The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-22
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, April 19.-Ccmparatively
little business was transacted by the
senate today, all of the senators being
fatigued on account Of their long vigil
last night over the Cuban resolutions.
Consideration Of the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill was resumed and the
wide latitude Of debate permitted I'M
der the rules of the senate afforded OPP
%portunity for some explanations to be
made concerning the action of the SEN
ate upon the Cuban question. Senator
Cockrell, Of Missouri, n Senator Ba-
con, of Georgia, explained the @ction Of
the democrats in voting against the
conference report in the early hours
of this morning and the colloquies that
ensued between them and some of the
republican senators were spicy and in
teresting.
At 1927 o'clock p. m. a message was
received from the house of representa-
tives announcing it's agreement to he
report of the conference committee on
the Cuban resolutions. The announce
mcnt of the signature of the speaker
to the resolution was made. Eight
minute afterward the vice president
announced his signature to the Cuban
resolutions
In accordance with his announce
mcnt made yesterday that he proposed
to insist upon the independence of the
Cuban republic, Senator Allen, of Ne
braska, offered the following resolu-
ton, which was referred to the COM
mittee or foreign relations:
That the political independence of
the republic of Cuba, the capital of
which is located at Cubitas, is hereby
recognized by the United States of
America as the lawful government of
the island of Cuba, and that the Unit
ed States hereby pledges to said re-
public it's friendly offices in the adjust
ment of it's financial affairs with the
kingdom of Spain or the holders OF
Spanish bonds or Indebtedness, issued
against or made chargeable to Cuba;
that so far as the influence Of the Unit
ed States may properly be exercised,
it will insist that said republic shall
not be charged with the bonded, or
other indebtedness Of Spain, contract
ed during or prior to hostilities between
the respective governments of Cuba
and Spain"
Senator Butler, of North Carolina,
suggested that it might be the part of
wisdom to provide in the resolution for
the protection of Cuba against Ameri-
can franchise ~grabbers." He declared
hat it was the purpose to sweep aside
the present Cuban government n set
up another that would be favorable
to and the creature of the syndicates
and bOndhOlders.
Senator Allen declared hat he was
quite satisfied that, under the present
arrangement, the island of Cuba would
pass into the hands of nancia cor
morants and financial buZzards unless
the United States should at once take
measures to protect the island and it's
people.
The senate then resumed cOnsidera-
ton of the sundry civil bill.
In the course of a dry routine dis
cuSSion of a minor amendment to the
pending bill, Senator COckrell sharply
attacked the administration and con-
greSS for their action on the Cuban
question. He adverted to the purpose
of the resolution passed early this
morning, intimating that it would en-
able those so inclined, to take advan-
tage of the Cuban patriots.
When he referred to the action of the
senate and of congress late at yester-
days session, Senator Hale interrupt
ed him to inquire why it was that the
democrats of the senate practically as
a body voted against the action for
WHICH lIlty Hdu DteH CldlIlOIlIlS IOE
months II can understand" he said,
the senator from Missouri nay be a
trif1e sensitive over night"
Not at ALL" declared Senator Cock
rell, Il never was more glad of any
vote that l ever cast than of that l cast
in the early hours of this morning. The
votes we asst were a manifestation of
devotion to principle, to the principles
long upheld by the Cuban patriots"
A running fire of debate ensued be-
tween Senators Hale, Cockrell and
Spooner.
senator Bacon. of Georgia, continued
the discussion of the position Of the
democrats, taking the position he took
last night that, as the democrats had
voted time and again in support of
their position, so they voted to sustain
it by opposing the conference report
which struck out the provision for re-
cognition of independence. He con-
tended that as only matters of differ
ence go into conference, the vote in the
senate on the conference committee
report was only on the Turpie amend
ment for the recognition of the insur-
gents. and that consequently those
who had voted against the conference
report had only again recorded them
selves in favor Of the Turpie amend
Tnent.
Senator Fairbanks asked whether or
not a vote in favor of concurrence was
not In fact a vote for the resolutions.
Senator Bacon replied that it was
not by any means. because the con-
ference having jurisdiction only over
points OF difference. it's report could
cover only such points Of difference
and the vote OF the senate could cover
only sue points. He commended that
the senators who had not voted for the
resolution originally had lost their only
opportunity to support them.
Senator Spooner said he did not pro-
TESS to have voted for the resolutions
because they did not meet his views,
but that he had voted for the report IN
order to bring about a legislative a6-
justment even though he was to an ex-
tent swallowing his own words.
Senator Bacon commended that he a
proved that Senator Spooner had never
voted for the resolutions.
Here the two senators fell into a tech
aical discussion as to what was implied