Evening Star Newspaper, April 13, 1898, Page 1

THE EVE —— PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPF SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 2103 Ferrsylvania Aveste, Cor. 11th 8t, by ii Ne Com ae Eng Sopra roe New York Otice, 49 Pottor Building. ‘The Evening Star ts served to subscribers in the arty by ci rriers, on thece own account, at 10 cents per week. or 44 cents per month. Copfes at the ceunter 2 certs each. By mail—anywhere in the Cnited States +r Canada—postage prepald—S0 cents per month. Saturday eearene bee $1 per year, with foreign postage added $3.09. (Entered he Ps Gffice at Washington, D. C.. aa see nd-c ma’l matter.) 7 All mail subscriptions must be pald in advance. Rates of advertisiog made known on applicetior. ¢ iy Star. No. 14,077. WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1898—FOURTEEN PAGES. TWO CENTS. Tf you want to buy, sel! 4 or exchange anything, lease property or rent rooms, want a situation or. want help, it will pay you to announce the fact in the advertising columns of The Star. They are closely studied by more than three times as many people as read any other papes. . QUITORFIGAT Resolutions Reported by the Senate Committe, PEOPLE OF CUBA INDEPENDENT Spain Must Remove Her Military and Naval Forces. oe ARMED INTERVENTION AT ONCE Report Which Led Up to This Em- The Senate committee on foreign rela- tions adjourned at 11:40 a.m., having com- phatic Action. — + THE MAINE DISASTER pleted its work. Senator Davis went into the Senate at that hour with the report and the resolutions under his arm, and said he would report as soon as the Senate con- vened. Contrary to what seemed imminent halt an hour before, there will be a minority re- It will be very brief, and it is under- present Cuban port. steod will recognize the ernment. The following are the majority resolutions reported to the Senate by Senator Dav immediately upon the convening of Senate at noon today: Whereas the abhorrent conditions which have existed for more than three years in the Island of Cuba, so near our own bor- ders, have shocked the moral sense of the people of the United States, have been a disgrace to Christian civilization, culminat- ing, as they have, in the destruction of a United States battle ship, with 266 of its offi and crew, while on a friendly visit in the harbor of Havana, and cannot longer be endured, as has been set forth by the President of the United States in his mes- sage to Congress of April 11, 188, upon which the action of Congress was invited: therefore, Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, first, That the people of the Island of Cuba are, and of Tight ought to be, free and independent. Second. That it is the duty of the United States to demand, and the government of the United States does hereby demand, that the government ef Spain at once relin- quish its authority and government in the Island of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters. ‘Third. That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the Cnited States, and to call into the actual service of the United States the militia of the several states, to such extent as may be necessary to carry these resolu- tiens into effect. Senator Turpie presented the report of the minority of the committee, as follow “The undersigned members of the commit- te2 on foreign relations cordially concur in the report made upon the Cuban resolu- tions, but we favor the immediate recogni- tion of the republic of Cuba as organized in that island as a free, independent and sev2reign power among the nations of the world.” It was signed by Senators Turpic, Mills, Daniel, democrats, and~ Foraker, republi- can. The other six members of the committee, including the enator Gry, democrat, support the majority report and the proposition to ¢liminate the recognition of the present government. The Committee's Report. The report of the committee, in full, is as foliows: The destruction of the United States bat- ueship Maine and of two of her officers and 264 of her crew, in the harber of Havana on the night of February 15, 1808, excited to &% unprecedsnted degree the compassion and nimant of the American people. Mantfestations of that resentment were . although the feeling was not al- layed, by the self-restraint of our people, who d2termined to hold thelr judgment in pense oncerning their ultimate action until an official investigation should dis- close the cause of that great disaster and enable them by direct or circumstantial tes- Umony to impute the responsibility thare- for. That investigation has been made. It was conducted with judicial thoroughness and The difficulty of demonstrat- ing by conclusive proof the efficient per. sonal cause of that sinister event was the deliberation. considering