Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1898 — EYES ON THE HOUSE. [ARTICLE]

EYES ON THE HOUSE.

Speculation as to Fate to Be Met by Senate Resolution. MUCH OPPOSITION TO RECOGNITION. This Clause May Cause Non-Conoar-rence la Senate Action—Claim That There Are Evidences of Senate Yielding. Washington, April 18. —To-day the difficult task of adjusting the differences between the two houses of congress on the Cuban resolutions begins. The rock upon which the two houses split is the recognition of the independence of the existing republic which was incorporated in the senate resolutions. Were that clause of the senate resolutions eliminated nothing could have prevented Immediate concurrence by the house, as the great majority of the republicans of the lower branch of congress are eager for a conclusion. But the action of the senate declaring for recognition of Cuba’s independence against the direct and specific recommendation of the president has given the conservatives a rallying cry from* the standpoint of party loyalty which proved very effective. One of the most prominent republican leaders on the floor of the . house denominated that portion of the senate resolutions a direct “assault” upon the president which

no loyal republican could endorse. And upon this theory Speaker Reed and his lieutenants have been proceeding in their campaign against concurrence in the senate resolutions. Heed ]■ Confident. Ail day long the speaker’s rooms at the Shoreham were like the headquarters of the commander in chief of an army. He consulted with his lieutenants, Messrs. Dingley (Me.), Dalzell (Pa.), Cannon (Hl.), Grosvenor (O.) and Payne (N. Y.). He saw Messrs. Joy (Mo.) Lorimer (Ill.), Heatwole (Minn.) and other lenders of the re publican opposition, and through other agencies had a thorough canvass made of the republican side of the house. He is confident that the republicans of the house can be marshalled against yielding to the senate on the main issue. Argument* Aarnlnst Concurrence. Some of the arguments used with those who, like Mr. Cooper (Wis.), Mann (Til.) and Bromwell (0.), are disposed to take the shortest cut out oi the woods and by agreeing end the matter, have been such as to shake the cphvictions of these gentlemen. The chief complaint of those who want to concur is that non-concurrence means delay, complications, possibly a reopening of dipiomatie negotiations and possibly further concessions by Spain which will embarrass the United States when the time for action arrives. These members have baen labored with separately. The arguments against recognition have been reiterated and reinforced in the light of the speeches In the senate. Especially potent has been the argument advanced by Senators Allison and Morgan that If we recognized the Independence of the existing government Gen. Gomez might at any time negotiate a peace with Spain which would leave the United State* In the lurch. Think flenate Will Yield. More than this, It Is claimed that there are evidences that the senate will Jleld the recognition of independence ! the house stands firm. Notwithstanding the large majority for the resolution, Senator Hoar (Mass.) urgently counseled the house leaders to reject tenaciously the senate's proposition. He

assured them that the senate would not hold out. Fear a Veto. But possibly the strongest argument brought to £>ear was that the president himself could not approve any resolution which contained such an invasion of his prerogative and which so plainlyviolated every precedent of international law. This strong intimation of a presidential veto, which would involve an entirely new start and the delays incident to it, had a powerful influence, although in certain quarters it was asserted that a presidential veto would be overriden. The suggestion that the president might sign the resolution and send a message to congress spying that the clause recogniziilg the independence of Cuba was ultra vires—beyond the jurisdiction of congress was frowned upon by the president’s friends. Quick Action Promised. The speaker’s lieutenants have held out to their colleagues the assertion that action should be had at every subsequent stage of the proceedings with dispatch, and that the resolutions would go to the president as finally agreed upon before Wednesday morning. But those who view the situation dispassionately do not believe that such expedition is possible. There is a strong intimation that delay is what is desired by those opposed to war in the hope of some action by the Spanish cortes. The Senate Programme. A majority of the senate will give very little attention to any other subject until the Cuban question is finally disposed of in congress. That body having acted upon the resolutions of

Independence and Intervention, the question is now properly before it, but there is such intense interest that senators will continue to give it their individual attention until an adjustment with the house is secured. The supporters of the senate form of expression are very hopeful that public sentiment will compel the house to accept the senate declaration, but they know that influential conservative element is against them and they recognize that they may be disappointed in the action of the house. In that event they are prepared to stand out against a surrender on the part of the senate. How long this determination will hold remains to be developed, but the advocates of the recognition of Cuban independence refuse to be convinced that any other course than its recognition is tenable. They decline to even discuss the terms of any compromise short of the senate’s action on this point. Whether they would hold to this if they should find the house equally determined is not certain in view of the pressure for action. Still many of the most radical pro-Cubans say that insufficient action is no better than no action at all. On the other hand there is an element in the senate of respectable proportions which favors the house resolutions over those of the senate and whose influence will be constantly exerted in the senate against that body's own declaration. The outspoken senators who hold this view are the 21 who voted ngainst the resolutions as amended, and ther e probably are a dozen more who voted for the declaration as a whole who are not at heart favorable to ft and who would not be greatly disappointed at finding an opportunity to modify the senate's positlcffi. Thus it is that while the sentiment in the senate is not yet sufficiently crystallized to justify positive prediction, there Is enough difference of opinion to present an interesting situation if the house should fail to indorse the senate’s action. To Call Volunteers. Washington, April 18.—It is the confident expectation of the president and the secretary of war that before the

end of the present week the government will have material promise of land forces aggregating at least 100,000 men for the occupation of Cuba and the defense of the eastern and southern seaboard. Within a short time thereafter an army of that size will probably be actually in the field. The preparations to accomplish that end have been perfected in almost every detail. To-day or on Tuesday, at the latest, a bill will be introduced in congress authorizing the president to call for volunteers. If the same promptness is shown in passing this measure that has characterized the other war preparations, Mr. MoKinley will be empowered to issue ths call to arms before the middle of the week. The government has received a«surances from a multitude of sources all over the country that the response to such a proclamation would be, if necessary, not less than 1,000,000 men. The bill will authorize the enlistment of troops to the maximum number of 400,000, if the measure is introduced in ite present form.