Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-04-06
FIFTY-FiFTH CONGRESS.
HOuSE.

IN committee was considering the ma
val appropriation bill ruling, whlch IN
effect compelled members TO connne tnelr
remarks under the five minute rule 10 tne
subject before the house. was made against
Mr.. Hartman, sill. rep, who attempted 10
make political speech. The ruling was
denounced as usurpation and appeal from
the ruling was taken. When all else fall-
ed, every expedient was resorted TO 10
block progress with the bill AS result
but four pages were disposed Of
HOUSE.
Washington, March 26.-The house spent
the day debating the naval appropriation
bill. Several speakers declared that war
already existed between Spain and tne
United States and every utterance in fav-
or of aggressive action against SPAN was
applauded by the crowded galleries.
SENATE.
Washington, March 2S.-As soon as the
report of the Maine court of inquiry and
the presidents message had been read
they were referred to the foreign analrs
committee without debate
HOUSE.
AS soon as the preliminary business was
disposed of the report of the Maine court
of inquiry, accompanied by a message from
the president, was presented and read.
There was an outburst of applause when
the message was concluded. 1t was re-
ferred without debate to the committee on
foreign affairs. The death of Representa-
tive Simpkins was announced and the
house then adjourned.
SENATE.
Washington, March 29-In the senate,
Rawlins, of Utah. introduced a joint reso-
luton recognizing the independence of Gu
ba and declaring war against Spain. Sem
a ~, E'Oralrar nffapnI n rpsOlnti0n for Cnhan
independence. He spoke of the delays
caused by the De LONE incident and the
Maine incident bnt declared that the Gu
ban question would come up whatever was
done with the Maine. Frye introduced
resolution reciting the condition of Cuba
and directing the president in his discre-
tion to take steps to drive the Spanish ma
val and military forces from the island.
Rawlins, Foraker and Frye resolutions
went to the foreign relations committee.
Mason followed the introduction of the
resolutions with war speech. He said
that if ninety of the victims Of the Maine
had been senators or sons of senator's we
would not have been forty DAYS in declar
ing war; yet the lives of all Americans
were sacred alike under our law. He de-
clared he was for war. The galleries Wig
orously applauded. The resolution for
the importation free of duty of military
supplies passed.
HOUSE.
Marsh of Illinois, chairman Of the house
committee on militia, introduced a joint
resolution declaring war between Spain
and the United States. Mercer of Me-
braska introduced Cuban resolution sim
liar to that introduced by Senator Foraker.
The house devoted the whole day to the
consideration of the bill to pay certain
claims for stores and supplies furnished to
the union by loyal citizens OF the south
during the war.
Washington, March 30.-The situation in
Cuba was only referred to incidentally.
During the consideration of the Alaskan
bill, Wolcott, chairman of the committee
on postoffices and post roads made a re-
markable and caustic arrangement of the
secretary of the treasury on account of the
secretary's flippant treatment of a re-
quest made by Mr.. Wolcott's committee
HOUSE.
A wild and uproarious scene occurred in
the house to-day, when Bailey, the DEM
ocratic leader, attempted to force the hand
of the republicans upon proposition to
overrule the speaker and pass resolution
recognizing the independence of the Cuban
republic. He was cheered in the crowded
galleries, but the members of the majority
refused to support him. When the vote
was taken, only two republicans-Messrs
Acheson and Robbins of Pennsylvania
broke from the party lines. The house
spent the day on the naval appropriation
bill. Several times the Cuban question
came up and each time the galleries
cheered the speakers who favored imme-
date action.
SENATE
Washington, March BIN the senate
pending vote on the motion of Frye that
a resolution reported by him from the COM
mittee VA foreign relations yesterday ask.
ing the president for Cuban consular re-
ports be racommitted to his committee,
Allen, of Nebraska, made speech in IA
vor of Cuban independence. Lodge re-
ported from the committee on foreign re-
lations bill directing the president to
purchase the Danish West Indian Island
ST. Thomas, st. John, st. Croix, or any Of
them for naval coasting station and ap-
propriating 5000, 900 for the purpose.
HOUSE.
Three speeches which stirred the assem-
blage in the house to it's depths were made
today by Grosvenor. of Ohio, which, it
was assumed, spoke for the administra-
tion, and who practically pledged it to the
cause to free Cuba; Mr. Bailey, of Texas,
the democratic leader, who announced the
democratic position as for free Cuba. with
out war il it could be avoided but with war
| if necessary; and Mr.. johnson, of Indiana,
who spoke for peace, declaring that it was
our duty to go to the extreme in magma
nimity in order to avoid the horrors Of
war. Little progress was made in the ma
| val bill.