Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-04
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, April 4.
SENATE.

Inc intense interest manifested Dy
the people in everything that pertains
to the Cuban question was again mani
tested to-day at the Senate end Of the
Capitol. Despite hespecific statement
that the Presidents message would not
be sent 10 Congress to-day, and the in
ferential understanding that the sub
ject of Cuba might not be even referred
TO, the people came by the thousands.
AS early as s o'clock many were sitting
or standing on the steps leading up to
the Capitol entrances.
Some of them carried their lunches,
evidently determined to sit through
the entire session and see ell there was
to be seen.
1t was great audience that looked
down upon the Senate convened. Every
seat in every gallery except the
diplomatic was filled, and even in the
diplomatic gallery there were several
members of foreign legations.
The chaplain in his prayer referred
feelingly to the death of the wife of
associate Justice Brewer of the United
States supreme court.
Mr.. Pettigrew presented telegram
signed by more than hundred Of his
constituents reading "All parties here
want Spanish torpedo fotilla turned
back or destroyed. Patience exhausted"
| Mr.. Gear presented a resolution OF
the Iowa legislature endorsing the
''action of the President and Congress"
upon the Cuban question and pledging
| its support to the administration.
\ MIR. Allen presented and secured the
adoption of resolution directing the
Secretary of the Navy to inform The
Senate as to the total number of lives
lost in the Maine disaster, the total
number rescued and the total number Of
bodies yet uncovered.
Mr.. Turner introduced a resolution,
which he asked should 60 over until to.
1 morrow, "if in the meantime nothing
has been done in the matter" TIE
resolution directs the committee on for
eign relations 10 report at the earliest
moment, "without waiting for the cor
currence or advice of any department OF
the government, what action, if any, in
view of the Maine disaster and of the
ldeplorable condition of Cuban affairs,
should be taken to preserve the honor
and dignity of this country"
When the resolution by Mr.. Chand-
Ter requesting the Secretary of State TO
send to the Senate the Cuban consular
correspondence was laid before the
| Senate, Mr.. Davis, chairman of the
foreign relations committee, asked that
the resolution "go over until Wednes-
day" To this Mr. Chandler assented.
The resolution presented by MIR.
Quay calling for report from the
foreign relations committee on thu
Cuban question by Tuesday also went
over at the request of Mr.. Quay.
Quite unexpectedly a discussion Of
the Cuban question was precipitated
and two set speeches were delivered,
one by Mr.. Clay, of Georgia, and the
other by Mr.. Perkins, CT California.
Mr.. Clay said while he was fully pre-
pared to support the administration in
its action upon the Cuban matter he
was DESTROYS that war should be avert
ed if it could be, by any possibility. The
administration ought to be afforded
every opportunity to bring about dip
lomatic solution Of the pending trouble
aud so long as the legislative branch Of
he government was assured that the
President was acting with judgment
and patriotism it would await upon his
recommendations.
Mr.. Perkins declared that the blow
ing up of the Maine by the Spanish Off
Gals was an act of war and he believed
it was so regarded by nations OF the
world.
Senators Mantle and Rawlins follow
ed Mr.. Perkins in order, both speaking
for Cuban independence.
At the close of Rawlins speech the
Senate took up the sundry civil appro
priation bill.
HOUSE.
Fifteen thousand people swarmed
through the corridors of the House end
of the Capitol this morning, clamoring
for admission to the galleries. None
seemed to know what the day would
bring forth. Fears ofan outbreak were
expressed everywhere, but the republic
can leaders seemed confident that they
would hold the House until tomorrow
at least. The leaders OF the aggressive
republicans who participated in the
conference are counselliug their assc-
ciates to keep in line to day. They ad-
jure them to do nothing rash until the
conference tonight.
The floor of the House, owing to the
immense crowds which thronged the
aisles, was cleared half an hour before
noon. Every seat in the reserved gal
leries and the executive and diplomatic
galleries were occupied.
The Chaplain prayed that the MS
TONS legislature might with clear
thought, wise deliberation and una.
nimity Of action meet the grave situa.
ton which confronted the country.
A resolution to print several thou
sand additional copies of the report CT
the board of inquiry on the Maine dis
aster led Mr.. Livingston to ask why
the House could not wait for the next
MASSAGE from the President.
"There is an enormous demand for
this report in the country" replied Mr..
Perkins.
"Where is the demand? Ia Spain ?"
asked Mr.. Livington. ,~.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the COM
mittes on appropriations, asked unan-
imous consideration of the Senate reso-
luton suspending portion Of section
355, of the revised statutes, tsoEas to
permit the United States to erect forti-
fcations in cases of emergency upon