The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-04-21
PRESIDENT DETERMINED.
There VIII Be no store Temporizing
WIZ, SDnin

Presidents intentions. He has passed
the temporizing stage. He realizes that
war is to come. and he is anxious to have
the suspense over The ultimatum is
couched in courteous language. but it
is blunt and to the point. There can be
no further equivocating. The plea that
the Cortes is the only body that can deal
with the subject will not avail The an
swer must be had by Saturday, and it
must be a complete and final response
Of course, it may be the answer that
comes with absolute silence and may
consist only in the act of handing to
Minister Woodford his passports, but
that will be sufficient. No one thinks
it will come in the shape of submission
to the demands of the United States.
When the time has expired the Presi-
dent will act. All arrangements look
ing to that end have been completed. The
moment the time is up the orders will be
issued to the commanders of the fleet to
move, and Capt. Sampson will start for
Havana and Commodore Schley for
Porto Rico. The details of their opera
lions is a matter that is to be worked
out in the future. While there is no de-
finite information on that line it is
understood that a blockade, rather than
bombardment will take place. The
action of the United States is but a
matter of a few days now. War is all
but here, and the preparations are fast
being completed. The army is being
rushed to the South, and if the Senate
passes the bill today recognizing the
army, as is expected, the President will
| issue his call for the national guard and
volunteers. Everything is in readiness
| for the response to the cry son to Ha-
vana, and it only requires the signal
| from the President to set the army and
| navy in motion.
To Raise n War Revenue
Next week when the blockade of Ha
| vana is on. Congress win be called upon
| to supply the sinews of war. For some
| weeks the probable method of raising war
| revenues has been informally discussed
| by members of both houses. and, al
| though a persistent effort in that direc-
| ton has been made, it has been impos-
sible to arouse any interest in the propo-
| sition to issue bonds. This was the ia
publicans and is yet, for that matter, but
| the encouragement thrown upon it has
| dampened the ardor of the advocates of
| large blocks of Government bonds. For
a time there was much talk about issuing
| gold bonds, but a quiet canvass of the
| Senate proved the absolute impossibility
| of carrying any such scheme as that to
success. Chairman Jones of the Ma
| tional Democratic Committee announced
I, that under no circumstances would the
| silver men, even in the face of war. sup
port such a proposition, for the simple
| reason that IT was not essential as a con-
| dition precedent to raising war revenues.
Discussing the question yesterday,
Gus ways in which revenue might be
raised. The Mckinley bill was passed
when there was a surplus in the Treas
ury for the purpose of decreasing reve-
nues, and the best thing to do now he be-
lieved, would be to reduce the tariff taxes
and increase the revenues
Increase the Internal Revenue.
He also favors an increase in internal
revenue taxes as a war measure, the
amount depending entirely upon the
probable length of the conflict, its cost
etc. Senator Jones also favors an in
come tax sd framed as to meet the objec.
tons in the recent decision of the SUI
preme Court. The speediest way of rails
ing money for war purposes Senator
Jones said, would be through the issue OF
| Treasury certificates or greenbacks
which. although Government obligation
similar to bonds, are a cheaper form OF
obligation in that they have no interest
Chairman Jones believes the best thing OF
all that has been suggested is the free
coinage of silver, which would at once
put a large sum of money into circuIa.
ton. With such free coinage he woult
be willing to couple a popular loan il
the bonds were issued in small denomina
| lions, so that they could pass current anC
be used as money. If bonds ever do be
come absolutely necessary, Chairman
Jones says the Democrats would only b.
willing TO authorize short-time low-inter
est-bearing bonds, payable in Lawful
money" He has no idea, however, tina
any kind of bonds will be needed.
Senator TeIIer's Views.
Senator Teller, speaking for the Sive
Republicans takes a similar view OF
| u.
said he would not be willing to vot
for bonds to raise money TO pursue tn
war until every other available resourc
has been exhausted There are NAM
ways of raising money. AS a war meas
ure, /, for one, am in favor of interna
taxation, raising the tax on beer and to
bacco, putting taxes on coffee, tea, nego
table instruments, evidences of indebt
ness, etc. If the Treasury needs none,
at once coin the silver purchased ant
which is supposed to be on deposit as
security for the Treasury notes TIL
Treasury holds that these notes are pay
able in gold, so it looks like nonsense t.
keep all that silver in the vaults on tn
silly pretense that it is the security be
hind the Treasury notes. If coined i
would give us over $3.50 900 000 Again w
could issue Treasury certificates withou
interest. Upon such certificates the Gov
eminent can get all the money ii wants
and these certificates can be redeemed il
lawful money at any time. If. after al
other resources have been exhausted W
still need money, can then issu,
bonds. | cannot imagine the silver me-
would insist that these be made payabl
in silver as has been suggested w
would be content to have the ordinar,
coin bond. Gold bonds are, of course
not to be thought of, for whatever tn
House might do the Senate would neve
agree to them.
To Tax Beer md Tobacco
The House committee has PRACTICAL,
completed it's war revenue measure ant
| it is underss God it will be offered in thu
House Monday Not until the Presiden
has acted and shown that ne intends t.