The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 9, 1898, Page 1

Call SAN FRANCISCO, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 189S. PRICE FIVE CENTS. BRERUURURRUIRYRIRNN Most remarkable scene P ever witnessed In the Ameri- g can Congress. Without one voice of dissent Democrats, Republicans and Populists e alike, without regard to sec- g tion, the members of the House of Representatives g voted to place in the Presi- & dent’s hands Fifty millions 2 ofdollars, and to conferupon him extraordinary power in view of the Spanish crisis.— ¥ From a telegraphed descrip- B tion. LRRRRIRR88 B RRRRSRRRRRRRRRNRRRR THE RIGHT OF BELLIGERENTS TO BUY WARSHIPS e Can Be No Question They . j - May Be Purchased Where- ever They Are Found for Sale. Call Office, Riggs House, o Washington, March 8. All authorities agree that nations may purchase war- ships, even after hostilities have begun, if the neutral na- tion exercises strict impar- tiality between the belliger- ents and the ships are not armed and outfitted ready for service. The trade of ship- building is recognized as a legitimate one, which may be carried on at afl times. Mr. Clay, when Secretary of State, laid down the principle as fol- lows: “If it be forbidden by the law of nations to sell to a bel- ligerent an armed vessel com- pleted, equipped and ready for action, it is believed not to be contrary to the law to sell a belligerent a vessel in any oth- er state, although it may be convertible into a ship of war.” 00 06 T0F10F 18108 18 108 X0 08 10 0605 306 308 08 308 20 08 30K 08 300 X0 00 KK Y N N fed 8| Mr. Clay specified a case in which | Spain and one of the South American | Republics, then at war, each bnughti 2 ship from the same shipbuilder, \ which ships afterward met on the | sea and had an engagement. He also | specified the case of Russia selling a| whole fleet of ships to Spain, includ- | ing some of the Russian ships of the | line, while Russia held a neutral | position between Spain and the } South American Republics, with | which she was at war. | The subject has been before the | American courts and in one case Jus- | tice Story held that ‘‘while the sale | of vessels, armed or unarmed, to a belligerent is not forbidden by | international law, such vessels, even | on the way to the purchaser, are liable to seizure as contraband.” | In a later case before the Supreme | Court, the distinction is made be- | tween the unlawful act of fitting out | and arming a ship of war for a bel-| ligerent, and the lawful act of sell- | ing such ships to be converted lnto: men-of-war. The decision says that | the distinction is the same as that| between the lawful act of a gunsmith | in selling a pistol and the unlawful | act of the same gunsmith in arrang- | ing that a pistol shall be used for al criminal act. A good deal is being acc mplished in the way of preparation in both the Navy and War Departments. BSecretary Long was particularly 308 308 06 308 308 308 X0 10¥ 30¢ 308 X0 30% 308 200K 308 308 108 106 306 308 X0F 306 308 ¥ 106 308 308 0% 306 0 3% ok K ok kR ko ok K ok ok e R R R R R R R R KK KK K KX K KX KEFKFEFREER R XN XXX YELLOW PRESS DOES NOT SPARE EVEN THE POPE. Copyrighted, 189, by James Gordon Bennett. MADRID, March 8.—Senor Sa- gasta this morning summed up the situation as follows: “There is no cause of alarm. There is a little war feeling here, but there is an irrepressible under- current of feeling that Spain must be prepared to uphold her traditions and that the United States Is determined to force war, hence every preparation is being made for the worst. “Endeavors have been made by agents of the jingo press to interview Ministers here in order to get one or the other to make some remark which might be twisted into a mischievous ut- terance, but the Ministers have wisely refused to receive any in- dividual This evening the following is officlally published from the Spanish Embassador to the Vat- fcan: “To the Minister of State at Madrid: Cardinal Rampolla called upon me and told me to request that the statement be made to your Excellency that notice that he had held a con- versation with the correspondent of the New York Journal on the subject of Cuba is absolutely false. His eminence denies en- tirely the statements attributed to him and says he has not re- ceived any newspaper represen- tative.” Thus the Rampolla interview turns out to be a shameless fake. ok ok ok ok ok