Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-20
ADMINISTRATION SUSTAINED.
TO RECOGNIZE CUBAN
BELLIGERENCY FAIL.
Further Exciting Debate In the House
Mr.. Hit Reviews What Has
Been Achieved by President
McKinley-FinaI Test
Coming To-day.

hCuSe, Dut yesterday the minority nuTleu
itself against the stone wall. On the only
vote taken to-day-a motion designed to
overrule the decision Of the speaker and
direct the committee on foreign affairs to
report without further delay the Cuban
resolution passed by the senate the last
session-the Republicans stood solid and
voted to sustain the chair.
The galleries, as on yesterday, were
packed to the doors. and there was consid-
erable excitement throughout the early
part of the session, when the members of
the minority were successfully pressing all
sorts of amendments bearing on the Cuban
question for the purpose of embarrassing
the majority.
During the debate. Chairman Hit. Of the
i've speech Of less than an hour. explain
ing at length the situation which made ac-
ton by congress inadvisable. He spoke
with impassioned words of the president s
sympathy with the struggle for Cuban In
dependence and the achievements of the
present administration. The release of
American prisoners in Cuba, the recall of
Weyler, the abandonment of the policy OF
concentration and the autonomy scheme he
attributed to the firm attitude of the presi-
dent, and contrasted these results with the
inaction of the last administration.
Why Cuba Wants Recognition.
He averred that belligerent rights could
rot aid the insurgent cause. and perhaps
the most dramatic portion of his speech
came when he declared that the insurgents
only wished for belligerent rights in the
hope and belief that this country would
be embroiled in a war with Spain which
would give them their freedom with our
triumph. He asserted that the president
must assume the responsibility Of any ac-
ton which might eventuate in war. and
appealed to both sides Of the chamber to
patriotically support the executive If a
crisis shall come.
Mr.. Dinsmore, Of Arkansas. the leading
minority member of the committee on for
eign affairs replied to Mr.. Hit, and
Messrs. Adams, Republican. of Pennsyl-
yania, chairman Of the Cuban sub-com-
mittee of the same committee; Berry. DEM
ocrat, of Kentucky. and Wheeler, Democrat.
of Kentucky, also addressed the house
during the general debate.
The debate will close tomorrow at 1
o'clock under the arrangement made to-
day, when a final test will be made on a
motion of which Mr.. Williams, Democrat,
OF Mississippi. gave notice to-day, to re-
commit the diplomatic and consular ap-
propriations bill with instructions to re-
port back the Cuban resolution as Q
rider.
Days Debate in Detail.
When the house convened to-day the
leaders on both sides were rallying ytheir
forces and it was apparent that the bat
tie over Cuba which reigned yesterday was
to continue to-day. The attendance on the
floor and in the galleries was very large.
Mr.. Lacey, Republican, of Iowa, asked
unanimous consent for the consideration of
bill to extend the homestead laws to
the territory of Alaska and to grant right
of way to any railroad company organized
under the laws of any state. Mr.. Lacey
explained, that several applications were
made to his committee by several compa-
MES projecting roads into Canada, and
the committee had decided to report this
general bill.
Mr.. Simpson said the bill was too i'm
portant to consider by unanimous consent
and he objected.
Immediately afterward the storm broke.
and the battle over Cuba was once more
on. Mr.. Brucker. Democrat, Of Michigan.
asked unanimous consent for the consider
clerks desk.
The speaker took occasion to examine the
resolution, and, while doing SO, Mr.. Bailey.
the leader of the minority, loudly demanded
that the resolution be reported.
The speaker thereupon directed the clerk
to read the resolution, which proved to
be a resolution to instruct the committee
on foreign affairs to report without further
delay the senate Cuban belligerency reso-
luton.
The Only Vote of the Day.
Like flash. Mr.. Hit, chairman Of the
foreign affairs committee, was on his feet
with a point of order which the speaker
promptly sustained. and was about to rec
ognize Mr.. Hit to call up the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill. when Mr..
Bailey demanded recognition. "One mo-
ment, please" he called. Let us first dis
pose of this question of ORDER
1.-The chair sustained the point of order, "
retorted the speaker tersely.
Then appeal" called Mr.. Bailey across
the hall to Mr.. Brucker, and the Michigan
member entered an appeal from the de-
cision Of the chair. All was instantly eX-
element and confusion. A dozen men,
bers were on their feet demanding recogni-
ton to debate the appeal, but the speaker
recognized Mr.. DalZell. who moved to lay
it on the table. This cut off debate, and
the speaker put the question. On a rising
vote, the Republicans stood firm and
voted, 107 to "a, to lay the appeal on the
table.
The ayes and nays were demanded and
obtained by Mr.. Bailey. The roll call was
watched with interest to ascertain whether
all the Republicans were willing to go on
record as they had voted yesterday in COM
mittee of the whole, when no record of the
vote was made. The Democrats who ex-
pected to see the Republican line broken
were disappointed. The majority presented
an unbroken front. Mr.. White, of North
Carolina, the solitary colored member of
the house, when his name was called, de-
clined to vote at all, answering present
But at the conclusion of the roll call he
thought better of his resolution and vot-
ed AYE" The motion to lay the appeal on
the table was carried 16s-l26.
There were no manifestations Of approval
| on the announcement of the vote.
Two Democratic Propositions.
| The house, then, on Mr.. Hits motion.
went into committee of the whole and re-
| sumed consideration OF the diplomatic and
| consular appropriation bill. AS soon as the
| first paragraph was read, the struggle was
| resumed. Mr.. Williams, Democrat, of Mis-
| sissippi, offered an amendment to direct
the president to appoint three commission
| ers to proceed to Cuba, and, II possible,
| negotiate a treaty of peace, amity and
| commerce with the Republic of Cuba, and
| approprtating SIS 900 for defraying the ex-
penses of the commissioners. 1t was ruled
out Of order.
Immediately afterward. Mr.. Lewis, Demo
| crat, of Washington. offered another
/ AmnhaSlZf