The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-04-21
1T MEANS War
Congress Demands Alb
S0lute Freedom
of Cuba.
REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEES

REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEES
Both Go Beyond the Presidents Rec
ommend ations-The Only Thing Now
to Avert Conflict Will BE spain's
Surrender OF the Island.
Washington, April 1.-THE burden
of responsibility for the next move in
the Spanish crisis having been shifted
by the presidents message upon the
shoulders of congress, the capitol today
became the storm center, with the for.
eign affairs committees Of the two
houses as the foci.
The struggle in each committee was
long and bitter, with this marked differ
ence between that at the senate wing
and that at the house end of the capt.
toll.
: In the senate end, Democrats as well
as Republicans participated, while at
the house end the task was to secure
harmonious action among the Republic
cans, 80 as to present, if possible, a
solid front when the Democrats were
finally called in for action. Pressure
from every quarter was brought to bear.
Radicals and conservatives strained
every nerve. The vital point Of the
contest hinged upon whether the reso-
lntions should 60 further than the presi.
dent had gone and declare for the in
dependence Of Cuba from Spanish
domination. Tonight compromise
proposition was certain to be reported
at both ends of the capitol.
The senate committees resolution
will be the more radical Of the two. 1t
will declare for immediate interven-
tion, general recognition Of the
rights of the Caban people to freedom
and independence, and will demand the
withdrawal of the Spanish forces from
the island.
The Republicans of the house COM
mittee practically united upon reso-
luton which also directs immediate in
tervention Tin that respect going be-
yond the presidents recommendation,
and for the establishment Of firm
and stable government" in Cuba.
Smith of Michigan stood out stubbornly
for a recognition of Independence, but
the committee did not yield. When
the resolutions were submitted to the
Republican steering committee, they
insisted that unless the words "and in
dependent" before government" we're
inserted, 80 as to read, firm. stable
and Independent government" they
would decline to accept it. Finally,
assurances that this would be conceded
were given, and in those words plain
sailing and harmonious action seems
probable. The Democrats Of the COM
mittee have agreed to antagonize the
majority report with one declaring for
independence of the island and imme-
date armed Intervention. The ulti-
mate Independence of the island, with
out the recognition Of the independence
of the existing government. is the step
which both committees are to take be-
yond the presidents recommendation.
A significant feature Of the day in
this connection was the declaration Of
General Grosvenor, Of Ohio, the adj
ministration' spokesman, made during
the debate in the house, that the presi-
dents recommendations must be inter-
preted as q declaration for the inde-
pendence of the island from Spanish
dominion.
There is a strong impression tonight
that the debate in the house will be
made short to prevent undue criticism
of the administration. Many OF the
Republicans are in favor of no debate
at all, contending that the passage Of q
resolution without debate would
strengthen our position before the
world.
In the senate, it is impossible to pre-
dict how long the debate will run.
There is q general feeling in WASH
ington tonight among public men that
the action of congress, as foreshadowed
in tho resolutions, renders the situation
extremely critical, and conservative
leaders of both parties consider war in-
eyitable as q result of their adoption,
unless Spain makes final and COM
plete surrender by giving mp Cuba.
The situation is regarded - 90 critical
that Republicans on the ways and
means committee, a. result OF private
conferences, have reached an agreement
a to the method Of raising 500, 0OO,-
600 additional revenue annually for
the prosecution Of the war by increasing
the tax on beer ana tobacco, and plac-
inc a tax on tea and coffee. They also
agreed to authorize the issue OF popu-
lar loan Of $500, 900, 900, and the issue
of certificates Of Indebtedness to meet
tho emergencies.
Modesto, CAL, April l4.-Rev- 2.
Smith, priest Of st. Stanislaus cathe-
dral, dropped dead Of heart disease
while celebrating mass this morning.
He had Just preached IN eloquent ser
mon on the necessity Of being prepared
Tor death.
The Kneekeut Proved rata1-
Columbus, O., April l4.-Georee
Stout, Of Philadelphia, who wss
knocked out ~ Oscar Gardner, the
Omaha Kid, in fight Last night. died
from the effects Of the blow thi6 morn
Ing. Il wm in tho 18th round that
the fatal iolt was delivered, Stout fall-
n I'D.