The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-21
:eWho is their nresident?"

ssWbo is their president?'
Mr.. Williams did not answer ana Mf.
Dalzell smiled, but Mr.. Williams turned
tho laugh on him. My memory is aG
fault exclaimed Mr.. Williams, so L
will resort to Yankee trick and ask
Won who is the King of Roumania?'
MIR. Williams said he did not remember
Spanish American names, but he had
seen it frequently in newspapers.
lis it bartholomew Masso?'' interro-
gated Mr.. King, Democrat Of Utah.
"Where is the capital"' asked Mr..
Dalzell.
"At Cubitas,' responded Mr.. Williams.
"At how many places was ne ne AneTl. Al ~,
can capital located during tine fsyoiu-
tion?' asked MIR Clark, Democrat OF MIS-
souri,, of MIR. Dalzell, while others be-
seiged him with questions as to tne name
of the President of the United states
during the revolution, etc., until Mr-
Williamss time expired when he gave
way to Mr.. King, Democrat OF y tah.
who recently returned from VlslU 10 70
Cuba and who gave the House some OF
the results of his personal observations
there. He described the narrowing con-
ditions there, characterized the soheme ol
autonomy as delusion and declared II
peace came on that basis spain Wouid
saddle the war debt upon CUBA. Ihere
would be resistance and once more bie
fires of revolution would be kindled. FER
manent peace could not come to the Isl
and until independence was achieved. He
affirmed that those in Havana, who were
openly committed to autonomy were
secretly helping to drag it down. Not
foot Of the island was pacifed under the
guns of the Spanish soldiers and forts.
He declared tnat the dream OF those
who believed peace could come to CuDa
without independence would soon Ee
IoIx hiatt chnuld EtaV OIIr
hand, and, in the language of the SWed-
ish minister, let the Spaniard and CUBAN
cut each others throat OF intervene lot
the protection of humanity.
Mr.. johnson, Republican Of Indiana,
sustained the course of the admln1stra-
tion. The President had displayed good
sense and exalted patriotism. Congress
would not be warranted in attempting to
override the President and rushing the
country rashly into war fraught with
tremendous consequences. he warned
members that we might be standing
nearer the brink of crater than we
imagined. Spain might be old. decrep1t
and impotent and incapable OF overcom-
ing u.s. but we might goad her to tnat
point where in response to her pride and
courage she might involve us in gigantic
difficulties.
Mr.. Simpson, Populist Of Kansas, speak
mig for the third party. said he was salts :
fed that the real secret behind the attl-
tude of the administration was the fact
that the holders OF Spanish bonds S40O,
OO0, 600 in amount, were not yet satisfy
ing that they would get their money.
The bondholding interests were as much
in control of the country as they had
been during the Cleveland administration
and no action would be taken until
payment OF these bonds had been guaran-
teed.
After some brief pro- Cuban speeches,
Mr.. Dingley, Republican of Maine, took
the floor to reply to some OF the remarks
made in the debate relative to the wage
reductions in the cotton industry during
the past few months. After such a revo-
luton as business had experienced
during the three years, it was natural
he said. that the recuperation was slow
In all but the cotton industry improve
ment was noted and wages had been ad-
vanced. Alongside of the 10 per cent re-
duction of wages in the cotton industry
in the worsted industry. He admitted
that the depression in the cotton indus
try was unfortunate, but the cause was
exceptional 1t was due to the sudden
and unexpected decline in the price of
cotton. In three months the price had
declined 80 per cent, because the South
ern planters insisted upon growing two
million bales more cotton than the world
wanted. Almost every cotton factory in
New England had been caught with from
six to eight months supply OF eight
cent manufactured cotton on their hands.
In addition to this he pointed out the
effect of the competition that had
grown up in the South, wbert longer
hours and lower wages were in vogue
the Northern standard, but temporarily
present conditions gave the South the ad-
Vantage. Ii the hours of labor in the sew
eral states were not equalized, the labor
organi .ations would compel an amend
ment to the constitution which would
permit Congress to equalize hours all
over the ountry.
Mr.. Dingley had a great deal of cross
firing with Southern members. The
Cuban question was lost sight of and
for more than an hour the tariff was
discussed to the exclusion of everything
else.
Mr.. Dingley said that those who were
still sschattering" about the lack OF rev
ennes under the new tariff law had better
ty to chatter will soon be over" said he.
'nYesterday our receipts from customs
were $3.50. 600. The receipts themselves
will soon silence these critics. -
Mr.. Simpson asserted that MIR Dingley' S
exclamation of the depression in the
cotton industry collided with the theory
of James g. Blaine, tnat cheap labor
was dear labor and said that if things
continued as they We're going in New
England, Mr. Dingley would soon be ad
vocating protective tariff against the
south in order to preserve wages there.
AT o'clock the committee rose under
the Arrangement made yesterday and re-
norted the bill to the House.
One of the most dramatic and sensa-
tional episodes of this Congress followed.
The sneaker of the House and Mr.. Bailey
Of Texas, the Democratic leader, clashed
on question Of veracity and the excite
ment was intense. Mr.. bailey moved to
recornmit the bill with instructions to