The Portland daily press., 1898-03-28

No Likelihood of Discussion III Gither
House or rSenate-Wednesday President
viii Send in Another Message Asking
for Appropriation to Feed Starving
Cubans.
Washington, March 17-The largest
crowd that has attended session of Con-
oress in wears is expected at the Capitol
tomorrow when the official report OF the
board of inquiry on the Maine disaster
will be given to the country.
The scene when the report is read
probably will be intensely dramatic, but
those who go to the Capitol tomorrow ex-
pecting to see it's presentation followed
by wild furore of oratory probably will
be sorely disappointed. The report and
accompanying message will be brief, and
after being read will be referred to the
committee ON foreign affairs without de-
bate.
Mr.. Hit of Illinois, chairman Of the
foreign affairs committee will be recog-
nized by the Speaker to make this motion.
The motion is not debatable. 1t is the
wish of the President expressed to the
leaders Of both parties that this course be
followed and ths programme has been ac-
quiesced in by all, irrespective of party.
Meantime the precipitation of the
Cuban issue be tween Spain and the
United States is likely to throw the Maine
disaster into the back ground.
On Wednesday the President probably
will transmit message asking for an
appropriation to relieve the starving in
Cuba
The appropriation probably will be
voted with almost as much unanimity as
was the $50, 600, 900 for the national de-
fense. but the debate may bring out some
criticism of the administration policy
by those who believe radical and aggres-
sive intervention should be taken at once.
The administration is assured, however,
of strong majority for the policy it has
SO far mapped out to the Republican and
Democratic leaders Every effort will be
made to dis pose of the naval approprla-
tion bill as quickly as possible in order
to remove opportunity for intiammatory
speeches. The Republican leaders believed
they are justified in exercising restraint
until time for action arrives. After thu
Maine report is read the death of Repre-
sentative Simpkins will be announced
and the House Immediately will adjourn
as a mark Of respect.
In the Senate the present understand
ing is that the report will be referred to
the committee on foreign relations and
sent to the printer without being read or
more than incidentally referred to and
A. h; mil I,o Of
concerning it until the committee shall
have had reasonable opportunity to oon-
slider 1t OF until some further communi-
cation may be received from the Presi-
dent on the Cuban question. There has
been general appeal from the admins
tration to the Senate to avoid any undue
agitation on the Cuban subject until the
President can have an opportunity to
formulate policy and the Senate appears
quite disposed to comply with the re-
quest. Still there is no doubt that the
Senate would grow very restiye under de.
lay. Senator Money expects to make a
speech tomorrow on the lines of those of
Senators Proctor, Gallinger and Thurs
ton, based upon this observation in
Cuba.
What further discussion there may be
during the week on the Cuban situation
will depend SO largely upon further de-
velopments that it is useless to discuss
proba bilities.
There is very little heart in the Senate
for any other business than that relating
to Cuba and the probabilities are that
comparatively little will be done and that
the sessions will be comparatively short.
The sundry civil appropriation bill
probably will be reported to the Senate
Monday and taken up for consideration
later in the week.
SAGASTA ANXIOUS FOR PEACE.
President and Premier Both Striving To
Avert War.