the entire subject of the rela- tions of the United States with that gov- ernment. Your committee have also before them several Senate resolutions, which many it their duty to consider all our rela- tions with Spain for the last three years, including the destruction of the Maine, as one of the incidents of the history of the war which during that time has devastated the Island of Cuba. So clearly is the destruction of the Maine orly a single incident in the relations of this government with Spain that if that calamity had never happened the questions between the United States and that gov- ernment would press for immediate solu- tion. Criminal Action of Spain. It is the opinion of your committee, hav- ing considered the testimony submitted to the board of inquiry, in connection with further testimony taken by the comr ittee and with the relevant and established facts presented by the events of the last three years, that the destruction of the Maine was compassed either by the official‘act of the Spanish authorities or was made possi- ble by a negligence on their part so willing and gross as to be equivalent in culpability to positive criminal action. The status of the Maine while in the harbor of Havana und the duty of Spam toward her are defined in the cpinion of Chief Justice Marsha!l in Schooner Ex- change vs. McSadden, 7 Cranch, 116, Lil: “If there be uo prohibition, the ports of a friendly nation are considered as open to the public ships of all powers with wkom it is at peace, and they are sup- posed to enter suck ports and remain in them, while they are ailowed to remain, (cer the protection of the goverrmeni of the place.” It is not contended that this duty of pro- tection to waich the public ship is thus entived while allowed to remain in a port of a friendly nation imposes the obliga- tion of an absolute guarant But it is insisted that the existence of the duty creates the obligation to use due dili- gence in its performance. When property and life are d eyed by an act which the exercise of due diligence by the person whose duty it is to use it could have pre- vented, the happening of such an event sufficient’ proof that such diligence was not employed. The system of civil and military police and espionage in Havana is all-pervading io an extent probably unequaled in any city in the world. It is not pretended that any employment was made ag regards the safety of the Maine of this instrumentalliy for the detection or prevention of any at- tempt against her by private persens. It is established that the Maine was de- stroyed by the explosion of a submarine mine, in position under her in a Spanisa harbor, at a place where she had been meored to a buoy by the express direction and guidance of the Spanish authorities. Explosive contrivances of this character are almost exclusively government agen- cies of warfare. Tnere is no operation of a pacific character for which they can be employed, excepting the removal of wrecks or of harbor obstructions. They ure not to be had in any place of private sale. Their destructive contents, excepi- ing, perhaps, gunpowder, which undoubt- edly was not employed in this instance, cannot be easily obtained and are not easily made. The entire contrivance is a mechanism of a somewhat complicated character, not generally understood except by special manufacturers or by military or naval officers who have been instructed how to operate it. Such mines, when sunk in harbors, are almost invariably discharged by an elec- tric current, conducted over a wire leading from the engine of destruction to some piace on the shore where a battery can be housed, guarded and attended by trained operators. They are now placed, or are made ready to be placed,-in all important harbors; it may fairly be presumed that they had been placed in the harbor of Ha- vana,_the history of the last three years being considered. 3 In complaisance to Spanish aversion no public vessel of the United States had visited that port during that period. The coming of the Maine had been announced to the Spanish authorities, and the military and naval portion of these did not receive her with the cordiality which such visits usally produce. Many of them expressed resentment at her presence. Certain news- papers in Madrid and Havana commented upon her visit in hostile terms. There was, especially in Havana, among the officials who had been adherents of Weyler, and who resented his recall, an expressed hatred of the United States. The time of thc explosion must have been ca!