K X K K KX KX X ¥ * * #* * #* * * * * * * * * * * * * * % * * * * * #* 3 * * * * # * * * * * * ok kR ok Ok K * * EEE KKK F KKK R KK X F R ERH busy. Before 10 o’clock he had been obliged to retire to his private office and to deny himself to callers in order to hold a conference. Sena- tor Lodge was present, as well as Chairman Hale of the Senate Naval Committee, Chairman Boutelle of the House Naval Committee, Captain Crowninshield, Chief of the Navy Bu- reau; Captain Bradford, Chief of the Equipment Bureau; Captain Brown- son and Assistant Secretary Roose- velt. Chief Constructor Hichborn and Admiral Matthews, Chief of the Bu- reau of Yards and Docks, were also called to the conference by the Sec- retary to deal with special phases of the question under consideration. The conference had to do with prepara- tions for putting the navy at the highest state of efficiency, and the Continued on Third Page. L. ARE AMERICANS, ALL ARE PATRIOTS NO PARTY LINES WHEN DUTY’'S CALL Call Office, Riggs House, ® Washington, D. C., March 8. @ Although it is fully understood © that in the event of war the brunt of the fighting must be borne by the navy, the other great arm of the service will certainly be called into active service, and it is the purpose to set aside at least $18,000,000 of the $50,000,000 for increasing the number of troops, in supplying equip- ments and in transporting the troops. There is every indication that the War Department has determined upon At- lanta as the point for the mobilization of the land troops in the event of war with Spain. While the officers of the army and the officials of the depart- ment are of course very reticent about their plans, they have undoubt- edly gone so far as to settle upon At- lanta as headquarters of the depart- ment of the East should trouble come. That a decision to this effect has been- reached was demonstrated to-day by a remark which a high officer in the commissary department let fall. I o R L o o o o L R o R (OJOJOXOXOJOXOXCROJOJOJOXOXOXOXOXOXOJOXOROXOYOYOYOXO) When he was questioned about the ar- rangements which his department had made he said: “If the order came this morning to mass 500,000 men at Atlanta the pro- visions to feed them would be there before the men. The commissary arrangements have been all in readiness ever since the first intimation of trouble. The contractors say no matter how large the army we put in the field, nor how long the struggle lasts, the supplies will be more than ample for all needs.”” It is understood that at the Cabinet meet- ing Secretary Long gave a detailed state- ment of the ships he proposed to buy. Com- | mander Brownson, who has been selected | by Mr. Long to go to Europe as the purchas- ing agent of the Navy Department, has been | given unlimited authority in the matter of purchase. It is stated positively that there are only two big fighting vessels in Europe which this Government desires. Of these one is being built at Leghorn, Italy, for the Argentine Republic, while the other is being constructed for the Brazilian Government by the Armstrongs in England. Both are ves- sels of the size of the Maine and will carry an armament similar in weight and size of guns. Happiiy, both are practically com- pleted and are now receiving only the finish- ing touches. Commander Brownson intends to pur- chase these two vessels, and if he believes it can be done safely he will have them sent to this country in their present condi- tion. Great haste will be required in order to escape restrictions imposed by the neutral- ity laws. While there are enough guns and other equipment now on hand to fit out both these vessels, Commander Brownson may decide to purchase a complete armament for the vessels abroad. In that event he will lobmin the guns for the Argentine battle- ship from the Krupps at Essen, Germany, ARMY AND NAVY WILL BE READY FOR THE WAR it Is the Present Plan of Miles and Alger to Mass the American Troops at Atlanta. [ 4+ttt 4 e 4444 + |+ MONTGOMERY SAILS. |3 o | KEY WEST, Fla., March 8.