The National tribune., 1898-03-03
D0IRGS OF CONGRESS
of the Important Pro.
ceedings in Both Houses.

zation of two additional regiments of artiL
lery.
Mr.. Bate, of Tennessee, objected to the
bill because it tended to an increase of the
Army, to which he said he was unalterably
opposed. He thought there were enough
troops already under enlistment to man all
the guns now being provided for by the
| Government
In reply Mr.. Hawiey pointed out that
Congress had made large appropriations in
recent years for great guns for forts and
coast defense stations. OF these guns 139
were guns of large caliber and delicate
mechanism. To these must be added 232
rif1ed steel mortars, already placed or soon
| to be placed in the coast defense stations.
| The War Department estimates that the
| 800 men which this bill calls for will be
necessary to man these guns properly.
| Mr.. Hawley said that careful estimate
of the annual additional expenditure re-
CURED to maintain the two regiments is
$3.50, 054. But some months will expire be
| lore the regiments can be fully enlisted and
| organized, and it is believed that $3.50 900,
possibly less, will suffice for the fiscal
| year of 1899.
The bill was passed by vote of 50 to A..
The negative votes were cast by MesSrs.
| Bate, OF Tennessee; Clay of Georgia: Chill
ton, of Texas, and Vest, of Missouri
In the House, Representative III. u.
| Johnson, of Indiana, delivered a speech
against the annexation of Hawaii.
In the Senate on Feb. 20 the Cuban
| question came uppermost on the preSen-
tation by Mr.. Allen of "a resolution for the
appointment of five Senators to make an
! inquiry INTO the condition OF affairs in
| Cuba, with view to bringing the war to
an end.
Immediate consideration was objected to-
| and the resolution went over. Then the
| Diplomatic and Consular appropriation bill
was taken up and Mr.. Allen indicated his
| desire to offer as an amendment the reSO-
| luton recognizing the belligerency of the
| Cuban insurgents, which was unfavOrabiy
| reported q few days ago by the Committee
on Foreign Relations. He denied that there
| was any intention or desire to coerce the
| House. The assertion that such was the
purpose, he asserted, was a mere Subter-
fuge.
| The truth was, he said, that Congress
was merely finding some excuse under
| which it could continue business and eS
| cape cenSure. His desire was to find
whether Congress could in any way be in
| duced, caioled or kicked into putting the
country in dgnified attitude on the
| Cuban question. "And yet" said Mr.. Al
| len, "IeSt we, the Senate, a body OF 50
men, offend the House of Representatives,
| consisting of 357 men, point OF order is
to be made against this amend ment, and
1t will go the way OF very much valuable
legislation"
MI Amen Sdl0 tndt III tne 1tepuDllCdH
party could suffer to see CubanS exter-
minated by starvation, in plain violation of
its platform and Of the Christian Senti-
| ment OF the country, the Republican Sena-
tors ought to be willing to face the ques-
ton on a yea and nay vote.
Mr.. Morgan Of Alabama, said the Sen
ate had twice passed the Cuban belIiger-
ency resolution substantially as it was
now offered. but both times it had been
done openly and frankly. eve have no
right" said he, ''to make a declaration of
war against Spain under cover, and that
is precisely what this resolution would
mean"
"The awful condition of affairs" said
Mr.. Morgan, "makes our position in the
Cuban matter extremely delicate. Inter
vention now of the kind proposed year
ago means war. 1t could mean nothing
else. An intervention on the part OF this
Government IN the present critical condi
ton of affairs would almost certainly be
regarded bysSpain as a casus belli.
''H, however, any Senator believes in |
declaration OF war, and will draw up such
a declaration with sufficient and proper |
grounds upon which TO base it, / will vote |
for it. However, / do not believe that any |
Senator has in mind declaration Of war. |
Il have always believed and believe now
that the war in Cuba could not be termi
mated without involving the United States
IN hostilites. ! believe that the matter
ment Of the sword. The whole world recog-
nizes SPANS inability to conquer the
CubanS, and sooner or later we shall be
come, in my opinion, involved in the armed
controversy"
Mr.. Thurston, of Nebraska, said: II be-
lieve now that we are drifting into a war
with Spain. Spain has not been able to
quell the rebellion, and the possibility of
peace is growing more and more remote.
The time is coming-God knows how soon
1t will be here-when action in accordance
with the Presidents message must be
taken, when we shall either have To back
down from our position or intervene in the
Cuban affair with the probability OF war. |
hope that the inquiry now proceeding in
Havana will develop nothing that may in
volve us in hostilities but while that in
quiry is proceeding we in the Senate should
a most circumspect attitude and |
be calm and quiet"
Mr.. HOar, OF Massachusetts, discussed |
the situation from the standpoint of an
International lawyer, maintaining that the
OF belligerency in ordinary cir
cumstances was not cause of war. Mr.
Hoar held, however, that before taking any
action of that kind the United States
ought to have a clear and unquestioned
statement OF the facts in the case He |
believed, too, that action of any kind in
the Cuban matter should only be taken |
with the concurrence OF the Senate, House
a 1
the country.
Mr.. Hale made the point OF order against
The amendment that it was general legis- |
atiOn and had, under the rules no place
in the bill. The Vice-President sustained
The point, and Mr.. Allen took an appeal
rom the ruling.
Mr. Bacon, OF Georgia, speaking in sun
port OF the ruling of the Chair. said that
one OF the greatest causes ever tried before
The Nations OF the world was now being |
tried in Havana. "Let us do nothing"
said he, that will in the least way en-
barraSs those who are conducting that
investigation. If it should be found that
The explosion was due to an accident we
must know that. If, however it should be
disclosed that it was due to treacherv the
whole world will applaud the action of this |
country in holding to strict account the
country in whose friendly harbor that ,
awful disaster occurred"
Mr.. Hale then moved TO lay the appeal
on the table, and Mr.. Allen demanded the
yeas and nays. Mr.. Hale's motion was
10 5-those voting against the
motion being MesSrs. Allen of Nebraska.
Cannon, OF Utah; Heitfeld, of Idaho.
Mason, OF Illinois, and Teller, of Colorado. |
The bill was passed
In the House, the day was spent in CON
sideration Of the sundry civil bill
In the Senate on Thursday the Vice
President laid before the Senators the
Senatorial inquiry resolution. Mr. Allen