- culated for the moment when the Maine should swing within the destructive radius oz the mine. The report of the Spanish board of in- quiry, sedulously promulgated in advance of that of the board of the United States, finding, after a hurried and most superficiai investigation, that the catastrophe was from an internal and not from an external cause, was manifestly false, and was in- tended to induce public opinion tv pre- judge the question. The duplicity, perfidy and cruelty of the Spanish charecter, as they always have been, are demonstrated still to continue by their manifestations during the present war in Cuba. All these circumstances con- sidered cumulatively, together with other considerations which will exactly accord with and acd force to them, undenied and unexplained as they are by any authority excepting the baseless report of the Span- ish board of inqpiry, warrant the conclu- sion stated hereimbefore that the destruc- tion of the Maine was compassed either by the official act of the Spanish authorities (nd the cscertainment of the particular person is not material), or was made pos- sible by a negligence on their part so will- ing and gross as to be equivalent in cul- usual one of exposing plotted and inysteri- | rability te positive criminal action. ~ 4 ous crime: > such difficu'ty, however, ob- Independence and Intervention. scures tts official and responsible cause. Upon due consideration of all the rele- ‘The evidence and findings of the court of | vant facts of the relations of this govern- inquiry were transmitt:d to the Senate by | ment with Spain, including the destruction the President, and, with the message, were | of the Maine, and of the history of the re- duly. referred to the committee on foreign beilion, it is the opinion of your commit+ relations, That committs> has considered | tee that the United States ought at once them, and also the message of the Presi- | tc recognize the Independence of the peo- (ent of April 11, 1808, with all the careful | ple of Cuba, and also ought to intervene to and anxious deliberation which great dutles | the end that the war and {ts unexamzled and responsibility impose upon the judg- | atrocities shall cease, and that such inde- ment and conscisnee. pendence shall become a settled political The event itself, though in a certain sense | fact at the earltest possible moment, by # distinct occurrence, was linked with a | the establishment by the free action of the 's of precedent transaction which can-| people of Cuba, when such action can be not in reason be disconnected from ft. It | bad, of a government independent in fact was the catastrophe of a unity of events | and form. i ‘ extending over more than three years ot | It is believed that recognition of the bei- momentous history. Standing by itself it | Nzerency of the insursents tn Cuba, if it would be. perhaps, merely an ominous ca- | had been given seasonably, when it was lamity. Considered, as it must be, with the exents with which reason and commen sense must connect jt, and with animus by. Spain so plainly apparent that no one can even plausibly deny its it ta merely one reason for the conclusion to which the investigating mind must come in ! suggested by concurrent © resohitions to that effect passed by Congress, would have insured the speedy terminstion_of the. war without involving the Untted‘States in the and conditions have changed 18 tinued on Nini ‘IN A WARLIKE MOOD | Spanish Newspapers Urge Sending a Fleet to Cuba. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE CRITICIZED London Afternoon Papers Also Dis- cuss the Paper. — -+—-— GENERALLY FRIENDLY TONE MADRID, April 13.—The Imparctal (inde- pendeat) rakes the President's message fore and aft, suggests that it suppresses the truth and turns disdainfully away, appeal- img to the government to “unite all Span- {ards by bold action.” Continuing, the Im- Parcial says: “The ministers must see that each act of weakness will beget a fresh American insult. President McKinley ccarcely notices the armistice, except to tell the insurgents should peace not result from it intervention will follow. In other words, ‘Don't yizld, I'm here.’ “Let Spain send her fleet to Cuba. Let the truce end so soon as it is known the in- surgents will not surrender. Honor and common sense alike demand this course.” The Liberal (mod2rate republican) says: “The government, in spite of the optimism of the ministerial organs respecting the message, r2jects intervention. Passages of the ofhcial note are almost in the words of the Liberal’s leader of yesterday, namel, ‘Theory is to be protested ugainst toda: the practice will be 2nergetically opposed whenever it is attempted.’ Would Stop the Jingoes. “It is rumored that certain councillors ar- gued that President McKinley's aftirma- tion of the principle of intervention would stop the jingoes, hinting that therefore Spain should overlook the matter. We pro- test against such a concession as being contrary to independence. Silence before President McKinley’s theory is equivalent to the renunciation of all sovereign rights. ‘The government has done well in securing henceforth the safety of its most sacred and most precious deposit. Much, how- ever, remains to be done. Terrible will be the consequence of debility and indecision should the government seek to avoid o> dodge the dangers. There is only one road for Spain. We agree with Senor Silvela as to the necessity for proceeding without di lay and fearlessly toward a definite dec sion. “The Liberal has always supported peace, but we think affairs have arrived at 2 point when true patriotism demands an im- mediate solution.” Heading Straight for War. LONDON, April 13.—The afternoon news- Fapers of this city unanimously express the opinion that both the United States and Spain are heading straight for war. There is also a disposition to blame President Mc- Kinley for his alleged indecision. The Si. James Gazette, commenting on the political situation, says: “Th: system of conducting delicate diplo- macy through rival committees is not com- mendable generally, and has led@.in this in- stance to deplorable results. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, who makes warlike speeches and openly espouses the cause of the insurgents afid declares the time has arrived for ac- tion against the friendly power to which he was accredited, is setting the tone in Amer- ica. He is not a cautious man, like General Woodford or Pr2sident McKinley. So the fire-eaters and sword-wavers are to have their way, because the cautious and experi- enced men are ‘timid and do not possess the firmness or courag> to declare their decis- jon and insist upon it.” Westminster Gazette's Views. ‘Ihe Westminster Gazette says: “If the proposed r-soluticns pass, it means the Americans have cut themselves off from peace. They will have done so deliberately, after much thought and considerable provo- cation, and in spite of concessions upon which at least a temporary peace might have been patched up. It will be their choice, and we can only hope they have ecented the cost.”” The Pall Mall Gazette supports President, McKinley, saying: “He has comported himself with skill and propriety through- out. As a result, he is now able to take a line which will not fall to get America solid around him. The crisis has come an‘ it finds the President ready to act.” SaaS LEADERS NAMED. Members of Democratic Congres- signal Executive Committee. ‘The democratic congressional committee today announced the appointment of the following executive committee: Senators James K. Jones of Arkansas, Charles J. Faulkner of West Virginia, John L. Mitch- ell of Wisconsin, Joseph L. Rawlins of Utah, Representatives Levin I. Handy of Delaware, John W. Maddox of Georgia, Charles K. Wheeler of Kentucky, Adolph Meyer of Louisiana, Ferd D. Brucker of Michigan, Robert N. Bodine of Missouri, John J. Lentz of Ohio, W. A. Jones of Vir- ginia and Delegate Marcus A. Smith ot Arizona. - The following were appointed oh the com. mittee on literary and cam book: Representatives Thomas C. McRae of Ar- kansas, James G. Maguire of California and James D. Richardson of Tennessee. re SUBURBAN STREET EXTENSION. Meeting of the Highway Commission to Be Held Tomorrow. The District highway commission, com- posed of the Secretary of War, the Secre- tary of the Interior and General Wilson, chief of engineers, wil! hold a public meet- ing at the War Department tomorrow - morning at 9:30 o'clock for the benefit of citizens who may desire to suggest any changes in the plan of extensions prepared by the District Commissioners in what is known the third division, being that pertion of the territory of the District out- side of the city iimits west of Rock So far only two protests against the Commissioners’ plan. have been received; ‘and one of these is more in antagonism to the Jaw than to the proposed street ex- tensions. —_—_-e-+____. DEFENSES OF WASHINGTON. -move. FLEET AT TARGET‘ PRACTICE Sailors at Key West Waiting for Word to Move. They Wonder When the Supporting Luad ForceWs Coming to* Their Aia. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. KEY WEST, Fla., April 13.