The Minneapolis journal., 1901-02-07
Congress May Give Mckinley
Power to Act.
AVOID EXTRA SESSION
Authority to Withdraw Troops on
Prescribed Conditions.
EFFECT ON THE NEXT CAMPAIGN
River and Harbor Bill VIII BE Cut
in Two and There Is Fear 1t
VIII Not Pass.

Fron The journal Bureau. Room 4s. Post
Building, Washington.
Washington, Feb. 1T is said to-day
that those republican senator's who do not
want an extra session will try TO evolve
a program by which President McKinley's
wishes as to Cuba can be met before the
present session adjourns. While the plan
has not yet been definitely developed, the
suggestion has been made that congress
could pass resolutions stating the condi-
tions under which the United States troops
could be withdrawn from the island. The
preparation of this resolution will require
very careful consideration, nor is there
any assurance at this time that it would
be adopted without debate.
According to the present idea, however,
the program proposes that the declaration
shall be offered as an amendment to the
army bill. 1t will probably provide that
when Cuba has agreed to certain condi-
tions. the American army shall be with
drawn.
These conditions are likely to be:
First-Consent to the establishment of
an American naval port on the island
Second-The refusal of Cuba to treat with
foreign nations without the consent of the
United States, and,
Third-No placing of loans with any
European nation.
| These, at least, are some Of the safe
guards which are suggested.
The amendment as it is now proposed,
will declare that when these conditions
have been met, with such others as may be
deemed necessary to a stable government
| in Cuba, the president shall be authorized
to withdraw the United States troops.
With such an amendment enacted into law
| it is argued, congress could leave Wash
ington and feel that the policy of the
government in relation to Cuba, thus out
lined, was safe il the presidents hands
| The slow progress of the Cuban constitu-
tional convention now indicates that the
constitution will not reach Washington be-
fore the 4th Of March If congress before
adjourning outlines policy for the presi-
dent to pursue, the delay in the transmits
sion of the document will cause no en-
journs without such action, the president
will feel constrained to reassemble it,
although the extra session may not come
until the late spring or the early summer.
1t is believed that the general desire
to avoid an extra session will cause con-
gress to agree to any resolution which Of
fers sufficient safeguard to American in
terests, and which authorizes the president
to act in the event of certain essential
conditions being granted by the Cuban gov
ernment.
| 1t should not be overlooked in this Cuban
discussion that the strongest reason for
action now. or at an extra session, has
to do with the campaign of 1902 The Nc
Kinley tariff bill, enacted on the eve of
the campaign of 1892, at the long session
| of congress in the spring Of that year,
caused the overthrow Of the republican
party. 1t is everywhere admitted that
could a year have intervened between
the enactment of the Mckinley bill and the
election of 1892, the republican party
would have been successful, for it came
back to power in 1894 with, an increased
majority the people having had time to
see that the new law was in their interests.
| So with the Cuban matter. If the presi-
dent thinks that the interests of the Unit
ed States demand some departure from the
spirit of the Teller resolution that depar-
ture might wreck the republican party in
the off year, were 1t to be crystallized into
| law at the long session in the spring of
1902. But if taken up at an extra session
this spring, or what is more preferable,
embodied in a resolution of instructions
to the president from the present congress.
as outlined, the frantic cries in favor Of
keeping faith with Cuba no matter what
the result to this country, would not seri-
ously affect the campaign more than year
distant and the people would have ample
time to consider the matter philosophicalIy
and arrive calmly at an opinion as to
whether the departure was right or wrong.
! The republican members of the house
ways and means committee will hold a
| conference as soon as the war revenue
bill is referred to that committee to de-
! termine what action will be taken. There
| is disposition on the part of some re-
publicans on the committee, among them
| Representative Tawney, to report the bill
| back with the recommendation that the
| house reject some of the senate provi-
sions entirely. They will not make any
| fight, however, if a majority of the re-
| publicans on the committee decide not to-,
but will present solid front to the op-
ponents of the measure.
Senator Mcmillan of Michigan is tenn
porarily in charge of the senate commerce
committee, Chairman Frye being busy
with the ship subsidy bill. The commerce
| committee has been holding daily meet
ings for several weeks for the considera-
tion of the river and harbor bill. and
there has been a good deal of interest in
| its probable action. To-day Senator Nc
! MILAN said:
1T is barely possible that the commit
tee will resolve to cut the bill in two, on
| account of the large appropriation it car
ries. There has been good deal of talk
| in the committee to that and mind you,
l am not making any predictions, l only
say it is possible that the bill may be cut
\ in two. If it is, nobody can tell what
4 parts of the present bill will be retained. .
Asked whether he thought the river and
harbor bill as finally reported would pass
the senate, he said:
1T will probably pass after the passage
of the ship subsidy bill"
| Does that mean," asked bystander.
| that the river and harhor Hill is daod for