— The United States cruiser Mont- gomery sailed at 5:40 this after- noon for Havana. She will be held at the Cuban capital until the crisis ends one way or the other. i + J + B + + + + + + 2 PR R D R B PGP | while the Armstrongs will supply the guns for the Brazilian vessel. In addition to these two ships Secretary | Long’s agent will purchase every torpedo- boat and every torpedo-destroyer that he | | can find. The Government feels the need | | of torpedo-boats far more than of the | heavier fighting ships, The only other vessels of the latter class which this Gov- | ernment is anxious to add to our navy are | | the two cruisers being ‘constructed for the Japanese Government—one by the Cramps | i at Philadelphia and the other at the Union | fron Works, San Francisco. | A member of the Naval Affairs Committee | of the House, who has been in almost daily conference with Secretary Long for the past few days, is authority for the statement that a large part of the appropriation of $50,000,000 will be used in the construc- | tion of torpedo-boats in this country, assur- ance having been given by varieus con- tractors that they could furnish a large number of them in three months’ time. The proposition to build many more torpedo-boats meets with the approval o | members of Congress because they can be quickly constructed, while a cruiser or a battle-ship could not be built inside a year. | All of these matters were discussed at the | meeting of the Cabinet to-day. The Presi- | dent also read to the Cabinet a letter he has | just received from Consul-General Lee | stating that, although the American colony were apprehensive for his safety and had advised him to leave Cuba, he would never- theless stick to his post of duty. Notwith- standing General Lee's confidence in his own | security various members of the Cabinet expressed fear that in the event of an up- | rising, which General Blanco might be un- | able to quell, he would become a victim of the mob. For this reason gratification was expressed by all that the Montgomery would soon be in the port of Havana. s Senator Proctor Returning. HAVANA, March 8.—Senator Proctor, Miss Clara Barton, Colonel Parker and | ! Dr. Egan returned to-night from a trip | >4 + + ¥ + 12 5 + + wi FIFTY MILLIONS VOTED TO UPHOLD THE PRESIDENT IN DEFENDING THE NATION AROUSES FREEMEN FOR THEIR COUNTRY Never Before in the Present Decade Have Such Patriotic Speeches Been Made in Congress by Representatives Aroused to De- fend the Honor of Old Glory. RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the national defense, and for each and every purpose connected therewith, to be expended at the discretion of the President and to remain available until June 30, 1899, $50,000,000. ; Call Office, Riggs House, Washington, March 8. In a spirit of patriotism, with elo- quent words ringing in their ears, every member of the House of Representa- tives to-day responded to the Presi- dent’s first call to meet the Spanish situ- | ation by casting his vote for a bill plac- ing in President McKinley's hands $50,- 000,000 to be expended at his discretion for the nafional defense. Party lines were swept away, and with a unani- | mous voice Congress voted its confi- dence in the administration. Many members who were paired with absent colleagues took the responsibility of breaking their pairs, an unprecedented thing in executive annals, in order that they might go on record in support of this vast appropriation to maintain the | dignity and honor of their country. Speaker Reed, who, as the presiding officer, seldom votes, had his name called and voted in his capacity as a Representative. The scene of enthusiasm that greeted the announcement of the vote—ayes 11, noes 0—has seldom been paralleled in the House. All day long the gal- leries were jammed with enthusiastic spectators, applauding to the echo the sterling patriotism of the words of eloquence which were uttered by the members on the floor. All the speeches were brief. Although four hours were allowed for debate. so great was the pressure of time that no one member was given more than five minutes, and most of them had to content themselves with a beggarly fraction of a minute. In all fifty-nine speeches were made, With one acclaim members from the North and South, East and West. the States and the territories, battle-scarred veterans of the Union and the Confed- erate armies, all joined in proclaiming their support of the country’s chief magistrate in the face of a possible for- eign war. In the whole debate there was only a slight discordant note, caused by the speech of General Bing- ham of Pennsylvania, a gallant soldier to Sagua la Grande and Clienfuegos. | Senator Proctor says he feels confident | that he has induced Walter B. Barker to withdraw his resignation as