—Target prac- tice engages the flzet here while awaiting congressional action and executive orders. Occasionally a gunboat or torpedo boat ar- rives, and is at onc2 painted a slate color for active service. The monitors are shift- 2d at times, and picket duty becomes an agreeable chrnge for the other vessels. But all the time there is anxious inquiry regarding the movements of the army and arrangements for transportation of troops. Th2 understanding was that April 15 was the date when all these preparations would be completed. If this date has to be put back it is realized that the date of the squadron’s moving on Havana, must also be put back. Do Not Understand Congress. Naval officers do not se2m to understand congressional procedure. Today they are anxiously inquiring whether the reports from the committees in the Senate and House favoring armed int2rvention will be debated. Bulietins will be sent out to Cap- tain Sampson on the flagship New York. Possibly Havana ayill be yielded without bloodshed and Spanish authority will go down in the crash; y2t éven then the neces- sity will still exist for the presence of American troops to maintain peace and or- der. Every day’s delay in arranging to land them increases the difficulties which the military occupation of Cuba pres:nts. Fleet Under Steam. The vessels are still keeping st2am up, and the squadron is ready to move at half an hour's notice. Naval commanders, however, are puzzled at the apparent jack of facilities for transporting to Cuba the troops which will be needed to occupy the island and maintain peace. While the squadron might silence the shore batteries and level the defenses of ilavana in a few hours, it has no landing force which could be spared. When Lee left Havana the plans of the Spanish authorities contemplated massing between 20,000 and 25,000 regular troops, reinforced by volunteers, for the defense of I a from invading forees. They were xpected to hold it in the face of a succe: ul bombardment or blockade by American men-of-war. Blanco’s Original» Orders. Blanco at that time hed no informa- tion from Madrid that Spain would be satisfied with anything short of a stub- born, though hopeléss, defense,aand the in- asion of American troops was fully ox- pected. If a change has taken place and the moral influence of Congress by placing the war-making power ini the hands of the 4 executive is going to compel, Spain to yield without war it will be a disappointment to the Spanish official classes, who avant to be put out of Cuba at the bayonets’ points. If American troops are ultimately to be landed delays in starting them increase the resistance they will have to meet when once landed. PEPPER. FLYING SQUADRON SAILS Claimed at the Department it is a Practice Crise, OLD POINT COMFORT, Va., April 13. The flying sq1adron sailed at 2 o'clock this afternoon under sealed orders for the Talk at the Department. pite the utmost precaution of the ‘Navy Department, it leaked out today that the flying squadron had been ordered to The first reports were thai dron vculd sail under sealed 3, going south. This wés looked upon as the most significant step the Navy De- partment had thus far taken. It occasion- €d much excitement, and, appreciating that deep significance was likely 10 be te the move, 4 quieting cat:tionary official statement was made that the squad- ron would go out for a practice ervise of forty-eight hours. : At first Secretary Long would neither af- firm nor deny that the squadron was about to move, stating that a positive rule had been made not to mention any projected naval movements. There were intimations, however, that the movement was not sig- nificant as a prospeetive war measure, and was more in the line of giving the restless officers and men of this flying squadron something to do for a téw days. < ver since Commodore Schley took com- mend of the squadron it has held itself in readiness to move on short notice, and orders have been anticipated daily. It is thought about the Navy Department that it would be a good thing to appease this anxiety of the efficers and mea by giving them a little practice work. It will serve to limber up the men and to put everything aboard ship in perfect readiness for more serious work. Moreover, thei brief practice cruise will probably take quadron out- aide the capes, where they Teadily be reached by a dispatch boat, ;if it becomes evident that they are nee oer eect or defensive purposes: at ‘seme ther point. Pick of the Navy; The flying squadron. is. 3 pick of our naval vessels, and effectiveness. It incl cruiser Brooklyn, with main battery; the. the Massachusetts, with>sixt main battery; battle ship guns in the main battery. ie The Brooklyn is the neapolis 1s the: fleetest ON THE HOUSE SIDE Foreign Affairs Committee’s Cuban} Resolutions. * DEMOCRATS FIRM FOR RECOGNITIO ——— Refuse to Agree to the Republican 3 Plan. FOR CONFERENCE ee RECESS The House committee on foreign affairs went into session about 10:20 o’clock this morning. Representative Dinsmore, Clark. Williams and Berry of the democrats were present when the meeting opened. It was expected that a final agreement would be reached and the report made to the House within two hours after the opening of today’s session of the House. Just before the full committee got together the democratic members held a_ private meeting just outside -the committee room and decided on what they would stand out for. The democratic members of