Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-04-28

caring state Oh war exists between
the United States and Spain. The
bill is in the same language as that
passed by the house. The debate was
based on an amendment offered by
Turpie, providing for recognition of
the belligerent rights of the Cubans.
Mr. Turpie contended that as long as
the insurgent rights of the Cubans
were unrecognized they could only be
regarded subjects of Spain, and
hence urged that our position in de-
claring for recognition of the freedom
and independence of the Cuban peo-
pie was entirely inconsistent with our
refusal to recognize their belligerent
rights. The amendment was defeat
ed, "a to So. There was also some
criticism of the fact that the bill fixed
date in the past when the war be-
gun. Mr.. Pettigrew declared that
the the 21st was evidently used to
make legal the capture of the lumber
vessel, Buena Ventura, on that date.
He characterized this as small piece
of business. Mr.. Davis said that the
date was not fixed by the capture of
the Buena Ventura, but by the recog-
milton of the state of war as made on
the 21st. Mr.. White took UP Mr.
Pettigrew's contention, holding that
the president had not indicated any
date for the beginning of hostilities,
but rather had shown in his message
that he considered the negotiations
had by no means reached the point of
hostilities. Mr.. White said that it
was his purpose to support the admin
lstration in all reasonable measures
for the prosecution of the war, but he
did not regard the fixing of this date
as being in response to a presidential
request. There was no division on
the passage of the bill.
When the message Of the president
urging congress to declare the exist
ence of war was laid before the senate
it was referred without comment to the
foreign relations committee Mr..
Allen (Neb.) introduced the following
joint resolution: Resolved, that
state of war now exists, and has since
the 18th of February, between the
United States and Spain" 1t was re-
ferred to the foreign relations COM
mittee. Consideration OF the naval ap-
preparation bill was then resumed, the
question being upon the amendment
offered by Mr.. Butler IN. c. to reg
ulate the price of armor The
amendment provided that for the three
battleships now in the course of con-
struction the government shall not
pay to exceed $500 a ton and that sub
SeQuent contracts are not to call for
greater price than $500 ton. In case
the price cannot be obtained the sec
rotary of the navy is authorized at
once to purchase or establish a govern
ment armory factory for which 81, $780,
600 is appropriated and in addition ST.
000,000 is appropriated for the manu-
facture of armor. Mr.. Stewart (Nev.)
inquired Of Mr.. Hale whether the naval
bill in any way committed the govern
ment to pay $400 a ton for armor for
the proposed battleships authorized
by the bill. Mr.. Hale replied that
nothing in the bill could be construed
as committing the government to pay
any price for armor. MIR. Chandler
the government to secure a better
price than $500 ton for armor unless
it should enter into a longtime con-
tract, whereby a certain specified
amount of armOr should be
taken each year. Mr.. Hale
declared that both the naval af
fairs and appropriations committee
opposed to construction of a govern
ment armOr factory, as they were
thoroughly satisfied it would save
neither time nor money. Mr.. Hale
moved to lay the amendment upon
the table. 1t was so ordered by a
vote of So to 3D. Mr. Hale offered an
amendment authorizing the secretary
of the navy to enlist as many sea-
men, landsmen and boys as he may
deem necessary to man the ships of
the navy Or for the use of the navy as
temporary force, and appropriating
SS,S30,000 for the purpose. Mr.. Hale
agreed to an amendment offered by
Cockrell that the time limit be dur
ing the existing war; The amend
ment was agreed to and the amount
appropriated made Immediately avail
able. The bill as amended was then
passed
The bill for the better organization
of the army of the United States, pro-
viding for a three-battalion forma-
ton, was called up by Mr. Hawley.
The amendments offered by the COM
mittee were agreed to without divi-
sion. The bill was then passed
At 2:55 p. m. the message clerk OF
the house informed the senate that
the house passed the act declaring a
state of war between the United
States and Spain. The senate went
slider the measure and at 4:37 D. m. it
was passed. At Ass p. m. the mes
sage clerk of the house announced
that the speaker had signed the bill
declaring the existence of war. and
requested the signature of the vice
president Within two minutes Ho-
bart signed the act.
A message was received from the
house announcing a disagreement
with the senate amendment to army
reorganization bill and asking con-
ference. Messrs. Hawley, Proctor and
Cockrell were named as tn senate
conferees
HOUSE.
Washington, April 26.-The house
n1SSo6 thp hill bo