The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-26

WASHINGTON. April o5.-A special session Of
the cabinet called early this morning for the pur
pose OF reviewing a message which the president
transmitted to congress today recommending that
congress in the exercise of powers vested in 1t by the
constitution formerly declare against the king
dom of Spain.
The presidents message recommending declara-
tion of war was accompanied by ten fifteen tee-
grams and notes that passed between the govern
ments of Spain and the United States mainly
through Minister Woodford, but partly through Min
lister Polo.
Ii is believed these papers clearly established the
position of this government that Spain has recog-
nized the existence of state of war
The house today passed the bin declaring the ex-
istence of state of between the United States
and the kingdom of Spain in manner which cannot
fail 10 impress the world. The representatives Of
70OOO,0O0 people voted for it without word of de-
bate, without dissenting vote and without roll
call, but with solemn appreciation of the gravity Of
their momenteus action. Ii required but one minute
and fortyone seconds to accomplish this The house
considering election case, and simply paused
TO declare There excitement. no cavil
no word or question 1t was only in the great cheer
that went up from the floor and the galleries when
Speaker Reed announced its passage that the tre-
mendous import of the act and the suppressed enthu
siasm behind ii was shown After the presidents
message read the committee on foreign affairs
framed the resolution. Acting Chairman Adams
wrote the report and ii passed and on its way TO
the senate in an hour and six minutes The speaker
signed il at 4:24.
The remainder of the day was devoted to the Wise
Young case from the Second Virginia district The
house declined TO agree to the senate amendments to
the army reorganization bill and it was sent 10 con-
ference.
The galleries were throngcd this morning in antci-
patton of the presidents message asking congress to
make formal declaration of Ii was read after
the prayer and listened to with profound atten.
ton. There demonstration.
After the message had been referred the house
proceeded with the consideration of District OF
Columbia business.
No interest manifested in the proceedings
until II O'clock when Acting Chairman Adams en-
tered the house and the that the committee had
unanimously agreed upon bill declaring the exist
ence of a state of war known all over the house
Adams held hurried consultations with the speaker
and members and Dinsmore and Berry of the minor
ity of the committee.
At ] 20 2. m. he asked unanimous consideration
for bill declaring the existence of state of war
between this country and the kingdom of Spain
There was not murmur of dissent The bill was
read. The house held its breath.
Maguire of California to ask question but
refrained.
The question was pnt on the third reading and
passage of the bill and in a magnificent chorus the
whole house responded aye" The announcement
of its passage greeted with a round of applause
and cheer or TWO from the floor and galleries. and
then the house resumed consideration of the election
case. There WAS no excitement. Ii required exactly
one minute and forty-two seconds for the house 10
pass the bill No such impressive action can be re
corded in the legislative annals of any country The
house had simply paused in It's routine business To
pass a declaration OF war
Mcguire explained subsequently that his purpose
in rising was 10 ask whether the declaration in the
bill that war has existed since April II nende,
10 legaiixe the seizure Of the Buena Ventura
II consider that and other seizures up To this
time nothing mere than piracy, said be.