The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-01-19

ieduefS, TO their associates not To JOIN
IN the programme succeeded. Colscn
lR) Of Kentucky warned his side that
unless he was soon given an opportu-
nifty to vote his sentiments on the Gu
ban question he would cooperate in
any revolutionary method TO secure
action. The Republican tactics kept
to the front the point that the minority
We're, seeking to override the rules OF
the House, and they got every Republi-
can vote, sustaining the chair by the
vote of la2 TO III. 4 Democrat, Elem
ing of Georgia, voted with them, on
the ground that he could not violate his
oath by voting against unfolding the
rules. During the debate Bailey chal-
lenged Hit to give the House any as
surance that an opportunity would be
offered to vote on the resolution passed
by the Senate at the last election, but
he received no reply. Before the diplo-
matte bill came UP the army bin was
passed.
The first contested election case of the
present Congress was disposed Of by
the House to-day. Chairman Taylor
of the Committee on Elections No. :,
reported that Thomas f. Clark, who
filed notice of contest against Jesse F.
Stallings, representing the Second Ala
bama District, had abandoned his con-
test. and the committee therefore I'M
animously reported a resolution declar-
ing Stallings entitled to the seat.
The House then resumed considera-
ton of the army appropriation bill.
When the House adjourned yesterday
point Of order had been raised against
a provision of the bin modifying the
method of computing the mileage of
army officers. The chair Overruled the
point of order
Savers ODD of Texas, said the pro-
posed provision would increase the cost
Of mileage to the Government ana
after some discussion it was temper
arily passed over.
Sayers then raised a point of order
against the provision requiring the pay
of enlisted men to he paid by Paym2s-
tiers in person. Tlv point Of order was
sustained and the provision went ont
of the bill.
Little CD Of Arkansas offered an
amendment to appropriate SloO00 for
the repair of the national cemetery at
Fort Smith, Arkansas. BE explained
that the cemetery had been totally
wrecked by the storm yS1lich recently
devastated the town. The amendment
fell. under a point of order.
Without further amendment the Dill
was passed.
The Wheeler resolution for the ap-
pointment of members of the Board OF
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution
was also passed.
Hit, Chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations, then called up the
diplomatic and consular appropriation
bill.
Bailey objected to any limitation on
the general debate The bill carries
81, 729. COS, an increase of S33, 100 over
the law for the current year.
As soon as the enacting caluse had
been read, De Almond CD of Missouri
offered an amendment to recognize the
Cuban insurgents as belligerents.
Hit raised the point Of order that
the amendment was new legislation ana
obnoxious to the rules of the House.
De Almond then, 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
Foreign 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 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, desires, namely, that Con-
gress consider an Act upon this ques-
ton of recognizing the belligerency Of
the struggling patriots in Cuba. When
the people Of the country felt as they
did, it was the duty of members 70
override these petty Titles rules, which
had been used to suppress action.
The newspapers Were filed daily with
narrowing tales of starvation and cru
city in Cuba. Should we emulate the
example Of Nero, who fiddlfd while
Rome burned and supinely and indif-
ferentiy stand by, when men almost
within sight of our shores We're fight
ing valcrously for principles as holy as
patriots ever espoused or heroes ever
defended?
He taunted the Republicans with be-
ing subservient to those who desired to
prevent action on this question. Fur
Their inaction. he insisted, was dis
grace to American manhood. The au-
tonomy offered by Spain, he declared.
was a revolving mockery, a sham and
a delus:on. lie warned the other side
that the question could not be evaded
or lodged; with this opportunity before
them, they could not go back to their
constituents and plead the rules as an
excuse for non-action.
He then projected to denounce the
Administration for following the exam
pie Of its predecessor in sending out
the United States navy to hunt down
the sympathizers with struggling Gu
bans.
Steele 0.) of Indiana and Hit both
called the attention of the Chair TO the
factthat De Almond was not discussing
the point Of order.
De Almond said he well understood
this. but he would not finch from hts
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
determine this question for itself. He
felt constrained to do this, he said, out
of sense Of public duty.
Bailey, the Democratic leader, re-en-
forced the views of De Almond. argu-
ing that q proposition to recognize 4
state Of war in Cuba was certainly GER
name to this bin. II had been his pur-
pose. he said, TO have offered the same
Cuban helligerency. resolution as an
amendment.
The climax of his speech came when
he offered to withdraw the amendments