both the Senate and the House committees were in clese communication throughout the meet- ing. The republicans of the foreign affairs committee having agreed to the insistence of the steering committee of the House re- publicans that the word “independent” be placed in the resolutions, no meeting with the steering committee or the conference republicans was held. The republicans who gathered at the Capitol before the House convened expressed themselves as gen- erally satisfied with the tenor of the reso- lutions agreed upon and at the prospect of harmonious action. Conference of the Opposition. Representative Dinsmore, the leadins member of ine committee, was deputed to get together a number of representative: democrats, populists and the silver ele- ments from the floor, to consuit with them as to their following the policy the com- mittee minority may adopt. Representa- tives McMillin of Tennessee, Sayers of Tex- #s, Cochran and Dockery cf Missourt, of the democrats; Bell of Colorado, of the pop- ulists, and Hartman of Montana, of the silver republicans, were among those called. They immediately went into the meeting of the minority and began an earnest deliber- ation over the democratic Cuban policy in the House. There was much difficulty apparent in reeonciling the views, and at 11:30 a minor- ity member said the democrats hoped to have an agreement early, but intimated there was still trouble ahead. Democrats in Conference. During the meeting of the House cém- Mmittee there was frequent occasion for consultation with the democrats of the Senate committee, and a page in the Hcuse was sent for and used in crossing the Capitol as a medium of communica- tion whenever points were raised on which the views of the other side of the Capitol Were wanted. Thesé hasty intermediate ccnsultations were made by verbal me3- sages entrusted to the page. The demo- cratic members before going {nto the meet- ing expressed the opinion that there would be no change in their attitude of insisting on immediate intervention and recognition of independence of the Cuban insurgents. Scme of the democrats of the House committee were inclined to yield their de- sire for a recognition of the independence of the present govrnment in Cuba, as the reselutions of the majority were for the establishment of an independent govern- ment, but they criticised the word “‘es- tablishment” as perhaps blocking what might be desirable in the future, the recog- niuion of fhe present government. ‘They were informed that their colleagues on the Senate committee who desired the direct recegnition of the present govern- ment had yielded after talking to Gen. Lee, and the democrats asked for a recess for the purpose of consulting their col- leagues. The statement in Gen. Lee’s testimony which has had an influence with the more radical pro-Cuban members of the Senate committee on foreign ielations was to the effect that the present Cuban government was a government on paper only. He said, however, that he had no real facts on the subect and that this was merely an opin- ion. Gen. Lee also said that it was not true that the lights in Havana went out on the night of the explosion. At 11:15 the House committee on foreign affairs took a recess until 1 o’clock to allow the democrats to consult the leaders, with the hope that unanimous action might be had. The democrats refused to adopt the re- publican resolutions, and surrendered the ferefgn affairs committee room to the full committee at 1:10 p.m., with the under- standing that they would have another meeting tonight, should the republicans report their resolution. The committee then went into conference to hear the report from the democrats. The Resolutions. The majority of the committee agreed to the following resolution, to be reported to the House this afternoon: “Whereas, the government of Spain, for three years past, has been waging war on the Island of Cuba against a revolution by the inhabitants thereof, without making any substantial progress toward the sup- pressian of said revolution, and has con- ducted the warfare in a manner contrary te the laws of nations by methods inhu- men and uncivilized, causing the death, by starvation, of more than two hundred jury to the commercial interests of the United States, involving the destruction of the lives ‘and profferty of many of our citi- zens, entailing the expenditure of millions United States to execute the purpose of the Tresolution.”” It is asserted that a solid republican vote is promised for the majority resolutions in the House. The republicans of the committee insisted upon an- immediate report of their joint resolution, which was debated. The demo- cratic members withdrew from the com- mittee room to preparé a report of their own. The Democratic Resolutions. The