Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-04-16
HOT TINE IN THE HOUSE.

Republicans and Democrats Fight Among
Themselves.
Wednesday was an eventful day in
the house of representatives, and it
was also interesting in the senate. But
in the house, to some extent, the scenes
were not only eventful and exciting,
but to certain extent they were dis
graceful.
As usual, the two political parties
engaged in a fight for political ad-
vantage. The principal point of diff
ference was that the Democrats want
ed to recognize Cuban independence,
and the Republicans were not willing
to commit themselves to such an i'm
portant issue in language so plain.
Following is the story of the day,
summarized from the Associated Press
. dispatches:
About 3 o'clock in the afternoon,
Mr.. Adams, acting chairman of the
committee on foreign affairs, submit
ted the report of that committee as
follows:
Whereas, The government of Spain, for
three years past, has been waging war on
the island of Cuba against revolution by
the inhabitants thereof, without making
any substantial progress toward the sup
preston Of said revolution, and has con-
Quoted the warfare in manner contrary
to the laws Of nations by methods inhu-
man and uncivilized, causing the death by
starvation of more than 100000 innocent
non-com batants, the victims being for the
most part helpless women and children,
iuhicting injury to the commercial inter-
est of the United States, involving the de-
struction of the lives and property Of
many of our citizens, entailng the eX-
Ipenditure of millions Of money in pa
TROLLING our coasts and policing the high
seas in order to maintain our neutrality,
and
Whereas, This long series of losses, in
LURES and burdens for which Spain is res
ponsible has eliminated in the destruc-
ton of the United States battleship Maine
i'm the harbor of Havana, and in the death
of 260 of our seamen,
Resolved, etc., That the president is
hereby authorized and directed to inter-
vene at once to stop the war in Cuba, to
the end and with the purpose of securing
permanent peace and order there, and
establishing, by the free action of the peo-
pie thereof, a stable and independent
government of their own in the island of
Cuba and the president is hereby author.
liZed and empowered to use the land and
naval forces of the United States to exc
cute the purpose of this resolution.
Mr.. Adams asked for unanimous
consent for the immediate considera-
tion of the resolution. Mr.. Bailey re-
served the right to object, saying that
whether he did so would depend upon
the understanding as to the time that
would be given for debate.
Speaker Reed said that if objection
was to be made it would be made then,
and Mr.. Bailey protested that the chair
was trying to force the minority.
However, Mr.. Bailey entered his en-
phatic objection and the Democrats
supported him to a unit.
Richardson, Democrat, of Tennessee,
accused the Republicans of playing for
political advantage, and Henderson,
Republican, of Iowa, charged that
there was perfect understanding
among the Democrats. This Richard
son denied.
The house quickly worked itself
into a frenzy of excitement. Party
feeling rose to high pitch. Brumm,
Republican, of Pennsylvania, shouted
that the Democrats had gotten what
they dld not want. Bartlett, Demo-
crat, of Georgia, said it was not true.
at is" said Brumm. at is not" said
Bartlett. "You are a liar" said
Brumm. Then the two men made for
each other, and in an instant the
friends Of both sides were mixed up in
a riot. Nobody was seriously hurt ex.
cept that Griffin Halstead, a house
employe, was knocked down by a
blow on the jaw. 1t was sometime
before the sergeantat-arms was able
to restore order, and the scene is said TO
have been one Of the most disgraceful
that has occurred in the house for
many years.
After quiet was somewhat restored,
the committee on rules returned and
reported a rule providing for the i'm
mediate consideration of the report of
the committee on foreign relations.
This brought in both majority and mi
nority reports. The minority report
was as follows:
Resolved. That the United States gov
ernment hereby recognizes the indcpen-
dence of the republic of Cuba.
Second. That, moved thereto by many
considerations of humanity, Of interest,
and of provocatiOn, among which are the
deliberate mooring of our battleShip, the
Maine, over a submarine mine, and its
destruction in the harbor of Havana, the
president of the United States be, and he
is hereby, directed to employ immediate
ly land and naval forces of the United
States in aiding the republic of Cuba to
maintain the independence hereby recog-
niZcd.
Section 3. That the president of the
United States is hereby authorized and
directed To extend immediate relief to the
starving people of Cuba.
There was Il spirited debate by men,
bers on both sides, and finally a vote
was taken on the substitute, with the
result that it was defeated 100 to 147.
! All the Democrats voted for it, and
i also a few Republicans.