The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-13
Another scurrilous Attack by Mr.
Lentz ON the Executive Rebuked
by Representative Hepburn.
WAR ON SPAIN In THE SENATE
BLOODLESs THREE-HOUR ENGAGE
MENT WITH THE ENEMY.
Three Cuban Resolutions Introduced,
and Speeches Made by SIessrs. Ma
son, Butler and Pettuss

WASHINGTON, April 12.-General Gros-
vonor, of Ohio, now generally regarded as
the spokesman of the President the floor
of the House. late this afternoon, in reply
to an attack upon the policy of the admin
istration, interpreted the recommendations
in the Presidents message to mean a re-
quest for authority to use the army and
navy of the United States to establish ON
the Island of Cuba a government inde-
pendent of Spain. 1t was regarded as an
exceedingly important and significant an
nouncement in the brief debate to-day the
opening guns OF the contest that begins to-
morrow We're fired. Broadsides were
changed and then the House adjourned.
Mr. Lentz an Ohio Democrat, who drew
the fire of General Grosvenor last Thurs
day, returned the assault again to-day, at
| tacking what he termed the ''vacillating
policy of the President, the midnight con-
ferences at the White House with Senator
Elkins and John j. McCook, and asserting
that the Presidents recommendations really
meant that the United States should coerca
the Cuban insurgents into an acceptance of
Spain's scheme OF autonomy. Mr.. Hepburn
| (Rep., Ia) made a spirited and indignant
reply, denouncing the intimation of such
policy as little short of scoundrelism. Then
came General Grosvenor's important an
nouncement, on which Mr.. Bailey, the DEM
ocratic leader, countered taking the posi-
ton that if the President had meant to de-
clare for the independence of Cuba he
would have said so in specific words, The
message was clear and lucid, he said, ex-
I cept as to the recommendations, ard 1t had
required all the ingenuity of General Grcs-
veror to torture such an interpretation
| from them. In conclusion, he declared that
the President who would coerce the Cuban
patriots would not live to survive the odium
of the American people.
Immediately after the reading of the jour-
nal the speaker recognized Mr.. Hilborn
| (Rep., CALI to call up, on behalf of the
naval commit se, the Senate bill for the or
ganization of naval battalion in the Dis
| trict of Columbia. Mr.. Bailey indicated his
purpose to object unless an amendment
were offered to organize this battalion un-
der existing law. II suggest the bill be
| withheld until we see what the report of the
committee on foreign affairs is to be, so
that we can determine exactly what the
condition of the country is said Mr.. Ball
ey eff the fear he entertains has no more
foundation than the report that the Presi-
dents message last Wednesday might have
need not be exercised. The Presidents mes
sage might have created riot in Cuba, but
it would not be among the Spaniards in Ha--
vana 1t would have been among the insur-
gents in the interior" daughter and APP
plause on the Democratic side)
ARKANSAS SARCASM.
'I rise to a parliamentary inquiry" Shout
ed Mr.. Terry .(Dem., Ark.) What need
have we for any army and navy, anywayY'
Daughter.)
"That is not parliamentary inquiry,
replied the speaker, smiling blandly, amid
renewed laughter.
Mr.. Ridgeley (Pop., Kan.) then objected.
The House then went. into committee of
the whole on a bill relating to the District
Of Columbia. During the debate Mr.. Botkin
(Pop Kan.) and Mr.. Greene (Pop., Neb.1
took occasion to discuss the Cuban ques-
tion, but their utterances were not iniam-
matory.
After some discussion of the financial
question by Mr. Hartman Csilver Rep,
Mont) and Mr. Lacey (Rep., Ia.), Mr.. Lewis
got the floor and IN vigorous speech de-
clared that III the dust and clouds which
had been kicked up by diplomacy, Congress
was losing sight Of the vital question before
the people The country, he said, favored
the freedom Of Cuba, but that was only
sentiment The avenging of the Maine, he
said was the real duty of the government.
Later, while Mr.. Hill, of Connecticut, was
discussing the question of reforming the
currency Mr.. Simpson (Pop., kan.) became
so obstrepercus that Mr.. Hopkins (Rep-s
Iil) who was in the chair, ordered him
to take his seat, and when the Kansan de-
cIned no instructed the sergeant-at-arms
to use the silver mace the emblem of the
Houses authority to compel him TO take his
seat One of the assistants took the mace
out of it's place on the malachite pedestal
and marched up the ais.e towards Mr.. Simp-
son. The latter laughed at him. Take
that thing back" he said. As the mace
cannot be employed under the rules in COM
1nittee. the chair did not press the command
and the incident closed with round Of
laughter.
Shortly before the adjournment Mr.. lsentz
Dem, o. made vicious assault on what
he described as the vacillating policy Of the
President, reading from various newspaperg
TO show that the President had repeatedly
changed his mind. He commented especially
on the report of an alleged midnight cons
ference between Senator Elkins and the
Spanish minister, after the former had been
at the White House with John ]. McCook.
He taunted the Republicans because the
President had not declared for the independ-
ence of Cuba. which the Republican plat
form had demanded. 1T remains TO be
seen," said he. whether the majority of the
House can be lined up and whipped In
Congress- he declared. should act and could
better act than the executive formulating
his policy at midnight behind closed doors
with the aid OF plutocracy,"
Continuing. Mr.. Lentz said: "A stable
government? What do you propose nows