Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-31
UPR0AR In THE HOUSE
Bailey Attempts 10 Pass Cuban Inde-
pendenCe Resolution.
THE SPEAKERS RECONCENTRADOS."
They Are Rallied, 10 a Man, and De
feat Bailey'S Proposition.
HIGH PITCH OF EXCITEMENT.
Members and Spectators Wrought Up
by Wheeler and Cummings Speeches.
CUBA IN THE SENATE.
HIGH PITCH OF EXCITEMENT.
CUBA IN THE SENATE.
Resolution Asking for Consular
Correspondence RepOrted-FOreign
Sessions-WolcOtt Arraigns Gage.

|
Of Representatives to-day when Mr.. Bal
| ley, the Democratic leader, attempted to
force the hand of the Republicans upon
| proposition to overrule the Speaker
and pass a resolution recognizing the in
| dependence OF the Cuban republic. He
was cheered on by the crowded galleries,
| but the members of the majority refused
to support him. They were rallied by
two of the leading advocates of armed
| Intervention, and the Speaker himself,
| from the chair made an indirect appeal
to his party associates to stand firm, at
the same time intimating that if their
| impatience was curbed a little longer
they would have the opportunity they
coveted.
| The scene throughout was most dra-
matte, and the members and the specta-
| tors in the galleries were wrought up TO
a high pitch of excitement.
Mr.. Bailey offered his resolution as a
privileged question. AS soon as it was
read Mr.. Boutelle made the point of or
| der that it was not privileged. and upon
| that Mr.. Bailey demanded to be heard.
| He called attention TO the fact that in
| the Fifty-third Congress, when Mr.. Crisp
was Speaker, Mr.. Boutelle, who now made
| the point Of order tnat this resolution
was not privileged, presented resolu-
| ton OF a similar character relating to
| Hawaii, which the Speaker held was
| privileged, but must go to committee.
| Against that latter ruling an appeal was
taken, and the whole Republican side
| had voted against tabling the appeal.
| When he said that at the head OF the
| list of distinguished Republicans who
voted on that occasion was the honora-
BILE Speaker of this House, the Democrats
went rapturous in applause.
Meantime the excitement was great
The Republican leaders were evidently
rallying their forces Mr.. Hull, chair
man OF the Committee on Military Az
fairs. who was one Of the prime movers
i'm the movement for prompt and vigorous
action on the Republican side, came for
ward with a strong appeal TO Republ-
cans not to be carried off their feet.
At the outset he acknowledged that his
sympathies were with the resolution
(Which, il transpired afterwards, he be-
lieved at that time contained declara-
ton of war;, but he argued that II dld
not present a question of higher privi-
lege than the consideration of an appro-
priation bill. We could have war, said
he whenever we wanted it. A resolution
declaring war was privileged, he admit
ted.
Mir Terry Democrat, of Arkansas,
argued that a question involving a mat
ter of privilege was, in fact, one for the
House TO decide.
While he was speaking the Republicans
were conferring the leaders were circu-
lating among them, and the conferences
resulted in such confusion that Mr..
Simpson PopulisD, Of Kansas, raised a
laugh amid the excitement by asking for
order among the Speakers reconcentra-
dos"
SPEAKERS RULING.
Amid profound silence the Speaker
made his ruling. He spoke in deliberate,
distinct, and emphatic tones, and de-
cided that the resolution was not prlvi-
legged, giving at great length his reasons
for so ruling.
Mr.. Bailey Immediately appealed from
the decision Of the Chair.
In putting the question on the appeal,
Speaker Reed made the following signifi-
cant and impressive statement:
"As far as any question arising out OF
this matter is concerned, the Chair mas
NOT the slightest doubt that the wisdom
able to arrive at important questions III
a suitable way, Will get at them now.
Applause on the Republican side)
The division was eagerly awaited. The
Republicans rose en- masse when the
Speaker called for the ayes. The Demo-
Gratis. who anxiously surveyed the solid
phalanx for a sign Of a break, were dis
appointed. The solid minority voted
against the Republicans. The division
resulted 179 ayes TO lS9 nays.
AS soon as the result was announced,
the ayes and nays were demanded, and
the roll was called, resulting-Ayes, l19;
nays, 139.
on the roll-call two Republicans-Ache-
son and Robbins. of Pennsylvania-yoted
with the Democrats.
A parliamentary wrangle followed, over
an attempt of Mr.. Baiey's to appeal from
what he contended was a ruling OF the
Chair relating to the disposition Of the
resolution he had offered. but the Chair
stated that there could be no appeal from
the reply to a parliamentary inquiry.
THE NAVAL BILL.
The House then went into Committee
Of the Whole. and resumed consideration
of the naval appropriation bill Mr.. Can
non Republican), of Illinois. chairman
of the Appropriations Committee, made
a noint of order against the paragraph
authorizing the construction of floating
s,eel drv-dock at Algiers. La. The Chair
overruled the point of order.
From time to time during the afternoon
the Cuban question was brought forward,
and aroused intense feeling. Mr. Wheeler
nemocraO. of Alabama. said that THIS
morning the country had been stirred by
the announcement that the Republicans
of the House had at last reyolted, ana
acYion was 10 be taken Tomorrow the
American people would be Inundated
when they found that the Republicans or
the House had joined the temporzing
policy which was betraying the Ameri-
can Government and the American name.
Mr.. Cummings Democrat. of New
York: How much time, considering the
nrospective alliance of the governments
Of Spain and the United States. will II
REQUIRE for the allies to put down the pa
triots in CubaY' (Applause)
81 have bowed my head In humilia-
tfon." replied Mr.. Wheeler. 'at the con-
duct of this affair. but l cannot believe
thar this administration will extend a
friendly hand to the murderers of the
sailors of the Maine and the patriots OF
Cuba" Renewed applause)
An amendment was adopted. on motion
90 Nr Elliott DemocraO, OF South Caro-
lima. TO appropriate $4,000 for the steam
engineering shop at Port Royal naval
station. Mr.. Cummings, speaking TO this
amendment. aroused the galleries To a
high pitch of excitement '"rhe Port
Roval dock" said he. "is the nearest
dock 10 Key West II is the nearest dock
where the United States can have a man.