Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1898 — DEBATE! IN THE SENATE. [ARTICLE]

DEBATE! IN THE SENATE.

Boaie War Bill Paued Attar a Short Dlacuaaloo. Washington, April 26.—Attar a debate ol an hour and a hairs duration, conducted In aacret session, the senate passed a bill declaring that a state of war exists between the United States and Spain. His bill was tn the same language as that passed lit the house. The debate in the senate was baaed on an amendment offered by Senator TTurple (Ind.) providing for the recognition of the belligerent rights of the Insurgent Cubans, the amendment being practically in the following language; "We hereby recognise the rights of the Cuban army under Oen. Maximo Gomes to be treated as belligerents, the freedom and independence of the Cuban people having heretofore been recognised by aat of congress.” The roll of the senate was called upon this amendment and it was defeated by a majority of 14, the vote standing 24 to 28. There was also some critlolsm of the faot that the bill fixed a date In the past when the war had begun. There was a general plea for speedy action on the bill, and no amendment was pressed for a change of data This motive also actuated Senator Davis to withdraw ■ an amendment suggested by the committee on foreign relations dlreotlng the president to prosecute the war to a successful termination. This amendment was withdrawn In order to leave the bill Just as it passed the house, thus dispensing with the necessity of a conference and making It possible to send the bill to the president at bnce. There was no division on ths passage of the bill. Signed by the President. The war bill was brought from the capitol by the clerk of the enrolling division snd reached the white house a few minutes before six. The white house wss almost deserted at the time, no one of the cabinet being with the president exoept AttorneyGeneral Griggs. The enrolled eopy of the bill was laid before the president In his office Immediately on its arrival, and he at once went over the phraseology with the attorney general. The presidential signature was affixed at 6:18 and the measure was then the law of the land. It will now follow the regular course of executive documents and will be sent to the rolls division of the state department, where It will be printed and published, aa are other laws, and the original document will find Its final resting place In the archives of the state department, although, as with other momentous state papers, a photographic copy will probably be eventually prepared for exhibition In the department.