Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1898 — CUBAN DEBATE ENDED [ARTICLE]

CUBAN DEBATE ENDED

DISCUSSION CAUSES A HOTTIME IN THE HOUSE. Speaker Reed and Congressman Bailey Clash on Veracity—Attempt to Spring the Belligerency Resolution Defeated —Bayonets Bring Calm in Havana. • _______ Turmoil in the House. All day Wednesday the question of granting belligerent rights to the Cuban insurgents was argued in the House, but as on the the minority hurled itself against a stone wall. On the only vote taken Wednesday—a motion designed to overrule the decision of the Speaker and direct the Committee on Foreign Affairs to report without further delay the Cuban resolution passed by the Senate at the last session—the Republicans stood solid and voted to sustain the chair. The galleries were banked to the doors, and there was considerable: excitement throughout the early part of the session when the'members of the minority were successively pressing all sorts of amendments bearing on the Cuban question for the purpose of embarrassing' the majority. During the general debate Chairman Hitt "of the Foreign Affairs Committee made an impressive speech of less than an hour, explaining at length the situation which made action by Congress inadvisable. He asserted that the President, must assume the responsibility of any action which tnight' eventuate in the war and appealed to both sides of the chamber to patriotically support the executive if a crisis shall come. p A sensational ending marked the third and last day of the debate. Speaker Reed, in unqualified words, stamped as false an assertion made by Congressman Bailey, the floor leader of the Democrats, and turmoil ehsued.

Notice was given Wednesday by Mr. Williams (dem., Miss.) that at the conclusion of the debate Thursday a motion would be made to recommit the diplomatic and consular appropriation bill, the basis of dispute, with instructions. Thursday when the motion was made by Mr. Bailey it was ruled out of order by Speaker Reed. Mr. Bailey thereupon startle! the House by affirming that he had a private understanding with the Speaker by which a vote should be taken directly on the motion to recommit. This the Speaker emphatically denied, and these two loaders of their respective parties in the House, with white faces and voices shaken by emotion, set their statements each against the other, while the galleries looked on in breathless amazement and the members were,in an uproar. Mr. Smith of, Michigan, who said he was present, corroborated the Speaker's side of the case. The result of the Speaker’s position was that an appeal was taken from his decision, and by a strict party vote the appeal was laid on the table—l(sß to I*l4—the Dcmoeratis and Populists, as on the two previous day, voting’against the solid Republican strength. The debate Thursday was not as interesting as on either of the tWo„ preceding days. The features were a characteristic speech by Champ Clark of Missouri, a strong appeal for conservatism from Mr. Johnson (rep., Ind.), and a presentation of the result of his observations in Cuba ■during his recent trip to the island from Mr. King (dem., Utah). De Lome Fears a Crisis. Senor Dupuy do Lome, the Spanish minister, fears the debate in the House of Representatives may; cause a crisis. Thursday he called at the State Department, and for over an hour was closeted with Judge Day, the assistant secretary. He expressed extreme regret over the speeches made by the Congressmen, and especially that of Mr. Hitt, which, he said, might inflame the Spanish populace to some overt act, such as driving Minister Woodford and the United States consuls from Spain before such demonstrations could be checked by the Spanish Government. “Expressing extreme regret” is the diplomatic mode of making a protest without bringing about an international complication. The Spanish minister was apprehensive particularly of the effect of Mr. Hitt's speech, because of the prominent position he occupied as chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Ho pointed out to Judge Day Hint because of the excitement in Spaiu over the Cuban question, the reports of such utterances ns that of Mr. Hitt would have the effect of further stirring up the people. He also regretted extremely the unusual activity in the navy yards. The manufacture of guns, ammunition and other utensils of war is being pushed nlong more rapidly than for.years, and Senor de Lome told Judge Day that hiq people could not regard this activity otherwise than preparation for war, in anticipation of some radical move on the part of this Government. He explained to Judge Day that, while he personally knew the feeling of the administration to lie friendly, the people of his country hnd to take the talk in Congress and the reports of the activity at the nnvj' ynr.ds nt their face value, and that his information would go for nothing with them.