The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-15
Report on Aliens Amendment.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE report on
diplomatic bill, submitted to-day, SAYS. after
quoting the amendment: I'm terms this pro-
posed amendment is identical with joint
resolution which passed the Senate on May
20 1897, was sent to the House of Represen-
tatives and referred to standing committee
of that body, where it is still pending In
the adoption of that joint resolution the
Senate, after a full debate and mature con-
sideration, performed what is conceived to
be solemn duty to our country that was
demanded by a proper regard for the rights
and welfare of our own people Their love
of Justice humanity, liberty and independ-
ence of foreign oppression constrained our
people to regard the prosecuted native peo-
pie of Cuba with earnest sympathy and
caused them to admire and applaud their
heroism in the defense of their homes and
families against the most atrocious violence
In this demonstration of sympathy with the
cause of the republic of Cuba our people al
most with one accord admitted their obedi-
ence to the obligations and duties of Chris
tlan civilization and demanded the interVen-
Ion Oh our government against their cruel
ABUSE ana abandonment by Spain in the
war OF determination now being conducted
against the Cuban people. This committee
mas round no reason for suggesting the
mOulncaCOn of the action of the Senate on
that resolution in any part of the history of
the war III Cuba. The necessity for that ac-
ton mas been made more manifest since the
passage or this resolution by the terrible
ana uneXampled wrongs to humanity in pro-
cess OF perpetuatiOn by Spain against her
former subjects and now more fully realized
IN the determination of noncombatants by
tens of thousands and their starvation by
military orders in groups of hundreds of
thousands who, lingering, still live
The Senate has nothing to regret or to
modify as to the action that was taken in
the adoption of the resolution now again
presented for it's action. and still hopefully
invites the concurrence of the House of
i representatives. In all parliamentary
usage. and in accord with the spirit of our
institutions the houses in their action upon
All questions presented to them are entirely
Tree and independent in their deliberations
ana votes. 1t is needless to say that any at
tempt to coerce one of the houses of Con-
SreSS by the action of the other is deroga-
tory to the welfare of the country, ana it
IS Il high duty of each house to avoid Civ
ing to the other any reasonable ground Of
complaint or apprehension of such a pur-
pose"
The committee extends the argument on
TINS latter point, saying that the passage
of the appropriation bills is necessary to the
maintenance of the government, and that
the incorporation of the amendment as IL
part of the diplomatic bill, especially after
the House declined to place it there would
necessarily be regarded an attempt at COM
pulSion by the House. THE desire of the
committee that the joint resolution adopted
by. the Senate, the report closes by saying
should be adopted by the House of Rep
feSentatlVeS, Is earnest and unanimous, but
they do not recommend that any action
should be taken in the Senate that will, or
can, i'll any way be considered by that hon
orable body as an interference with their
perfect freedom and independence in their
mittee recommends that the proposed
amendment be laid on the table"