The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-19
AN EXCITING DISCUSSION
WHICH THE REPUBLICANS HAD DIFF
FICULTY IN SHUTTING OFF.
Speeches by Messrs. De Almond, Hit
DingIey, Bailey, CoIson. Fleming,
Henderson and Others.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

but were effectively squelched after an ex-
citing discussion of the Cuban question and
the "Czars' rules. When the majority
thinks the time is opportune, the Democrats
will be given pretty free rein to declaim for
Cuban independence, but they will not be
permitted to override the rules in order to
get the question before the House. The
Republicans are wholly free from nervous
ness and destitute of fear that they can be
stampeded or thrown into a panic by any
thing the opposition may say or do. They
are serenely satisfied that the people are
in entire accord with them in their deter
mination to let the management of our coun-
try's care rest with the President for the
present They feel that the people have
confidence in the wisdom, courage and
patriotism of the President to handle the
Cuban situation to the best interest and to
the honor of the Republic.
For time to-day it looked as if parlia
mentary precedents would be set aside and
the Senate resolution recognizing the in
surgents as belligererts would be attached
as a rider to the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill. Mr.. De Almond, Mis-
souri, Democrat, precipitated the issue by Of
fering the resolution as an amendment, but
point of order against it was sustained.
Mr. De Almond appealed. He urged the
Republicans who had professed friendship
for the struggling Cubans to override the
decision of the chair as the only chance
of securing action on the proposition Mr..
Bailey the leader of the minority, and other
Democrats, joined in the appeal The ex-
citement became intense, but the appeals OF
Mr. Dingley, the floor leader of the major
ity, as well as other Republican leaders, to
thpiP aSSOciatpS n iOin in
gramme succeeded. Mr.. Colson, leading
Republican, warned his side that unless he
was soon given an opportunity to vote his
sentiments on the Cuban question he would
cooperate in any revolutionary method to
secure action. The Republican leaders kept
to the front the point that the minority
was seeking to override the rules of the
House, and they got every Republican vote,
sustaining the chair by vote of 152 to 1l4
One Democrat (Mr- Fleming, of Georgia.
voted with them on the ground that he
could not violate his oath by voting against
upholding the rules During the debate
Mr.. Bailey challenged Mr.. Hit to give the
House any assurance that am opportunity
would be offered to vote on the resolution
passed by the Senate at the last session,
but he received no reply.
FIRST ELECTION CASE.
At the opening of the session the first
contested election case of the present Con-
gress was disposed of. Chairman Taylor.
of committee on elections No. =, reported
that Thomas f. Clark, who filed notice of
contest against Jesse f. Stallings, repre-
senting the Second Alabama district had
abandoned his contest and the committee
therefore, unanimously reported a resolu-
ton declaring Mr.. Stallings entitled to the
Al.
ton of the army appropriation bill When
the House adjourned yesterday a point of
order had been raised against a provision
of the bill modifying the method of com
putting the mileage of army officers. The
chair overruled the point Of order. Mr.
Sayers said the proposed provision would
increase the cost of mileage to the govern
ment. After some discussion it was tenn
porarily passed over.N
Mr.. Sayers then raised a point of order
against the provision requiring the pay of
enlisted men by paymasters in person. The
point of order was sustained and the pro-
vision went out of the bill
Mr.. Little offered an amendment to appro-
pirate $4,000 for the repair of the National
Cemetery at Fort Smith. Ark. He ex-
planned that the cemetery had been wrecked
by the storm which recently devastated the
town The amendment fell under point
ment, the bill was passed.
The Wheeler resolution for the appoint
ment of members of the board of regents of
tue cuI1lilSOuldn INSTITUTION was also
passed.
Mr.. Hit, chairman of the committee on
foreign relations, then called up the diplo-
matte and consular appropriation bill Mr.
Barley objected to any limitation on the
general debate. The bill carries 81 729 OOS
an increase of $33, 700 over the law for the
current year.
AS soon as tie enacting clause had been
read Mr. De Almond offered an amendment
to recognize the Cuban insurgents as bel
ligerents.
Mr. Hit raised the point of order that
the amendment was new legislation and OBJ
noXIouS to the rules of the House.
DE Almonds SPEECH
Mr.. De Almond speaking to the point of
order, said he fully understood the rules of
the House, which were designed to sup
press, when desired, the will of the House.
The chairman of the foreign affairs com
mittee might. he said, feel constrained TO
raise this point of order, but he reminded
the House that there still resided in its
Judgment the power at any time, at any
place. on any bill. to place what the House
believed should be there. For months, he
declared, those in control of the House had
declined to allow the House to consider
what the people of the country without
regard to party, desired namely-that Con-
gress consider and act on this question of
Cling patriots in Cuba When the people
of the country felt as they did it was the
uuly OF members 10 override these petty
little rules which had been used to slip-
press action. The newspapers were filled
daily with narrowing tales of starvation
and cruelty in Cuba. Should we emulate
the example of Nero, who fddled while
Rome burned and sit supinely and indif-
ferently by when men almost within sight
of our shores We're fighting valorously for
principles as holy as patriots eyed espoused
or heroes ever defended? He taunted the
Republicans with being subservient to those
who desired to prevent action on this ques-
ton. Further inaction, he insisted was n
disgrace to American manhood The au-
tonomy offered by Spain, he declared was
a revolving mockery. a sham and delu-
sion He warned the other side that the
question could not be evaded or lodged;
that with this opportunity before them
they could not go back TO their constit-
uents and plead the rules as an excuse for
nonaction
Mr. De Armond was proceeding to de-
nounce the administration for following the
example of its predecessor in sending the
United States navy to hunt down the syrn-
pathizers with the struggling Cubans. when
Mr.. Steele (Rep., Ind and Mr.. Fitt both
called the attention of the chair 10 the fact
that Mr.. De Almond was not discussing
the point of order.
MIR. De Almond said he We'll understood
this. but he wollld not finch frcm his pur-
bose. He would say no more. But If the