The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-19
De ARMOND THE LEADER
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR AP
PRECIPITATION BILL.
CLASH BETWEEN BAILEY AND OINGLEY
The Amendment Proposed to Appropriate
$4,000 for an Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister PIenipotentiary to Republic
of Cuba Greeted With Cheers,

of Cuba Greeted With Cheers,
Washington, Jan. 1S.-Cuba had
hearing in the House to-day and for a
time it looked as if parliamentary prece-
dents would be set aside and the Senate
resolution recognizing the insurgents as
belligerents would be attached as a rider
to the Diplomatic and Consular Appro-
priation bill. Mr.. De Almond, Mis-
souri, Democrat. precipitated the issue by
offering the resolution as an amendment
but point of order against it was sus-
tanned. The Army bill was passed.
The Diplomatic and Consular Appro-
priation bill was called up by Mr.. HIT,
chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Relations.
The bill carries S1,729,00S, an increase
of $50, 700 over the law for the current
year 1t was decided at the conclusion
of Mr.. Hits explanation to postpone
the general debate until the bill had been
read by paragraphs. As soon as the
enacting clause had been read Mr.. De
Almond, Dem, Mo-, offered an amend
ment to recognize the Cuban insurgents
as beligerents. Mr.. HIT raised the
point of order that the amendment was
new legislation and obnoxious to the
rules of the House.
Mr.. De Almond, speaking to the point
of order, said he fully understood the
rules of the House which were design
ed to suppress. when desired, the will of
the House. The chairman of the For
eign Affairs Committee, might, he said
feel constrained to raise this point of
order, but he reminded The House that
there still resided in its judgment the
n aTy~v fs4,1a a. AL.
any bill TO place what the House beliey-
ed should be there.
For months, he declared, those in con-
troll of the House had declined to allow
the House to consider what the people
of the country, without regard to party,
desired, namely that Congress consider
and act upon this question of recognize
ing the belldgerency of the struggling pa
triotS in Cuba. When the PEOPLE of the
country felt as they did. it was the duty
of members to over ride these petty lit
tie rules which had been used to sup
press action. The newspapers were fill
ed daily with narrowing tales of starya-
tfon and cruelty in Cuba. Should we
emulate the example Of Nero, who i'd
died while Rome burned and sit supine-
ly and indifferently by when men almost
within sight of our shores were fighting
ApAGIVus4g 1OI DkjLEAltAES DIS HOiR DIS pa
triots ever espoused or heroes ever de-
Tended. He tainted the Republicans
with being subseryient to those who de-
sired to prevent action on this question.
Further inaction he insisted was
disgrace to American manhood
The autonomy offered by Spain, he de-
clared, was a revolving mockery. a sham
and a delusion. He warned the other
side that the question could not be evad-
ed or lodged; that with this opportunity
before them they could not go back TO
their constituents and plead the rules as
an excuse for n0n-action. He was pro-
ceeding to denounce the administration
for following the example of its predeces-
sor in sending out the United States
Navy to hunt down the sympathizers
with the struggling Cubans
Mr.. Steele, rep, INDY, and Mr.. Hit,
both called the attention of the chair TO
the fact that Mr.. De Almond was not
discussing the point of order.
Mr.. De Almond said he we'll under
stood this but he would not finch from
his purpose. He would say no more.
But if the point of order was sustained
he declared that it was his purpose to-
appeal from the decision of the chair and
give the House the opportunity to deter
mine this question for itself. He felt
constrained to do this, he said, out Of a
sense Of public duty.
Mr. Bailey, the Democratic leader. re-
enforced the views Of Mr.. DeArmond in
a forcible speech, arguing that PROPOSE
ton to recognize a state Of war in Cuba
was certainly germane TO this bill. 1t
had been his purpose, he said, to have
offered the Senate Cuban belligerency
oIs
max Of his speech came when he dramat-
ically offered to withdraw the amend
ment if Mr.. HIT, the chairman Of the
Foreign Affairs committee, would give
assurances that the Senate resolution
would receive consideration within
reasonable time.
The Democrats applauded this chal-
lenge to the echo. He paused to await
Mr.. Hits answer, but Mr.. Hit did not
rise.
"The gentleman" (Iitt) added Mr..
Bailey, lis as silent as the Republican
rarity on this question" Again the
Democrats cheered and the galleries also
applauded. Then Mr.. HIT rose, but in
stead OF replying to Mr.. Bailey's chal-
lenge he called. the attention of the
chair to the fact that Mr.. Bailey was
not discussing the point Of order.
1T il an attempt to have two general
Debates" said he. The Democrats
jeered this statement. Mr.. Hepburn in
the chair, then sustained the point of
order, whereupon Mr.. DeArmond, in
order to get the question before the
House in better form, offered the Sen
ate Cuban resolution as an amendment,
and when it was Oyerruled made his APP
peal from the decision of the chair.
By this time the greatest excitement
prevailed in the House. The galleries
had filled to overlooking; messengers
had been sent scurrying to all quarters
of the Capitol to summon Republicans
who were absent from the hall. 1t was
evident that there was fear ON the part
of the House managers that the House
might be carried off it's feet ON this first
occasion of "a test OF the sentiment to-
ward Cuba.
The House managers made their fight
for regularity of proceeding. The
Speaker, who was in the lobby, came into