The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-04-28

WASHINGTON, April 25.--A resolution
formally declaring war against Spain
was intsoduced in the congress of the
United States today and passed. The
decision to do so was reached after
mature deliberation in order to safe.
guard the interests of the United States.
All arguments pro and con were dis
cussed at the White House at confer
ence in which President Mckinley, At
torney General Griggs, Assistant Sec.
retary Day and Senators Davis and
Hale.
The president sent message to con.
gress Immediately after its convening
setting forth the facts in the case and
asking congress to formally declare war
in order that there might be no misun-
! derstanding on the part Of other ma
tions. The most important point in the
message from new point of view is the
announcement that Spain has made for
NAL reply to our ultimatum. The docu.
ment is formal acknowledgement by
Spain and also an acceptance by that
country of the ultimatum as a virtual
declaration of war. Congress therefore
was asked to recognize this condition OF
affairs and to declare it to the world.
using Spain's answer as a reason for it,
The war resolution was already pre-.
pared, and the two committees having
in charge the foreign affairs of the two
houses of congress were prepared to re-
port upon it very eedily-immediatel
after the reading of the message. The
resolution was then taken up and passed
| forthwith.
Now that war has been entered upon
! even those congressman, like Mr.. John.
son of Indiana and Mr.. Loud of Cali.
fornia, who hung back protesting &c
the last, have sunk their individual
views in the common cause and all are
now anxious to give to the president q
united support in every measure deemed
essential, or necessary, to prosecute the
war to speedy and successful conclu.
sion. In order to show the world that
all factional divisions have ceased and
that the representatives Of the Ameri
can people are arrayed in solid and inn
posing phalanx behind the chief execu
tive the declaration of war was passed
without word of debate.
Following the declaration of war the
house proceeded to the work of provid
ing the sinews with which to prosecute
it. But upon this there is not unanim.
ity. The Republicans and Democrats
hold widely divergent views as to the
methods by which the revenues to carry
on the war should be raised. No fac.
tious opposition, however, will be of.
fered by the minority. The leaders OF
the minority are extremely anxious and
they will insist, so far as they able, upon
presenting such substitute propositions
rs are in line with their ideas and doc
tripes for the bill framed by the Repub
lican members of the ways and mean.
committee which Chairman Dingley in
troduced in the house Saturday. TIL,
Democrats of the house, especially tn,
leaders and the members of the ways
and means committee, feel aggrieveC
because they have neither been con
suited nor had o voice in the prepare
ton or the war revenue measure.
Mr.. Bailey said the Democrats woult
| probably be willing to forego genera
| debate II an arrangement could be mad,
| to consider the entire bill for amend
ment under the five-minute rule. Th
chief amendment they desire to offer i
for an income tax, which they beliey,
| can be passed to meet the decision O
the supreme court. The believe a con
| siderable portion of the war tax shoul,
| be raised from this source. They ar
also opposed to some of the provision
OF the stamp tax, which they beliey
will prove onerous and irritating and
is likely they will offer propositions il
lieu thereof of q tax OF 80 cents pe
barrel on petroleum and a graduate,
tax on railroad and other transportation
tickets, both Of which propositions wer
considered by the Republicans Of tn
ways and means committee but rejected
| There is also considerable opposition
to the bond feature of the bill on tn
Democratic side and whether with una
pimity or not motion will undoubtedl
be made to strike it out. Mr.. Bailey
however, is understood to recognize tn
necessity for an authorization for bon
rowing money. Some of the Populist
desire an authorization for an issue q
greenbacks. The bond feature of tn
bill will probably be bitterly attacked.
The senate passed the resolution d(
claring war promptly.
1t is not believed that the war revt
nue. bill will receive consideration frol
the senate this week, owing to tn
probability that it will meet with suff
cient opposition in the finance committe
to delay il there for some time. Th
Democrats will seek to eliminate th
bond feature of the bill and they ma
attempt 10 incorpor lte a provision IL
an income tax when the bill reaches th
committee, and a stubborn contest
promised both in the committee and II
the senate. Whether the bill i
amended in the committee OF reported
as 1t comes from the house the indica
) tions are quite positive that it will b.
made the basis OF prolonged dissus
sion Of the finance.
The ways and means committee esti
mate the increased revenue that woul'
be derived from the war measure pro
posed would be from 100000 900 &
800, 100000, distributed as buows
Fermented liquors, $35, ,000, 900; toDacco
!, el5,0O0,000; cigars, $5,000,000; dealers Il
tobacco and cigars, $4,000, 900; STAN
, taxes on DOCUMENTS, kilograms, etc
$50, 600, 900; stamp tax ON wines, minei
al waters, etc, undetermined. Tonnag
tax ON vessels engaged in foreign trade
81, ,000,O 600
Tea and coffee are not touched, as a
! the measures proposed for war revenue
, are internal revenue taxes.
The loan provisions Of the bill are Q
follows: That the secretary OF th
treasury Is heraby authorized 70 borrol