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To Recognize Cuba

To Recognize Cuba image
Parent Issue
Day
11
Month
December
Year
1896
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Washington, Dec. 8.- The reassembing of congrress for the closing session of the Fifty-fourth congress, was an occasion of unusual brilliancy and interest. The opening day is always a gala affair, marking as it does the official inauguration oí the social, as well as the political season in Washington, but VIonday it was all the more interesting because of the long and hard fought political battle that had been vvaged during the recess. The weather was perfect, clear and fairly warm. The :hrongs who streamed up the hill to witness the opening ceremonies formed an unorganized civic pageant. Gay equippages, with a rattle of chains, drawn by prancing steeds conveyed the diplomats, the fashionables and the more prominent in official life. These elegant turnouts moved side by side with one-horse ramshackle cabs and other nondescript two-wheelers, conveying legislators and visitors. The unnumbered thousands moved upPenisylvania avenue on foot of in street cars. The corridors and galleries were soon thronged. There were demonstrations for conspicuously prominent statesmen, and at last carne the drop of the gavel and the regular ceremonies attending the opening of the session and the reception of the president's annual communication to congress. Washington, Dec. 10.- Frye, president pro tem. of the senate, occupied the chair Wednesday in the absence of the vice president. Platt presented the report of the joint select committee of congress relative to the question of alcohol used In the arts, etc, and offered a resolution for a continuance of the committee. This cleared the way for a series of vigorous Cuban resolutions. The lirst offered by Cameron, was as follows: "Resolved, By the senate and house of representatives that the independence of the nepublic of Cuba be and the same is hereby acknowledged by the United States of America. "Resolved, That the United States should use its friendly offices with the government of Spain to bring to a close the war between Spain and Cuba." The Cameron resolution went to the committee on foreign relations. Mills followed at once with the following resolution: "Joint resolution directing the president of the United States to take possession of the island of Cuba and hold it until its inhabitants can institute such government as they may wish, and organize and arm such forces as may be necessary to proteet them against invasión. "Resolved, etc., That the president of the United States is hereby directed to take posession of the island of Cuba with the military and naval forces of the United States and hold the same until the people of Cuba can organize a government deriving its powers from the consent of the governed, and arm and equip such military and naval forces as may be necessary to secure them against foreign invasión." The Mills resolution was referred to the foreign relations committee. Cali followed with another joint resolution, as follows: "Resolved, By the senate and house of representatives, that the United States of America recognize the republic of Cuba as a free and independent government, and accord to the people of Cuba all the rights of a sovereign and independent government in the ports and within the jurisdiction of the United States." The Cali resolution went to the table, Cali announcing that he would speak on it at an early day. The three ban resolutlons came in quick succession, each being read in full, and occasioned marked attention, owlng to the öirectness and vigor of the language used by the three senators. After this came a flood of bilis coveringr every phase of legislation, including an antitrust bilí, and a measure to withdraw small notes from circulation, by Shoup; for "the temporary reduction of salaries of United States officers," by Chandler. Allen then moved to take up the Ding-ley tariff bill and it was carried- yeas 35, nays 21. Several Democrats and Populists voted to take up the bill. At 2 o'clock the Dingley bill was displaced by the immigration bill and went back to the calendar. Senator Allen sought to have it made the unflnished busines in the morning hour of Thursday, but objection was offered. CLEVELAND'S FINAL MESSAGE Opposes Action n the Cuban Case and Defendí the Wilson Hill. Washington, Dec. 8.- With crowded galleries the senators and representatives of the United States came to order today at noon for the last session of the Fifty-fourth congress. In the senate there was but one order of business - the readingof the president's message, which took nearlytwo hours. At its conclusión the senate adjourned. In the house the message was also read and the death of ex-Speaker Crisp was announced and a resolution of regret was adopted, after which the house also adjourned. The president's message begins with felicitating the country on the fact that a very exciting election has passed peaceiully, clearly demonstrating the permanence of our institutions. He then deplores the fact that the Turk is still allowed by Europe to butcher and rob Christians, but hopes for better things in that regard and says the claims of Americans who have been de'spoiled by Moslems will be pushed, although the porte has not admitted their justice. ■Yith reference to Cuba he says the rebels have not the shadow of a civil government, and that the fact probably Is that they never have had except on paper; that as things stand now the proper position, in honov, of the United States, is one of strict neutraiity, bul intlmates that a time may come when in the highest interests of humanity the United States should intervene. He fcus offered that if Spain would grant reforma before the rebels lay down Unir arrns to make an effort to guarantee their acceptance as a finish of the war. In passing he utters the Monroe doctrine sentiment that no other government must interfere in the matter. He devotes a larg-e portion of his nnessage to the defense of the "Wilson lariff bill, which he says ivill, if g-iven a 'a.x chance- which circumstances have so far denied it- produce all the revenue the government needs, and gives figures in support of his claim. With reference to curreney' reform he has one principal remedy- and that Is the absolute retirement and cancellation of all government currency that can be used to deplete the treasury reserve. The best plan to do this, he believes, is :o fund the notes. The message has only a paragraph of a congratulatory nature about the Venezuela case, and then covers the reports of all thedepartments, referring to the navy, the army, coast defense, pensions, etc. Of pensions he says he has endeavored within his sphere to protect the pension roll and malte it what it should be- a roll of honor. SÜMS ASKED Bï CARLISUS. Estimates of the Secretary of the Treasury fbr the Fiscal Year. Washington, Dec. 8.- Secretary Carisle Monday transmitted to the speaker of the house of representatives the estimates of appropriations required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898. They are recapitulated by tttles as folows, cents being omitted: Legislative establishment. ..$ 4,379,820 Executive establishment 19,865,952 Judicial establishment 907,120 Foreign intercourse 2,082,728 Military establishment 24,292,636 Naval establishment 32,434,773 Indian affairs 7,279,525 Pensions 141,328,580 Public works 31,437,061 Postal service 1,288,334 Miscellaneous 36,344,216 Annual appropriations 120,078,220 Total $ 421,718,970 The estimates for the present fiscal year amounted to $418,091,073, and the appropriations for the present fiscal year, including deficlencies and miscellaneous items, amounted to $432,421,605. Veuezuelan Goverinent Accepts. Washington, Dec. 8.- Secretary Olney has just received a cablegram from Senor Andrade, the Venezuelan minister to Washington, who is now in Caracas, stating that the Venezuelan government has accepted the agreement reached by the United States and Great Britain for the arbitration of the boundary disputo and that an extra sesslon of the Venezuelan congress has been called to consider the treaty. Thus the last obstacle to this important dispute will be removed.

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Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Democrat