The herald., 1898-04-12

uence OF opehleh rule was volceu py upere-
sentatives Pearson of North Carolina, VIII
liam Alden Smith of Michigan. Heatwole
of Minnesota and Gillett Of Massachusetts,
There were numerous resolutions drafted
and offered for the action of the commit
tee as different in character and wording
as there were members present, but there
was no action beyond this formulation,
submission and discussion. The nearest
success at agreement was made in the
consideration Of a resolution by Henry OF
Indiana for immediate Intervention and
the establishment Of a stable government
by the choice Of the people of Cuba. and
another by Smith of Michigan for immedi-
ate intervention, the expulsion of Spain
from the island and the formation OF a
government by the people of Cuba.
The steering committee of nine, elected
by the conference of Republican Cuban
sympathizers in the house, met today and
appointed a special committee of three to
secure a statement of the two foreign com
mittees in congress. The committee con-
sists of Joy of Missouri, Tawney of Minne-
sofa and Lorimer of Illinois. Their instruc-
tions were to ascertain what the commit
| tees in both houses proposed to do and then
report for the consideration Of the confer
| ence.
| The full foreign affairs committee of the
house will meet at II o'clock tomorrow
morning, when the presidents message will
be taken up. 1t is possible that the special
committee will have decided what II shall
| report to the Cuban conference committee.
A meeting may be called for tomorrow
afternoon to outline the action they favor.
There are about six Republican
ranreSnpfq tiVaS who hnva nartiCiDatad
in these conferences, and one of their lead
ers stated tonight that he believed he cor
rectly represented the majority in saying
that they favored immediate armed inter-
vention and declaration that the Cubans
should of right be independent of Spanish
rule.
The administration resolution. which en-
powers the president, in accordance with
the recommendation in his message, to take
such steps az will terminate hostilities In
Cuba and establish stable government,
and authorizes him to intervene with the
army and navy of the United States as may
be necessary to bring about this result,
has the outspoken support of three men,
bers, Messrs. Quigg, Adams and Cousins,
and the tentative support of Henry of In
diana. There are strong evidences of weak
ening among some Of the others, and at one
time today 1t looked as IL all them could
be united upon a proposition, with the ex-
ception of Smith of Michigan. From pres
ent indications, it seems entirely improb-
able that the Republicans will be able to
agree before the full committee meets to-
morrow, in which event 1t is likely that the
Republicans will filibuster to prevent ac-
tion. Those who have declined up to this
time to agree to the propositions advanced
by the administration members still hope
that they may yet be able to unite. and they
desire to exhaust every effort in this direc-
ton before considering the question of
joining with the Democrats. This could
only come as last resort. Tonight 1t
seems almost certain that no resolution will
be presented to the house tomorrow for ac-
ton.
Senatorial Interest
Notwithstanding the early adjourn
ment of the senate today, many of the SEN
ators remained about the Capitol during
the afternoon discussing the situation in the
senate chamber and in committee rooms.
The committee on foreign relations was In
session; the Republican senators who in
dorse the presidents course, generally
known as the conservatives, were in con-
rules, and several senatorial members of
the Democratic steering committee were
consulting in the Democratic caucus room
in the senate with some of the Democratic
leaders of the house, including Mr.. Bailey.
The foreign relations committee sat for
about three hours, and, after the formal
meeting had concluded, the Republican
members held conference at which they
nOSSihilitV Of securing
unanimous action on their part. The COM
mittee did not reach an agreement nor
even a decision as to whether a report
should be made tomorrow. One reason for
postponement of action is that the commit
tee desires, before reporting, to hear Con-
sui General Lee, who has informed the
chairman that he can be with them tomor-
row.
The conclusion of the committee may de-
pend largely upon what Gen. Lee places
before 1t.
Several members of the committee were
inclined to criticise the course of the pres
ident's reference to Spains proffer of an
armistice in Cuba. This, they say, goes far
toward removing the cause for interven-
ton, and some went so far in this connec-
ton to say that, in view of the mention of
this fact and of the presidents opposition
to the recognition of either independence or
belligerent rights, nothing was left for this
country but to declare war. Another de-
velopment was that of the senators who
had, previous to the receipt of the message,
indicated a willingness to conform to the
presidents wishes and to confine the action
of congress to declara tion of intervention,
had changed their opinions and now were
announced to return to the original posi-
ton of independence, coupled with inter-
vention, and it was stated by one Of them
that the discussions reported would con-
tain at least declaration of the Cuban
people to freedom and independence. The
conservative Republican senators were not
slow to recognize the fact that the move
ment to secure support for the presidents
position had lost ground since the receipt
of the message They did not, however,
| manifest any abatement in their determin-
| alton to stand with the president in the
senate and to oppose any proposition look
| ing to more radical action that the execu-
| tive desired. They manifested great inter-
| est in the proceedings of the committee on
| foreign relations, but, owing to the strict
| secrecy maintained by the committee, they
were not able to secure information of con-
| sequence.
The conservatives say they will continue
| their efforts to secure harmonious action
and to prevent any division on the question
! before the world, either in congress or be-
| tween congress and the administration.
| At the Democratic conference the mes
sage was speedily indorsed, although there
| was mn nf