The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-30
HOUSE FORBIDDEN TO DEBATE
But some Warm Resolutions are In
troduced.

Washington, March 29.-The house to-
day quietly proceeded with the order OF
she day, the consideration Of private bills.
No opportunity was afforded under the
rules of debating the all-absorbing topic,
but members stood about the cloak rooms
and Hobbies all day long discussing the
situation. The most intense feeling was
manifested.
The house, after passing a bill to pen
sion the widow Of General John l. Ste
venson at the rate Of $50 per month, de-
voted the whole day to the consideration
of the bill to pay certain claims for stores
and supplies furnished to the Union by
loyal citizens of the south during the
war. There was bitter contest over a
claim Of $217,O 900 preferred by the heirs Of
the widow of General Robert z. Lee. She
inherited the claim from Mrs. Fitzhugh,
loyal. The claim was finally stricken out,
but the house recessed before the bill was
passed.
The senate resolution to extend for six
months the time fixed for opening the
agricultural lands of the Uncompahgre
Indian reservation was adopted.
At o'clock, the house recessed until 8
o'clock, the evening session to be de-
voted to pension legislation.
At the night session fifty-seven bills
were passed, among them one TO pension
at the rate of $50 per month the widow
of Captain Cushing, the commander of
the torpedo boat which sank the Con-
federate ram Albermarle.
At 1890 o'clock the house adjourned.
introduced a resolution in the house de-
claring that the government of the United
States hereby recognizes the independence
of the republic of Cuba and pledges the
full measure of its support for the main
tenance of that independence.
Representative Marsh of Illinois, chair
man Of the house committee on the mill
tia, introduced the following joint reso-
luton declaring war between the govern
ment of Spain and it's dependencies and
the United States and her territories. 1t
IS as follows:
THAT war be and the same is hereby
declared to exist between the government
Of Spain and her dependencies and the
United States and her territories and that
the president of the United States is here
by authorized to use the whole land and
naval force Of the United States, includ-
Ing the militia and the naval militia there
of, TO carry the same into effect"
Representative Marsh stated that the
resolution introduced by him was the
exact language Of the declaration of war
Of 1872 issued by this country against
Great Britain, except that it omits con-
ferring authority on the president to issue
letters OF marque and reprisal. Mr. Marsh
said that while prior to the submission of
the Maine report he had not believed it
possible that the Spanish government had
anything TO do with the Maine disaster,
the report has established conclusively
that the Maine was blown up by a sub
marine and that the mine could not have
been placed there by private parties. It
could have been placed there, he said, by
no other power than that which controls
the island. He added that he believed
that a government that could deliberate
" starve 100000 men, women and children
IS capable Of just such an act.
Representative Mercer of Nebra ska.
also introduced a Cuban resolution. SINH
lar TO that introduced by Senator Foraker.
OF Ohio
Representative Lewis of Washington
introduced resolution asking of the
president as to what he communicated 70
me Spanish government as TO the views
of the United States government On the
court Of inquiry on the destruction Of the
Maine and asking that such information
be communicated to congress at once.