Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-05-05
OF CONGRESS

measures were the only topics dig
cussed in the senate during more than
four hours of its session. The pody
had scarcely convened when the mes
sage of the president urging congress
10 declare the existence OF war ne
tween the United States and Spain
wa laid before IL. Without comment
the message was referred TO the for
eign relations committee. Mr.. Allen
of Nebraska introduced the following
Joint resolution, which he asked 10
have referred to the committee on Tor
eign relations: ''That a state or war
now exists, and has. since the loth
day Of February, 1898, existed De
tween the United States of America
and the Kingdom Of Spain Consid-
Grafton of the naval bill was then re-
sumed. the pending question being
upon the amendment offered by MT.
Butler of North Carolina to regulate
the price Of armor.
At 2:55 D.. m. the message clerk or
the house Of representatives informed
the senate that the house had passed
an act declaring
A state of War
existing between the United States
and Spain. The message was at once
read i'm the senate. and at 20 the
senate went into secret legislative SEES
sion to consider the resolution declar-
Ing the existence of war. After a de-
bate Of an hour and a half the senate
passed the bill, which was in the same
language as that passed by the house.
vrl.A lzln - q, ,ln motto mos hnGnh IN
an amendment offered by Senator
Turpie providing for the recognition or
the belligerent rights of the insurgent
Cubans. The amendment was de-
feated by a vote of "a to 3S. The bill
was then passed without division. AT
4;37 the senate resumed business In
open session.
At 4:55 the message clerk Of the
house announced that speaker had
signed the bill declaring the existence
of war between the United States and
Spain, and requested the signature or
the vice president. Within W. min
utes Vice President Hobart had signed
the act and precisely at 5 O'Clock an
nounced bis signature.
The house of representatives passed
the bill declaring the existence of a
state of war between the United States
and the kingdom Of Spain in a manner
which cannot fail to impress the
world. The representatives of 10000
coo people voted for it without a word
of debate, without a dissenting vote
and without a roll call, but with a sol
emn appreciation of the gravity or
their momentous action. 1t required
but one minute and %forty-one seconds
TO accept this. The house was consid-
ering an election case, n simply
paused to declare war. There was no
excitement, no cavil no word or ques-
ton. 1t was only in the great cheer
hat went up from floor and galleries
when Speaker Reed announced its
passage that the tremendous import of
the act and the suppressed enthusiasm
behind ii was shown. After the presi-
dents message was reaG the commit
tee on foreign affairs framed the reso-
luton, Acting Chairman Adams wrote
the report and 1t vas passed and on
it's way to the senate in an hour and
six minutes. The speaker signed ii at
4:49. The remainder of the day was
devoted TO the election case OF Wise
vs.. Young. from the Second Virginia
district. The house declined 10 agree
TO the senate amendments to the army
reorganization bill and il was sent to
conference.
The following is the bill declaring
the existence Of a state of a
Be it enacted. etc.:
First-That war be and the same Is
hereby declared to exist and that war
has existed since the 21st day OF April,
A. ID. 1898. including said day, be-
tween the United States of America
and the kingdom of Spain.
Second-That the president OF the
United States be and he is hereby di-
rected and empowered to use the en-
tire land and naval forces of the
United States and to call into the ac-
tual service OF the United States the
militia of the several states to such an
extent as may be necessary to carry
this act into effect.
Washington, April 27.-The war rev.
enue bill was reported 10 the house,
and by an arrangement made tie de-
bate will begin today and continue at
night sessions until Friday. At A
o'clock on that day the vote will be
taken. The contested election ease of
Wise VS.. Young, from the Second Vir-
ginia district, was decided In favor Of
the contestant, DR.. Wise, who is a Re
publican. by a,party vote. Speeches
Tor the contestant were made by
Messrs. Crumpecker of Indiana and
G%rosyenor Of Ohio. Mr.. Jones OF yir-
ginia followed for the contestee. The
senate amendments to the naval ap-
preparation bill were nou-concurred in
and a conference requested. The
speaker appointed Messrs. Boutelle,
Hiiborn and Cummings conferees. A
bill was passed granting to the Santa
Fe d Grand Canyon Railroad company
a right OF way through the Grand
Canyon forest reserve. At 400 o'clock
the house adjourned.