The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-04-02
WAS 4 BUSY
DAY At WASHINGTON
All Was Activity Although Through
il All the Tone Was More
Assuring.
The MESSAGE WAS DISAPPOINTING
1t Lacked the Aggressive Spirit
Expected ami Congress nIuy
he Expected TO
Act.

Was one OF action in every branch OF
official life--nction in the white house
where the president and his cabinet adj
yisers assembled in special session at
1890 o'clock; action i'll both branches
OF congress, where the message of the
president on the Maine disaster aud
the report ond testimony of the court
of inquiry were received; action i'll
the secret conferences of state officials
and diplomats concerning the latest
phases of Spanish-American negotia-
lions, and action in the war and navy
departments, with the Spanish situa-
ton as the common purpose of ali the
varying aspects of official action.
And yet, throughout this activity,
the prevailing tone has been more re-
assuring, more in the line of peace
than it has been for some days. But
in congress-, which afforded the great
est field for anti-Spanish and warlike
expressions, II strain of discomfort and
nneasiness prevailed utter the presi-
dents message and the Maine report
was submitted, especially on h house
side.
The presidents message, submit,
ting the Maine report and accompa1
nying evidence, was the main event of
= lllc hlNs ~ IIlooCE WIZ IdN ohtlSiH"sSo
that the message would manifest an
aggressive spirit were disappointed. It
contained no surprises.
In the house the message aud report
was referred to the committee on for,
eign affairs, and Cuban debate was fol-
the time averted. In the senate therd
was a similar reference to the commit.
tee on foreign relations, and Senator
Money, of Mississippi delivered n brief
and energetic speech picturing thu
woes of Cuba. With the report was
submitted the voluminous evidence ta'
ken at Havana and Key West beford
the court of inquiry. Examined in de.
tail this evidence proved to be much
more interesting in recital than the
cold.and dispassionate review submit.
ted by the court.
After the adjournment of the house
yesterday there was considerable dis
cussion of a proposed consolidation OF
the forces in the house who favor some
form of immediate action OF the Gu
ban issue.
There was q strong feeling shown
over the avoidance in the message OF
any outline of definite administration
policy and a decided disposition was
apparent not to await any further de
lay nor resort to temPori2ing mea'
sures. The project to furnish ad lib
itum supplies to the Cuban non-com'
batants is meeting with opposition. to
which members on both sides of the
house have given voice in private dis
c%ussion, on the ground, first, that
Spain alone is responsible for the con.
ditions on the island, and second, thai
the extending of such aid is unjust to
the people of this country. The steps
taken Yesterday on this line We're of
an informal nature. Representatives
Hull of Iowa, chairman of the house
committee on military affairs, is lead
ing the movement for prompt action.
A number of senators and representa-!
tives of both parties conferred with
the president at the white house last
night.
1t is said that the opinion expressed
by most of those who talked with Mr..
Mckinley was that congress was in'
clined to object to further delay to.
wards a settlement of the Spanish sit.
uation. and that unless the next mes.
sage was more definite the radical
members could not be held i'll check.
At the meeting of the senate cor,
mittee on foreign relations on Wed.
ncsday Senator Frye will move that
the committee remain in continuous
session until the questions relating tc
the Maine, Cuba and Spain are settled.
Senator Foraker will introduce to-
day a resolution recognizing the indie.
nnndencp of Cuba.