River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-04-21
THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Forced TO Abandon the Provision TO
Recognize Present Cuban In
surgent Government.

Washington, April 1s.-At 115 o'clock
Tuesday morning the senate received
the report of the conference committee
of the two branches of the congress,
and II minutes afterward had adopted
IL. There was a fight to the last
minute, however, the advocates of recog-
milton OF the independence OF the island re-
public standing their ground until they
were fairly knocked down by vote of ~
to So. The minority vote was cast by those
who wanted radical action and insisted
that the resolution should carry with il
recognition of the independence of the Gu
ban republic. Upon this a split developed
which verY nearly proved fatal TO any ac-
ton at all.
The adoption of the conference report
brought TO close one of the most in terest-
ing and tumultuous sessions OF the SEN
ate held in years. Such scenes Of confusion
and excitement hav rarely been witnessed
In the ordinarily staid and dignified body
as characterized its proceedings from noon
Monday until nearly two o'clock Tuesday
morning.
Efforts were made TO transact the regular
business of the senate, but it was with the
utmost diffidence that senators performed
the work.
Those who were fighting for recognition
of the island republic early decided that
the senate should not take the initiative in
requesting a conference between the two
houses, They further resolved that when
at least two of them should represent the
majority sentiment of that body. The rad
ical advocates of independence slowly, but
none the less surely. lost ground, however.
being swept back by the powerful and
compact minority opposed TO them. They
yielded only after one of the btterest con-
tests in the history of the senate.
At 2:53 p. m. the message clerk OF the
| house of representatives appeared at the
main entrance of the senate with pack
age of bills and resolutions in hand. Al
most Immediately Vice President Hobart,
inteTrupting the debate, recognized the
clerk. lie presented to the senate several
bills and resolutions which had been passed
by the house, including that relating TO
the intervention of the United States in
the Cuban rebellion. The last were the
resolutions adopted by the senate on Sat-
urday night and agreed TO Monday by the
house, with certain amendments.
Senator Davis, the chairman of IKE for
eign relations committee, requested that
the message from the house concerning
the Cuban resolutions be laid before the
senate. After the reading of the message
Senator Davis addressed the senate. lie
said that with few exceptions the reso-
buttons from the house were practically
the same as the senate resolutions. The
exceptions noted by Senator Davis were
the striking out of the words and are
and the provision In the senate resolution
providing for the recognition Of the pres
ent Cuban republic, Senator Davis then
moved that the senate concur IN the house
resolutions. Senator Stewart (Nev) OPP
posed concurrence. The motion to concur
was defeated-yeas, SO; nays, 46. Ten re-
publicans voted no.
Later in the day the senate decided that
the chair should appoint conferees. Sen
ators Davis, Foraker and Morgan were APP
pointed. and a recess was taken until eight
p. m.
At S:15 p. m. the conferees returned.
There was a visible stir in the galleries as
the chairman of the conference committee,
Senator Davis (Mnn) rose to present the
report and make his statement TO the SEN
ate. Senator Davis said that, in con-
formity with the instructions Of the sem
ate the conferees met a like committee
from the house and, after full and free
discussion, he had to report that the con-
ferees had failed to reach an agreement.
Senator Davis then stated the points of
disa greement, and that there had been no
difficulty to agree to the house resolution
as amended, but the point OF contention
rose over the insertion of the words are
and" in the first section. which says the
people of Cuba are and of right ought TO
be free and independent" He said the ma
jority of the conferees had agreed to waive
the Turpie amendment providing that the
words above mentioned be inserted. But
the senate conferees were met with re-
fusal to so agree, and he reluctantly re-
ported the same to the senate
Senator Cockrell (Mo) then moved to
insist upon the senate resolution Consid-
era bic debate followed. The first part of
the motion. that to insist upon the senate
amendments, was carried without divi-
sion. The second part, that requesting
further conference. was disagreed to, SO to
40.
At 915 p. m, on motion of Senator All
son DAD. a recess of one hour was aiken.
After the recess Senator Morgan pre-
scented a joint resolution declaring war
against Spain, which was read and allowed
to lay on the table.
At 1:14 a. m. Senator Davis presented the
conference report, and 1t was at once adopt
| ed-42 to 80, The detailed vote on the adop-
ton of the conference report follows:
Yeas--Aldrich, Allison, Baker, Burrows,
Carter, Chandler Clark. Cullom. Davis,
Deboe, EIkins. Faulkner, Foraker, Frye,
Gallinger, Gear, Gray, Hale. Hanna, Hans
brough, Hawley. Kyle, Lodge Mcmillan,
Mason, Morgan, Morrill,. Nelson, Penrose,
Perkins, Plat Comm, Pritchard, Proctor,
Quay, Sewell. Shoup, Spooner, Warren,
Wilson, Wolcott-42.
Nays-Allen, Bacon, Bate, Berry, But
Ter, Caffery, Cannon, Chiffon, Clay, Cock
rell. Daniel Harris, Heitfeld. Jones CAR
kansas, Jones (Nev.). Kenney, Lindsay,
McEnery, McLaurin, Mallory, Mantle, Mar
tin, Mitchell, Money Pasco, Pettigrew.
Pettus, Rawlins, Roach, Stewart Teller
r. DThita-2S