United | | States consul at Sagua la Grande, and | he will be very much pleased if Mr. | Barker continues in that capacity, as | | he considers him a very valuable man. Senator Proctor, with his friend, Colonel Parker, expects to leave for Washing- ton to-morrow, as a passenger ‘on the, | who served with distinction under Han- cock. He spoke too conservatively for the aroused temper of the House, and when he insisted that our relations with Spain were as friendly as they had been for years many of the members hissed him. While almost every member who spoke deprecated the possibility of war, a wide divergence of opinion as to how close were hostilities manifested itself Olivette. in the debate. The general contention 00000000000000000000000000C000000000 000000000000000000000000000000000000 SPANISH JINGO SERVES THE YELLOW JOURNAL respondent of the Temps is the recall of General Lee. useful to those desirous of News and the New York Jou one and the same person, respondent here telegraphs situation. by the majority among the leadersA on both sides was that this appropriation. by preparing for war, would prove the surest guarantee of peace. = Others in- sisted that war’s alarms would soon be heard, and Mann of Illinois declared that war actually existed in all save name. The speeches which attracted most attention were those of Cannon, Henderson and Dolliver on the Repub- lican side, and Bailey and Sayers on the Democratic, side. ' As soon as the journal had been read | the Speaker rapped for order, and, amid a deep silence, Chairman Cannon of- fered, as a deficiency bill, the measure appropriating $50,000,000 for the nation- al defense. It included also several other items, among which are $100,000 for coal for naval vessels. When the reading of the bill con- cluded with the item of $50,000,000 for the national defense a spontaneous outburst of applause went up from the members and the galleries. Cannon and Sayers, the minority member of the Appropriations Committee, then mutually proposed the agreement they had privately made before the House met for three hours’ general debate on Copyrighted, 1898, by James Gordon Bennett. MADRID, March 8—The well-informed Madrid cor- firming my dispatch of two or three days ago, saying the Spanish Government had no intention of asking for The Central News correspondent Is not correct in issuing a telegram in a contrary sense, and it may be reverse in these critical times to know that the Central staff of the Imparcial, which is the greatest jingo paper published in Spain, and whose New York correspondent busies himself daily cabling over here all most likely to inflame the Spanish public, while the cor- thing possible to irritate the jingoes and complicate the The combination Is a very dangerous one until un- veiled in all its mischievous bearings. The alleged opinion given by Cardinal Rampolla for the Pope favorable to the insurgents is noted here merely as another of the innumerable falsehoods to which the yellow press has given birth. 00CC000000000000000000000000C0 correct in his statement con- knowing the truth from the rnal’s correspondent here is he being- a member of the the items to the United States every- 00000000000000000C00C000000C000000000 00000000 the bill, to be followed by one hour’s debate under the five-minute rule. Barrett (R.) of Massachusetts asked if the opportunity would be allowed for amendment, and when Cannon an- swered that he did not know, he ob- jected. His objection was greeted with | hisses and loud cries of “Vote! Vote!” Barrett, yielding to the urgent ap- peals of the Republicans about him, withdrew his objection, and the agree- ment as to time was formally ratified. After the confusion which followed this dramatic scene had subsided Can- | non took the floor to open the debate | on the.bill. He spoke calmly and brief- ly, explaining that the items in the bill, save the last, were strictly deficlency items. Coming to the all-absorbing item, he said that, in the present critical con- dition of affairs, the committee had deemed it wise to appropriate this sum, placing its expenditure in the complete discretion of the President. He referred to the fact that the com- mittee had been unanimous in its ac- tion and had only changed the wording of the bill he introduced yesterday by making the appropriation available un- til January, 1899, instead of June 30, 1899. This, he pointed out, would tide