The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-22

airy war, but nevertheless sound and in
good form.
Senator Foraker, of Ohio. called at
tention to statements made in the SEN
ate two years & by the present secre-
tary Of state. Mr.. Sherman. TO the effect
that the Cuban republic had an estab-
lished form OF government, administer
ed by officials of high standing, char
acter and ability. he held. therefore.
that If those statements We're true two
years ago their truth had been strongly
accentuated since hat time and that
1t was further entirely proper for the
United States to recognize the govern
ment Of the Cubans.
In discussing the diplomatic negotia-
tons between this unit and Spain,
Senator Foraker read from a news
paper clipping what was said 20 be a
semi-ofhcial statement in effect that in
a formal dispatch sent by the president
to the Madrid government the attorney
general had changed the term indie
pendent government TO stable gov
eminent the change being made be
cause stable was the word OF diplo-
macy to be employed in the circumstan-
ces. When Minister Woodford had
inquired what construction was to be
placed upon the word a the pres
ident had replied that it nus be re-
garded as meaning "~independent." Mr..
Woodford had failed to transmit the
presidents meaning to the Spanish
government, fearing that such a state
ment made officially might cOmplicate
future negotiations. Senator Foraker
said that seemed TO be the explanation
why the independence Of the Cubans
had not been officially demanded by
the president.
Senator Allison, republican, Of Iowa.
~ +arr,,rt12 RI nv hat ha did NOT fhink
there was any doubt that the CORE
spondence with Spain would show that
the president had actually demanded
the independence of the Cubans.
In response to an inquiry from Sena-
tor Pasco, of Florida, requesting him
to be more specific, Senator Allison
said: L cannot as a witness be very
specific upOn hearsay evidence. The
president in his correspondence with
the Spanish government did say hat
there must he an independent govern
ment in Cuba. This demand was
transmitted. not only through Minister
W%oodfOrd, but also through the Span
ish minister in Washington to his
government. ! ann be definite at
this time"
Senator Teller then concluded his
speech. holding it TO be the duty Of all
t o stand 10y the country rather than
to seek political advantage.
Senator Hale expressed doubt Wheth-
err any profit could come out of the
present discussion. He then reviewed
the contest of the past few days, TAX
ing opportunity to Express his views
upon the position taken by Senator
Teller and Senator Cockrell.
Senator Thurston. republican, of Ne
braska, closed the discussion by saying
that at 11:24 o'clock today when the
president signed the Cuban resolutions
sent to him by congress the time for
party discussion had ended.
After passing the amendment TO the
sundry civil bill providing for the pay
ment of the Behring sea award to Great
Britain, the senate at 5:35 p. m. went
into executive session and soon after
ward adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The house today passed as an emer-
gency war measure the bill empower
ing the president to call out the vOlun-
teer forces and providing for their or
ganization. Both the president and
Secretary Alger had urged the impera-
tive necessity Of the passage of the
bill today and Chairman Hull, of the
military committee, drove it through
under whip and spur. The bill was
drafted at the war department, intro
duced in the house yesterday and con
sidered and reported by the committee
today. No such expedition could have
possible except under the stress
of war pressure. The bill is perma-
nent in it's character.
There was a tremendous demonstra-
ton in the house Immediately after
the reading Of the journal when Major
Pruden the presidents executive clerk,
announced h presidents approval of
the Cuban resolutions.
The house then went into committee
of the whole to consider the bill au-
thOrizing the president to call for vol
unteerS.
Mr.. Hull explained hat the commit
tee nae unanimously agreed hat past
precedents hOuld be followed and the
governors of states should retain the
power to appoint all regimental Off
GERS. The joint resolution passed by
congress authorizing the president. to
employ the militia force of the United
States, he said, would not meet the
present situation. He felt authorized
to say hat if we were to fight this war
it would be with the volunteers and
not the militia forces.
Mr.. Hull read the following telegram
he received from Secretary Alger this
morning:
Il hope you will introduce your bill
Ills IIlOIIliuS. Lille Is uON very Ndlu-
able. On the whole, 1 am inclined to
think that requiring commissions to be
signed by the president for the militia
would be cause for action and opposi-
ton by the governors who naturally
might feel that this was taking some
of their power from them. Can you
consistently change that, and hasten
its paSsage?"
Mr.. Johnson, republican, of Indiana,
at this point attempted to secure time
to address the house regarding his at
titude on the general situation. If war
was to come. he said, he was ready to
any measure to prosecute it
to a successful conclusion. But be-
fore hOstilities began he thought the
house should give him a chance to
speak. The request met with much op-
and was refused.
Mr.. Handy, democrat, of Delaware,
opposed the bill because it was pro-
posed to pass it as an emergency meas
ure and yet it was to be a permanent
enactment.
A question arose as to whether under
the provisions of the bill additional
legislation would not be necessary to