The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-04-16
Action of the House Committee,

Action of the House Committee.
WASHINGTON, April 13.-At 100 p. m.
the majority of the house committee on
foreign affairs agreed to the following
resolution. which was later reported to
the house:
WHEREAS, The government Of Spain for
three years past has been waging war on the
island OF CUBA against a revolution by the in
habitants thereof, without making any substan-
tial progress toward the suppression Of said
revolution, and has conducted the warfare
in a manner contrary to the laws of nations by
methods inhuman and unciviiizei, causing he
death by starvation OF more than 2DU,uOJ lnno-
cent non-cOmbatantS the victims being for the
most part helpless women and children, infiet-
ing intOleraole injury TO the commercial inter-
ests OF the United States involving the
destruction of the lives ami pro sperity
OF many OF our citizens, entail
ing the expenditure OF millions OF dollars in
patroling our coasts and policing the high seas
in order to maintain our neutrality; and
WHEREAS, This long series OF losses. injuries
and burdens, for which Spain is responsible,
has eliminated in the destruction Of the United
States battleshIp Maine in the harbUr CT Ha-
vana and in the death OF 266 of our seamen;
therefore
R~esOIUed, etc, That the president is hereby
authorized AMI DIRE tied to intervene at once
TO stop the war in Cuba, to the end, and with
the purpose OF securing perman mt peace and
order there, AMI establishing by the free &C.
ton Of the people thereof a stable and
independent government of their own in
the island OF Cuba; and the president Is hereby
authorized and empowered to use the land and
naval forces of the United States to execute the
purposes OF this resolution
The Minority Report.
The democratic members of the house
foreign affairs committee, in a report
signed by five democrats and Mr.. New
lands, sllverite, agreed to the following
resolutions as a substitute for the ma
jorIty report. 1t follows:
Resolved, That the United States government
hereby recognizes the independence Of the re-
public of CUBA.
=. That. moved thereto by many considera-
tions Of humanity, Of interest ami of proyoca-
ton, among which are the deliberate mOoring
Of our battIeslip Maine over a sub
marine mine and its destruction in the
harbOr of Havana, the president of the United
States be, aal he is nereb5 dire:teI to employ
Immediately the land ami naval forces OF the
United States in aiding the repu lie of Cuba TO
maintain the independence hereby recognized.
}. That the president Of the United States is
hereby authorized ami directed - extenI i'm
mediate relief to the starving CuOanS.
The house of representatives, after
one of the most exciting and lemon
able days in its history, by a vote of
322 to 10. adopted a resolution which
nine-tenths of its members believe
makes war with Spain inevitable.
There We're majority and minority
reports made from the foreign rela-
tions committee, and a motion to re-
commit with instructions.
When the vote was taken on the sub
stitute resolutions they were defeated
liz to I9J.
MIR. DinSmore then moved to recon-
nit with instructions to report back an
amendment recognizing the independ-
ence of Cuba. 1t also vas lost, 146-l9O.
The vote was then taken on the adop-
ton of the majority resolutions, and
they were adopted, 322 to 10. The
house then, at $50 p. ~, adjourned.
a Day OF Stirring Activity.
WASHINGTON, April 14.-Yesterday
was a day of stirring activity at the
navy and war departments. Antici-
ting decisive action by congress, the
machinery of the military and naval
branches of the government was early
put in motion, and events of grave sig
niicance followed in quick succession.
In every bureau the work of prepara-
ton went on with an enthusiasm and
push that was in marked contrast to
the lethargy that had characterized
the big granite building since Monday.
With 1t all there was an added secrecy
and reticence on the part of officials to
discuss the w1rlike movements.
The first event to become known was
the acquisition by the navy department.
of the American line steamships st.
Louis and St. Paul, and coupled with
the announcement came the informa-
tIon that, in ali.probability, Capt. Sigs-
bee would be placedin command of one
and Capt. Goodrich of the other.
Early in the forenoon the naval
strategic board went into session and
called ConSuI-General Lee into the con-
ference The session was a long n
and was devoted to a thorough discus
sion of offensive and defensive move
MEETS in Cuban waters, Gen. Lee giving
the board mucn valuable information