Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-19
CUBAN DAY In HOUSE.
DEMOCRATS TRY TO FORCE BELLIG-
ERENCY RESOLUTION THROUGH.
ATTEMPT TO OVERRIDE RULES.
REPUBLICANS IN FEAR FOR A TIME
THAT THEY MIGHT SUCCEED.
,Mr. DeArmond, of Missouri, Vigorous
Iy Attacks the House Rules aud
Makes a Strong Plea In Be-
half of Cubn-Rules
Upheld.

Washington, Jan. 1S.-Cuba had a hearing
IN the house to-day. and for time 1t look
ed as if parliamentary precedent would be
set aside and the senate resolution recos-
nizing the insurgents as belligerents would
be attached as rider to the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill. Mr.. De-
Armond, Missouri Democrat. precipitated
the issue by offering the resolution as an
amendment, but point of order against 1t
was sustained. Mr.. DeArmond appealed.
He urged the Republicans who had pro-
fessed friendship for the struggling Cubans
to override the decision Of the chair as the
only chance of securing action on the prop
osition- Mr.. Bailey, the leader of the MI
nority, and other Democrats joined in the
appeal. The excitement became intense.
but the appeals of Mr.. Dingley. the floor
leader of the majority, as well as other
Republican leaders to their associates not
to join in the programme, succeeded. Mr.
Colson, Republican, of Kentucky, warned
his side that unless he was soon
sentiments on the Cuban question he
would cooperate in any revolution
ary method to secure action. The Repub-
lican tactics kept to the front the point
that the minority were seeking to override
the rules of the house, and they got every
Republican vote, sustaining the chair by a
vote Of 152-114. One Democrat. Mr.. Flem-
ing, of Georgia, voted with them on the
ground that he could not violate his oath
by voting against upholding the rules.
Army Bill Passed.
: When the house met it resumed consid-
which was soon passed. The Wheeler res
olution for the appointment Of members
Of the board of regents of the Smithsonian
institute was also passed.
Mr.. Hit. chairman of the committee on
foreign relations, then called up the diplo-
matte and consular appropriation bill. Mr..
Bailey objected to any Limitation on the
general debate. The bill carried 81, ,I29 OOs,
an increase of $33, 700 over amount for the
current year. AS soon as the enacting
clause had been read, Mr.. DeArmond, DEM
ocrat, of Missouri, offered an amendment
to recognize the Cuban insurgents as bel
ligerents. Mr.. Hit raised the point of Or
der that the amendment was new legisla-
ton, and obnoxious to the rules of the
house.
Mr.. DeArmond, 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.
nst,n pHair nf he Off NV
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.
House Leaders Arraigned.
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 congress consider and act
upon this question of recognizing the bel
ligerency of the struggling patriots in Cuba.
When the people of the country felt as
they did, it was the duty of members to
override these petty little rules which had
been used to suppress action.
The newspapers were filled daily with
narrowing tales of starvation and cruelty
in Cuba Should we emulate the example
Of Nero, who fiddled while Rome burned,
and sit supinely and indifferently by when
men almost within sight of our shores were
fighting valorously for principles as holy
as patriots ever espoused or heroes ever
defended?
He taunted the Republicans with being
subservient to those who desired to prevent
action on this question. Further inaction
he insisted, was disgrace to American
manhood.
Autonomy a Revolving Mockery.
The autonomy offered by Spain, he de-
clared, was a revolving mockery, a sham
and a delusion. 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 con-
stituents and plead the rules as an excuse
for non-action. He was proceeding to de-
nounce the administration for following
the example of its predecessor in sending
out the United States navy to hunt down
the sympathizers with the struggling Gu
bans, when Mr.. Steele. Republican. of In
diana, and Mr.. Hit both called the
attention of the chair to the fact that Mr..
DeArmond was not discussing the point
Of order.
Mr.. DeArmond said he we'll understood
this, but he would not finch from his pur-
pose. 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 a sense of public duty.
Mr. Bailey, the Democratic leader, rein
forced the views of Mr.. DeArmond, argu-
| ing that proposition to recognize a state
| of war in Cuba was certainly germane to
this bill. 1t had been his purpose, he said
| to offer the same Cuban belligerency reso.
luton as an amendment.
A Challenge to Hit.
| The climax of his speech came when he
offered to withdraw the amendment If Mr.
| HIT the chairman of the foreign affairs
| committee, would give assurances that the
senate resolution would receive considera,
ton within a reasonable time.
The Democrats applauded this challenge
He paused to await Mr.. Hits answer. but
Mr. Hit did not rise.
1.-THE gentleman (Hitt,. added Mr.
Bailey, sis as silent as the Republican
party on this question"
Again the members cheered and the gal
leries also applauded.
| Then Mr.. Hit arose. but, instead Of reply
| ing to Mr.. Bailey's challenge, he called the
] attention Of the chair to the fact that Mr.
| Bailey was not discussing the point OF or
| der.
'It Is an attempt to have two genera
| debates" said he. The Democrats jeerec
this statement. Mr.. Hepburn. in the chair
| then sustained the point of order, where
upon Mr.. DeArmond. in order to get thu
question before the house in better form
offered the senate Cuban resolution as al
amendment, and when 1t was overrulet
made his appeal from the decision of tht