The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-04-15
CONGRESSIONAL.

April There was s,ene of great ex-
element In the House dur ng the consider
alton of the bill for the reorganization OF
the army. 1t was caused by Mr. Lentz, an
Ohio Democrat, who made vigorous as
sault on the administration, charging that
the policy OF delay was in the IN
terest of the stock tobbers in Wall street.
He alleged that Wall street was in the
possession of information that the
message would not go in long before II
was known at the capitol and profted heav-
lily by the advance in the price of stocks
which resulted. He even charged that
there was no warrant for the alarming
statements about the situation in Ha-
vana which we're given as justifying the
delay of the message. Mr.. Lentz's speech
created a profound sensation, and was
met with an emphatic reply from
General Grosvenor, now generally re-
garded as the administration spokes-
man on the floor. Mr.. Grosvenor not
only Indignantly denied that there was
justification for the reports, but held Mr..
Lentz up to scorn for alleging corrupt mo.
tives against the President Before he con-
cluded he EXPIRE ssed the opinion that war
was as certain as that we would live until
next week, unless it was averted by Spain
The debate on the army bill developed
more and more opposition. Mr.. Hull tried
to save the bill by agreeing to strike out all
its provisions. even the three battalion
formation features, but 1t was In the end
accumulation
The Senate devoted the day t. the con-
sideration of the sundry civil appropria-
ton bill Considerable war talk was in
dulged in. At 2 o'clock the bill had not
been completed, and was laid aside, the
Senate devotlng the re mainder OF the after
noon in eulogles of the late Senator James
q. George of Mi ssissippi.
April 6.-When the Senate convened
tense expectancy amounting to excite
ment, prevailed both on the floor and in the
galleries The Presidents message had
been positively promised and its omlng
was aited with genuine anxiety. Ten
minutes after the Senate convened, consld-
Grafton of the sundry civil bill was re-
sumed, and, with the exception of eight
minutes, consumed by exc utive session. in
which Senator Davis announced that no
message would be sent in, almost the entire
session was consumed by tie bill. 1t was
practically completed when laid aside for
the day.
After waiting patiently In the galleries
and corridor of the House for hours, many
of them from o'clock until shortly before
3 ocloc ok, the thous lnds who had come to
hear the Presidents message turned away
weary and disguised at the delay. The de-
bate in progress in the House over the
army reorganizati on bill attracted little
or no attention. It was completely over
Swallowed by the more absorbing question
Considerable opposition to the bill devel-
oped on the ground that its provision for
an extension of the regular army in time of
war to 100000 men would be inimical to
the national guard and the volunteer
forces upon which the country had hereto
fore relied In time of stress.
April Tn the Cen Turner of Wash
lngton, Harris of Kansas. Kenney of Della
ware and Tu rpie of Indiana ma lie speeches
for independence and forcible in erventton
in Cuba. Mr.. Harris said the Cubans earned
liberty by blood and tears. He charged the
destruction of the Maine to official treach-
cry upon the part of Spain. That blacklist
crime of all nations, he declared would
not be allowed to become mere incident
Mr.. Harris was applaude1 by the galleries
when he closed.
The crowds which thronged the galleries
of tho House were disappointed There
were no guthrie axis of any kind on the floor
on the Cuban questi N. The day was de-
voted to District of Column bia business.
April At was frankly and openly
charged in the Senate by Mr.. Perkins of
California, in set speech, that Spain was
responsible for the Maine disaster, as it
had been brought about by Spanish ma
speech of Mr.. PERKINS was only one of four
prepared addresses upon the Cuban ques-
tion delivered in the Senate. Clay of Geor-
gia Mantle of Montana and Rawlns of
Utah also spoke along the same lines At
ter the Cuban speeches had been delivere d
the Senate resumed consideration of the
sundry civil bill and finished tht rty-three
pages before adjourning
While there was no atte mot to force con-
sideratlon for a resolution regarding the
Cuban situation in the House. there was
brief outbrea in the course of which the
warll Ike tempe of the crowded galleries
was so manifest that Speaker Reed threat
ened to clear them if it was repeated. The
outbre ak occurred over a bill to authorize
the President to erect temporary fortifca-
lions in case of emergency upon land when
the written consent of the owners was
obtained without awaiting the long process
of legal condo mn alton. This led to 4 de-
mand by Mr.. Bailey. the Demo ratio lead
er, for information as to the facts which
warranted all these wa measures. The
particular statement which aroused the
galleries was to the effect that while the
Democrat were wilt ng to wait any rea-
sonab BILE t. me f ,r the President to trans NIT
a message that would meet the approval of
the American peop'e. they would not wait
a minute for him to continue negotiations
with the butchers of Spain. The bill was