The record-union., 1898-04-13

uuired all the ingenuity of General
Grosvenor to torture such an interpre-
tation from them. In conclusion he
declared that the President who would
coerce the Cuban insurgents would not
live to survive the odium of the Ameri-
can people.
NATIONAL BATTALION BILL.
Immediately after the reading of the
journal, the Speaker recognized Mr..
Hilborn (R) of California to call up,
on behalf of the Naval Committee, the
Senate bill for the organization of a
national battalion in the District of
Columbia
Mr.. Bailey indicated his purpose to
object unless an amendment was offer
ed to organize this battalion under the
existing law.
Il suggest that the bill be withheld
until we see what the report of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs is to be,
so we can determine exactly what the
condition in the country is, said Mr..
Bailey. If the fear he entertains has
no more foundation than the report
that the Presidents message last We'd
nesday might have created a riot in
Havana, the gentleman need not be ex-
ercised. The Presidents message might
have created a riot in Cuba but 1t
would not have been among the Span
iards in Havana. 1t would have been
among the insurgents in the interior" p"
daughter and applause on the Demo-
cratic side.)
Il rise to a parliamentary inquiry"
shouted Mr.. Berry CD of Arkansas,
what need have we for an army and
navy anyway" Qaughter)
THAT is not a parliamentary in
quiry," replied the Speaker, smiling
blandly, amid renewed laughter.
Mr.. Ridgley Pop.) of Kansas 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.)
of Kansas and Mr.. Green Pop.) of
Nebraska took occasion to discuss the
Cuban question. but their utterances
were not inf1ammatory.
After some discussion of the finan-
cial question by Hartman (Sil Rep) Of
Montana and Lacey (R.) of Iowa, Lewis
got the floor and in vigorous speech de-
clared that in the dust and clouds which
had been kicked up by diplomacy, Con-
gress was losing sight of the vital ques-
ton 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.
LENTZ CRITICISES THE PRESI-
DENT
Shortly before adjournment, Lentz
Dem) of Ohio made a vigorous assault
on what he called the vacillatng policy
OF the President, reading from various
newspapers to show that the President
had repeatedly changed his mind. He
commented especially upon the report of
an alleged midnight conference between
Senator Elkins and the Spanish Min
lister, after the former had been at the
White House with John j. McCook. He
taunted the Republicans because the
President had not declared for the in
dependence ef Cuba. which the Republi-
can platform had demanded.
1T remains TO be seen," said he, "whe-
tber 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
"A stable Government, What do you
propose now? Let this Congress give
t. the President the army and navy, he
says. and he viii go ever there and
force the Cuban patriots. force the Gu
ban heroes, to submit to a stable Gov