democratic members, in a report signed by five democrats and Mr. New- lands (silver republican), agreed to the fol- lowing resolutions as a substitute for the Majority report. It follows: “Joint resolution. “Resolved, That the United States gov- ernment hereby recognizes the independence of the republic of Cuba. “Section 2—That, moved thereto by many considerations of humanity, of interest and of provocation, among which are the de- berate mooring of our battle ship, the Maine, over a submarine mine and its de- struction in tne harbor of Havana, the President of the United States be and is hereby directed to employ immediately the land and naval forces of the United States in aiding the republic of Cuba to maintain the independence hereby recognized. ction 3—That the President of the United States is hereby authorized and di- rected to extend immediate relief to the starving people of Cuba.” — es SPAIN’S CUBAN POLICY. It Win Be 0: im the Quee: Coming Address to Cortes. It is the expectation, based on informa- tion from the best informed sources, that the queen regent’s address to the Spanish cortes at its forthcoming meeting will deal largely with the Spanish-American situa- tion, and will be a material factor in the present controversy as showing the policy and purposes of the Spanish government. Following this the cortes itself will deal with the Cuban question, both as it relates to Cuba and as it affects the United States. The address of the queen will be, to some extent, like the message of President Mc- Kinley—a submission to the legislative branch of the views of the executive head of the nation, with recommendations for the future guidance of the legislative branch. The new cortes was elected about two weeks ago, a large liberal majority being returned. This will give the Sagasta min- istry, for the first time, a majority of its own political complexion in the cortes, and will facilitate the carrying out of the plans of the ministry. The last cortes had a con- servative majority and was opposed to the Sagasta regime, supporting it only by suf- france on the Cuban question. It had been expected that the new cortes would deal With the subject of autonomy in Cuba, pos- sibly enlarging it. The present autonomy plan is based on the ministerial decree, and it yet remains to be sanctioned and developed by the cor- tez. While this has been in prospect, still the critical aspect of affairs between Spain and the United States may entirely change these plans, and turn the attention of the cortez to new and more serious phases of the subject. Preparations for the as- sembling of the bodies of the two chambers are now in progress, and the meeting will occur in Madrid in about ten days. In Cuba and Porto Rico. The Spanish legation has received in- formation from Cuba that “no trouble has been or is to be apprehended, and that the Americans are not in the slightest danger there, the alarm caused by General Lee's departure having no foundation whatever. “In Porto Rico order prevails, and the reports sent by Correspondent Rea are false. Elections took place with tranquilli- ty, although certain opposition people try to make capital of an unimportant street riot.” There is still no word from Cuba as to what the insufgent# in the field will do with respect to the proposed armistice. Counting today, seventy-two hours have passed, with the Spanish soldiers resting their arms. During this time no word has come of an aggressive movement by the insurgents. It was thought that a skirmish or a raid would serve to show that the insurgents propose‘ to continue their fight- ing. Ne such move has occurred, however, and it is now stated that the absence of active operations by the insurgents will not be significant in disclosing that they accept the armistice. Their plans of warfare, it is stated, are not so much aggressive as they are to maintain their organization in the moun- tains, swamps and inaccessible places, where they ere satisfied with this organ- ized protest against in’s authority, even though it does not @ the form of a regular battle. It is said that this pas- sive resistance will operate as much in a declination of the armistice as any open hostilities. MUNICIPAL COURTS. Bill to Establish Them in Lieu of Justices of the Pence, Representative Latimer, a member of the District committee, has introduced a bill in the House providing that the office of justice of the peace within and for the Dis- trict of Colunbia is hereby abolished, to take effect from the thirtieth day after the approval of this act, and that the Presi- dent of the United States shall nominate and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint five persons who shall be of good moral character and who shall have resided within the District of Co- trict