New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-08

HOUSE BY AN ALMOST UNANIMOUS voTE-A
REMARKABLE CHANCE IN SENTIMENT
RESULTS FROM SPANS REQUEST
THAT coNsuI~GENERAL LEE
BE REcALLED-NAvAL AND
MILITARY PREpARA-
TIoNs FOR AN
EMERGENCY
fBr TELEGRAPH rYE rRrpuSEI
Washington. March 7.--fhe one immediate
and decisive result Of spain's request for Con.
sul-General Lees recall and its denial by Presi-
dent Mckinley has been the birth overnight
OF new and extraordinary impulse to harmony
and unity Of action on the part Of the legis-
lative and executive branches Of the Govern
ment There need be conceaiment Of tAo
fact that for week or ten days past the A.
ministration's far-sighted plans to meet possi-
BILE crisis in this countrys relations with Spain
have encountered a perceptible opposition In the
House OF Representatives-an opposition trace.
able In large measure to the policy OF extreme
and inopportune conservatism adopted by the
responsible leaders In that branch OF Congress.
Acting under the stress OF that policy the
House had allowed the bill for the increase Of
the artillery. urgently pressed by the Admins.
tration and passed with promptness ana
unanimty b. the Senate, to lie without action
on It's legislative calendar; nor had the leaders
In that body shown any very eager notable
purpose to pass various other pieces Of legisla-
tion deemed necessary by the Administration Ia
put the military and naval services In q oon-
dition to meet demands which might be made
on them at any moment by some sudden turn
In events
THE SITUATION SUDDENLY CHANGED
The publication Of tho sasasta Ministrys
latest demand upon the United States and Of
President McKinley's firm refusal to honor II,
put to-day. however a wholly new and striking
face on the situation. The threat OF trouble
carried In the correspondence hlnted at In As
sistant Secretary Days bulletin OF last night
has been sufficient to sweep away the hesitation
OF the leaders In Congress and has launched
that body on policy OF generous and unstintsd
cooperation with the Executive. in all measures
necessary for enforcing peace prosecuting -
just war, which has parallel perhaps In our
National history.
The Artillery BILL which has been sidetracked
In the House for two weeks measure whose
consideration even would be dangerous to peace
and public confidence rushed through with
almost no debate and with an even more sig
'nihcant unanimity than In the Senate. But
harmony with and confidence in the plans OF the
Administration. the chairman Of the House Ap-
propriations Committee introduced bill making
available S50OOO00O Of the surplus now In tho
Treasury for the OF the President In making
preparations at his discretion for the National
defence.
AN EXTRAORDINARY GRANT OF POWER
This extraordinary grant OF power. II con-
frmed by the House and the Senate as Il seems
not unlikely to be- will put in the hands OF the
President the most ample means TO strengthen
to any extent thought advisable the efficiency
of the naval and military services OF the United
States. and will eliminate once for all the frc-
ton over expenditures for urgent National
needs. which has caused undoubted unpleasant
for the last week or two between the War
and Navy departments and the popular branch
Of Congress Chairman Cannon had his
$5000000O appropriation bill referred to the
Committee on Appropriations. and has called
meeting Of that committee for tomorrow morn
ing. II Is his expectation that favorable re-
port can be secured at once and that the bill
can be sent across to the Senate within q day
or two.
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE
The introduction OF such a bill in the House Of
Representatives after consultations at tho
White House. In which the Republican leaders
in both the House and the Senate participated.
has naturally been taken by public opinion az
the forerunner Of an expected crisis with Spain.
yet the Administration feels justified in main
tanning that its policy Of preparation for posi-
BILE emergencies males, on the contrary, dis
tlncty for the perpetuation Of peace. spalns
recent efforts 10 enlarge her navy have been
spread abroad to the world. and to meet and
neutraze that menace TO the status quo can
not properly he construed a step toward
the severance OF pacific relations.
Indeed, 1t is intimated to-day by representa-
tives OF the Administration that the difficulties
growing out OF the twofold request made by
Spain for the recall OF Consul General Lee and
for the abandonment OF the warship relief ex.
pediton are I'm a reasonably hopeful way OF ad-
justment Spain. It is limited. has shown no
disposition to force the question OF General Lees
departure from Havana, and has far gone
only to the length Of declaring that his dis
placement BY another American Consul-Generh
would be agreeable 10 the Madrid Government
President McKney's refusal to recall this
countrys present representative In Cuba throws
on the Sagasta Cabinet the responsibility Of
cancelling General Lees exequatur, II II desires
TO he rid OF him in Havana. But this. II is said.
Spain may not. under the circumstances. care
10 do
THE FERN TO CARRY RELrEF TO CUBA
AS to the relief expedition. a order was
Issued to-day by the Administration which may
overcome the objections raised by the Spanish
Government 10 the transportation OF supplies
for the starving reconcentrados from this coun-
try to Cuba on American warships. The Mont
gomery. which had been rejected TO carry pro-
visions to Matanzas and sagua La Grande. was
to day ordered 20 go TO Havana TO replace tho
Fern. assigned to the uses OF the Maine
Board OF Inquiry and the Fern was directed.