The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-18
STRUGGLE TO BEGIN TODAY.
House VIII Probably NoncOncUr in
senate Resolutions.


difficult task of adjusting the differences be-
tween the two houses of Congress on the
Cuban resolutions begins. The rock on
which the two houses split is recognition
of the independence of the existing repub-
lie, which was incorporated in the Senate
resolutions Were that clause Of the SEN
ate resolutions eliminated nothing could
have prevented immediate concurrence by
the House. as the great majority Of the
Republicans of the lower branch of Con-
gress are eager for a conclusion. But the
action of the Senate declaring for the rec
ognition of Cuban independence against the
direct and specific recommendation of the
President has given the conservatives a
rallying cry from the standpoint of party
loyalty which proved very effective to-day
One of the most prominent Republican lead
erS on the floor of the House denominated
that portion of the Senate resolutions a
direct assault on the President, which
no loyal Republican could indorse. And upon
this theory Speaker Reed and his iieuten-
ants have been proceeding to-day in their
campaign against concurrence in the Sem
ate resolutions. All day long the speakers
rooms at the Shoreham have been like the
Headquarters of the commander-in-chief of
an army. He has consulted with his lieu
tenants, Messrs. Dlngley of Maine, DalaeIl
of PENNSYLVANIA. Cannon of Illinois, Gros-
venor of Ohio. and Payne of New York lie
has seen Messrs. JOY of Missouri, Lormer
of Illinois Heatwole of Minnesota and ctl er
leaders of the Republican opposition, end
through other agencies has had thorough
canvass made of the Republican side of
the House. Tonight he is confident the Re-
publicans of the House can be marshaled
against yielding to the Senate on the main
issue.
Some of the arguments used with those
who. like Messrs. Cooper of Wisconsin,
Mann of Illinois, and BromwelI of Ohio.
are disposed to take the shortest cut out
of the woods and by agreeing end the mat
ter, have been such as to shake the con-
victions of these gentlemen. The chief COM
plaint of those who want to concur is that
nonconcurrence means delay, complications.
possibly a reopening of diplomatic negotia-
tions and possibly further concessions by
Spain which will embarrass the United
States when the time for action arrives.
These members have been labored with sep
arately.
A TELLING ARGUMENT
The arguments against recognition have
been reiterated and reinforced in the light
of the speeches in the Senate. Especially
potent has been the argument advanced by
Senators Allison and Morgan. that if we
recognize the independence of the existing
government General Gomez might at any
time negotiate a peace with Spain which
would leave the United States in the lurch.
When France allied herself with us in the
revolutionary war it was for the purpose
OF gaining our independence, but we were
held to the compact by stipulation that
no peace with Great Britain should be ne
gotiated without Frances consent. More
than this, it is claimed that there are evil
dences that the Senate will yield the recog-
milton of independence if the House stands
firm.
notwithstanding the large majority for
the resolution Senator Hoar of Massachu-
setts, to-day urgently counseled the House
leaders to reject the Senate's proposition.
He assured them that the Senate would not
hold out. But possibly the strongest argu-
ment brought to bear was that the Presi-
dent himself could not approve any resolu-
tion which contained such an invasion of
his prerogative, and which plainly vio-
lated every precedent of international law.
This strong intimation of presidential
veto, which would involve an entirely new
a
powerful influence. although in certain
quarters it was asserted that a presidential
veto would be overridden The suggestion
that the President might sign the resolution
and send message to Congress saying that
the clause recognizing the independence of
Cuba was ultra vires-beyond the iurisdic-
ton of Congress-was frowned upon by the
Presidents friends.
-bo in,
in the Senate amendment were not particu-
larly active to-day but some of them arc
showing determination. At one time to-
day it was said that thirty-three Repub-
licans had agreed to vote for concurrence,
but this could not be confirmed and the
conservatives are confident that not half
that number will break over the traces.
They realize, however, that the chief dan
ger lies in a possible stampede If twenty
five Republicans join the Democrats and
Populsts in voting for concurrence the res
outions will so to the President as passed
by the Senate Should the little band of
Republicans who will vote to concur make
the result doubtful it is feared that many
others who are held only by considera tions
of party loyalty will go over in a body
Some of them have made their acauiescencc
in the programme mapped out contingent
on the ability of the Republicans to carry it
out. If the resolutions are to be concurred
in they say they cannot afford to be left
out at the death They say they could not
justify such course with their constitu-
ents. 1t is said that many of the Western
Republicans have been besieged by their
constituents to-day to vote for the Senate
resolutions.
pOGGIRT pROCp AHfAFL,
The whole programme for tomorrow has
not been absolutely decided on Something
will depend on the situation as it appears
when the final reports are made to the
speaker in the morning. The speaker how
ever, will hold that the resolutions as
amended do not have to go to the commit
tee, but q motion to concur or nonconcur
is i'm order. This will bring the whole ques-
tion Immediately before the House 1t has
not yet been decided whether the motion
shall be to nonconcur, with a request for
conference, or to concur, with an amend
ment striking cut the recognition of inde-
pendence and perhaps making other slight
amendments in the other sections of the
Senate resolutions. In the latter case the
position of the House would be definitely
outlined and might be more satisfactory to
the radical Republicans who are suspicious
event except in the improbable one that
the Senate would accept the House amend
ment without further action the resoIu-
tions would go to conference, SO that #
would amount 10 the same thing i'm the end