of Columbia is hereby abolished, to pro’ this and Unit States Riarahal of the District, shail a sufficient number of 3 shall serve all process issued said municipal olen es aes salse now SeReee Se. paid to constables for like service. ———_—_o-_____. Presidential Nominations, MR. FORAKER SPEAKS Strongly Urges the Recognition off the Cuban Republic, POINT OF ORDER BY SENATOR HOAR: Effort to Postpone Consideration. of the Resolutions. RIGHTS OF A PEOPLE ee, Indications when the Senate convened to- day were that the session would be preg: nant with meaning and action The gener- al belief that the committee on foreign re- lations would report today upon the Cuban | question, and that the report would be. stirring and emphatic, served to attract another immense crowd to the Senate gal-, leries. The same admirable regulations | which have been for several days in force prevented any confusion or crowding in| the upper corridors of the Senate wing; but hundreds of those holding tickets were diss! appointed in not being able to gain admise sion to the galleries. Fifteen minutes before the session con-_ vened Mr. Davis, chairman of the com) mittee on foreign relations, entered the | chamber with a bulky package in his hand, It was the report from the committee,which it was his purpose to submit to the Senate. Other members of the foreign committee dropped one after another into the cham- ber, that fact indicating their work in the committee room hed been finished. Mr. Davis, at 12:05 p.m., was recognized by the Vice President, and made the for- eign committee's report upon the Cubag question. Mr. Davis requested that the resolutions and report of the committee be read. “Let the resolution be read first,” sug- gested Mr. Cockrell (Mo.). The resolution and report were then read by the Senate's reading clerk. No demonstration of any kind occurred, either upon the floor or in the galleries, | during the reading of the report. The com- mittee report as it was read in the Senate made a deep impression. It was regarded as a powerful—almost bitter—arraignment of Spain. The reading of the report occu pied forty-seven minutes. Mr. Hoar demanded that the resolution le over, under the rules, until tomorrow. | The Vice President reserved his decision! on the point of order. Mr. Foraker yielded to Mr. Turpie. Mr. Hoar demanded to know what the pending question was. Senator Turple presented the report of the minority of the committee, ag follows; The undersigned members of the com- mittee on foreign relations ecrdially cone cur in the report made upon the Cuba resolutions, but we favor the immediai¢ Tecoguition of the republic of Cuba as or- ganized in teat island as @ free, independs, ent and sovereign power among the na-' tions of the world. 3 It was signed by Senstors Turpie, Miilg and Foraker. At the conclusion of the reading Mn Foraker (Ohic) was recognized. 4 The chair decided Senator Hoar’s point of order well taken. Notwithstanding the decision of the Vice President, Senator Foraker proceeded to discuss the Cubar question on its general merits, Mr. Foraker read from the President’@ message, which he regarded in many res’ spects very highly. Mr. Foraker said while there were dif- ferences of opinion in the committee, all were agreed that the Cuban people should have freedom and independence. He sald the committee had differed from the Pres-/ ident because it believed the time for ac-_ tio had come. They had grave doubts ap to the right to confer on the President the war-declaring power, which was contingent upon complying with the President's re- quest. Also, after recognizing the right of the people of Cuba to be free, it was a pre; sumption for the United States to establish | @ government for them, as the*Presitent, proposed. Mr. Foraker declared that tf a people bé, free and independent, as announced the majority resolution, they, and the?) alone, had a right to determine their form of government. Mr. Foraker then took up the question as to whether the Cubans were entitled to, recognition, reviewing some of the reason#! for this action. The whole country and! whole world krew that for more than three’ years war had been in progress, and in ali thet time Spain had been uniformly un-) Successful. Spain could never recover her, lost sovereignty. All these things being true, the eer States had the right to intervene, and would perform a duty in so doing. The resolution to be passed here, de- clared Mr. Foraker, would force either to abdicate the Island of Cuba give battle. If Spain should resort to the arbitramenf# of the sword, then he had no doubt the! United States would prosecute the war to'” @ successful and triumphant conclusion. ‘Mr. Foraker, discussing the resolutiort) offered by the minority, maintained that’ sf ii | ah it i I HT