every
group OF Senators in the cloakrooms
talked Of Cuba. Constant and continual
conferences were held, and all recog-
nized the seriousness OF the situation.
CRISIS NEAR At HAND.
On the House side it was apparent
that the Republican majority could not
be longer controlled by what is known
as the conservative element led by the
Sneaker. Groups of members in Il
state Of excitement were TO be seen on
every hand. In each cIoakroom there
were members listening eagerly while
a portion of the Maine testimony was
read. Members Of the Foreign Affairs
Committee grouped together and dis
cussed plans and possible future pro
ceedings. 1t was generally acknowl-
edged that a serious condition had
arisen; that a crisis was soon at hand.
1t was the opinion of some Of the con
servative members that in a day or two
the feeling would subside and mem
bers would not be so agitated.
Much depends upon the next few
days That Congress viii not long re-
main inactive if some decided action
is not taken by the Administration is
certain 1t is also true that the talk
of an arnlistice caused great deal Of
iH-feallng. The House to-day proceed
ed to Go business without a break and
without dramatic incident, but no such
quiet can be promised tomorrow, when
the naval bill is being considered.
The day closed with a prospect that
the committees to whom was referred
the Maine correspondence viii act soon,
possibly before the end of the week.
The Cabinet meeting to-day develop
ed nothing new. The President remains
steudfast in his convictions as to what
is his duty. and adverse CRITICISM
which. It is asserted, is mainly due to
raisinformation as to the situation OF
ignorance Of the Presidents purpose,
viii moi. be permitted to swerve him in
the least degree from the course he
has planned.
\ PEREMPTORY DEMAND.
AS already stated in the Associated
Press, the President some days ago
made q peremptory demand upon Spain
to put an end Immediately to hostili-
ties in Cuba: to release the coneentra-
dos, snd to permit them to return to
their homes and resume their several
occupations unmolested. This state
ment is made on good Authority, and
since that demand was communicated
TO Spain the President has not taken a
step backward or allowed himself TO
be persuaded into modifying it in the
least particular. spain's final reply to
this demand, it is known, is now re-