Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1898 — May Block Legislation. [ARTICLE]

May Block Legislation.

Several rather vigorous speeches in denunciation of any policy of delay were made in the course of the meeting, one by Mr. Smith, of Hlinois. In order to emphasize this position a proposition was made to unite with the democrats and block all legislation, adjourning from day to day until the message appeared and the house had acted on the Cuban resolutions. But Mr. Hull (la.), who is pushing the army reorganization bill, made such an ardent plea to allow that bill to come to a vote that the proposition was temporarily abandoned. Whether it will be revived depends largely on the course of events. It can be stated, however, that It is seriously contemplated. One of the other chief developments cf the day was tho probability that, in the event of a split on the republican side, the democrats would unite with tho radicals and allow the latter to force the issue. If the democrats should assume the aggressive, the chances are they would solidify the republicans against them. Fooling: la the Senate. The delay in the settlement of the Cuban question involved in the announcement that the president’s message would probably not be sent to congress before next Monday was received in the senate with varying degrees of favor or disfavor, depending largely upon the predilections and personal political associations of senators. All united In the necessity for protecting the safety of Gen. Lee and the other American citizens in Cuba. Many, however, were Inclined to criticise because our citizens had not been removed heretofore, while others declared protection for them should have been sent to Havana. Hint nt a Hidden Motive. The intense Cuban sympathizers on both sides of the senate chamber were free in their expression of opinion that there was some motive for the delay

that did not appear on ths surface. They did not question the good faith of the representation as to the danger of Americana in Cuba, but they agreed that there must hare been other causes tor the administration ’a course. When the Madrid bulletin, stating the probability of an armistice in Cuba, was made known, they found in it a verification of th€ir surmises. i Conservatives Not Enosnrajrd. The conservative element did not And encouragement in the situation. They were not displeased over the proapeet of delay, but they expressed regret at the occasion fdr it. "The publication of the fact of danger to Americans In Cuba,” said one of them, "will set the country aflame, and the war spirit will be more rampant than ever.” The personal followers of the president declined to see any other reason for his action than that of conserving the safety of Americans in Cuba, and said that for him to have taken any other course would, under the circumstances, have been inconsiderate and inhuman, and therefore not like the president. Altogether the day’s proceedings had the effect of leaving the senate in an unsettled condition, but it also relieved the tension to a perceptible degree. Great Dieappointment. Washington, April 7. —After waiting patiently in the galleries and corridors of the house for hours, many of them from eight o’clock Wednesday morning until shortly before three o’clock in the afternoon, the thousands who had oome to hear the president’s Cuban message turned away weary and disgusted at the delay. Never was there such disappointment at the capitol. The members felt it even more keenly than the spectators, and for two hours afterward they stood about the lobbies discussing this latest phase of the situation. The- news of the proposed armistice, which came on the heels of the announcement that Gen. Lee had cabled for delay, received quite as much attention as the request of Gen. Lee. Senate. Washington, April 7. —When the senate convened Wednesday intense expectancy, amounting to excitement, prevailed both on the floor and in the galleries. The president’s message bad been positively promised, and its coming was awaited with genuine anxiety. Ten minutes after the senate convened consideration of the sundry civil bill was resumed, and, with the

xception of eight minutes consumed oy executive session, in which Senator Davis announced that no message would be sent in, almost the entire session was consumed by the appropriation bill. It was practically completed when laid aside for the day. An amendment by Senator Cullom, appropriating (15,000 to restore the banks of the Ohio river at Shawneetown, 111., recently swept away by floods, was