War Talk In The Senate

Washington, March 30.- The prospective consideration of the Cuban problem in the senate drew another tremendous crowd to the galleries, and, as oa previous days when Cuba was the foremost topic, hundreds of' people jammed the corridors, disappointcd because they could not gain admisslon. Senator Foraker offered a resolution for Cuban independence. In presenting his resoluticn Senator Foraker asked that the resolution go to the foreign relations eomniiitee. He aaid that his resolution had been long delayed. He had in tended to present it at the opening of the session last December, but he had withheld it at that time because of the tenor of the president's message. That message, he said gave promise that within a reasonable time deflnite and dccisive action v.'ould be taken by the admir.istration so soon as autonomy should be given a fair trial. A reasonable time seemed now to havo eiapsed. The people of the country realized that all necessary time had been given Spain to bring peace to the stricken island. Autonomy, the senator declared, had absolutely failed. Senator For. er said he hoped at a later date to address the senate at length upon his resolution. Senator RaviJins of Utüïi introduced a joint resolution recogpizing the in. t'.epend-ence of Cuba and deeïaring war against Spain. Senator Frye introduced a resolution reciting the conditions in Cuba and directing the president, in his discretion, to take steps to drive the naval and military forces from the island. The Foraker and Frye resolutions went to the senate committee on foreign relations. The Rawlins resolution also went to the foreign relations committee. Senator Mason follov.'ed the introduction of the resolutions with a vigorous war speech. He descri'oed vividly the disaster to the Maine. He said that if ninety of the vlctims had been senators or sons of senators we would not have been forty days declaring war. Yet the lives of all Americans were sacred alike under our laws, and equally entitlcd to consideration. Senator Mason declared there could be no peace so long as a Europcan nation owns and butchers its slavcs on this hemisphere. He said it was not necessary for the Maine ccurt to flx the responsibility. The law did uat. If it was a torpedo or a mine it was a Spanish torpedo or a Spanish mine. Henee Spain must answer. He would oppose any proposition looking to indemnity, as he would oppose making a diplomatie incident of the catastrophe. He would oppose any kind of autonomy or any plan to assist Spain, but his demand was that the Spanish flag should be driven from the western hemisphere. Neither did he believe Cuba should be required to pay an indemnity to Spain. "Let us awake," said Senator Mason, in conclusión, "to glorious war, as did our fathers- a war that shall insure the honor and respect cf our flag all over the world." The populists and silver republicana of both houses had a conference today, and it resulted in resolutions presented by Senator Allen in the senate and Representative Bell in the house declaring for Cuban independence. The foreign affairs committee of the house is in a peculiar condition. Chairman Hitt is 111, and the regular meeting of the committee will not occur until Thursday. If a way can be found to secure a meeting of the committee before Thursday it will be done. If not, the republican members of the committee will probably caucus on the question. There is a strong sentiment in the house and in the committee against the proposition to vote money for supplies to relieve the starving Cubans unless it is accompanied by action which will stop the war. At least three of the republican members of the committee have declared that they would oppose such a proposition with their votes and their voices on the floor.