Evening journal., 1898-04-14
RIOTING CONGRESSMAN.
Exciting Scenes During the Debate
on Committees Report
GREAT ELOQUENCE IN THE SENATE
Army and Navy Ready TO Move on Ha-
vanR Whenever the Word Is Given.
War Is Now but Ques-
tfon OF Hours.

WASHINGTON, April 14.-Yesterdoy
was day OF momentous and exciting
events In congress. Not In years have
both houses been engaged In the con-
sideration OF such important business
az that which was brought before them
yesterday. Both committees having ip
charge foreign affairs reported resolu-
tions the tenor OF which Is believed 10
mean a war with Spain. The house
passed the resolutions reported by the
majority of It's committee, and the SEN
ate began debate which may be pro-
tracted and interesting.
In the early part Of the day II seemed
that there was a possibility that unan-
imous action might be had In both
house and senate, but divisions arising
over the form and words OF the resolu-
tlon could not be reconclled, and minor
ity reports were presented.
The senate was first to report its res
olution. and at the beginning OF the
session Senator Davis. chairman OF the
committee, presented the resolution and
a report which In dealing with the man.
agement of Cuban affairs by Spain WIS
a vigorous and scathlng denunciatlon
OF that country and it's military meth
DDS.
The purpose of delay on the part OF
some Of the members Of the senate was
shown In the objection TO the consld-
Grafton of the report, which sent IL over
10 another day, but this did not pre-
vent most exciting and vigorous de-
bate upon the resolution and the Gu
ban situation. All day long the senate
listened. with the galleries, while vigor.
Gus speeches were made for and against
the proposition. The minority report.
which was presented by four members
OF the foreign relations committee
Senator Foraker (Rep.. % Joining with
three Democratic members-who are In
favor OF the recognition OF the lnde-
pendence Of the present government OF
cuba at once. and II is an interesting
fact that there seems to be quite a gen.
eral feeling that the minority report Of
the committee may. when the vote Ia
taken, be the action OF the senate. De-
bate and discussion may alter this con-
dition which seems to exist now but
the temper OF senators on both sides
seems inclined in that direction.
Although the senate was first 10 pre-
sent, Its resolution, the house was first
to act For more than FIVE hours ef-
forts were made In the committee on
foreign affairs to secure unanimous ac-
ton. but In the end the division OF the
committee on party lines prevailed. and
the resolution Of the majority was pass
ed after one Of the most exciting cpl
sodes that have been witnessed In the
house since the Fifty-hrst congress.
Party feeling ran high. and, as fore
shadowed by the action Of the COM
mittee, party lines were sharply drawn,
resulting in a scene which became per-
sonal and disgraceful The members Of
the committee were inclined TO support
unanimous report even II Il did not
wholly meet their views. but after a
long conference with the leaders OF the
minority, who cOunseled standing on
the ground which the Democratic party
had assumed during this congress, Il
was decided to favor a direct recogni-
tion Of the insurgents as the govern
Inent OF Cuba.
The conservative forces of the senate
favor the house resolution in preference
20 that reported by the senate commit
tee. They 90 not believe II is as radical
and believe as much good will be ac-
complished. other conservatives favor
still more mild resolution, as evil
denced by that presented by Senator
Hale which is IN direct line with the
presidents message.