The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-26

dE>-!I15 OOl, AphII S0.-IL III" pres
ident sends a message TO congress to-
morrow asking for a declaration Of
war, as is now anticipated, the re-
spoons will be prompt and emphatic.
Now tina war has been entered upon,
ven those congressman, like Mr.. john
son, of Indiana, and MIR. Loud, Of Cal
ffornia, who hung back, protesting TO
the last, have sunk their individual
views in the common cause and all are
now anxious to give to the president
"a united support in every measure,
deemed necessary, to prosecute the
wan to a speedy and successful con-
clusiOn. In order to show the world
that all fractional d. divisions have ceased
and that the representatives OF the
American people are arrayed i'm solid
and imposing phalanx behind the
chief executive, the declaration OF war
viii be passed Without a word Of de-
bate, and pom the roll call it is not
likely that there Will be a dissenting
voice.
Following the declaration of war the
house will proceed to the work of pro
viding the sineWs with which to prose-
cute it. But upon this there viii not
ibe ~unanimity. The republicans and
democrats hold widely divergent views
as to the methods by (which the reve-
nues to carry on the war should be
raised. No factious opposition, how
ever. will he offered by the minority.
The leader of the minority will insist
50 far as they are able, upon present
ing such substitute propositions as are
in lime with their ideas and doctrines
- II an -~l 49,, 49, 40 ~ {.
members of the way and means conn
mittee, whlLhC Chairman nj Dingley within
troduce in the house tomorrow. The
democrats of the house, especially the
leaders and the members of the a
and means committee, feel aggrleved
Because they have neither been con-
suited nor had a voice in the prepara-
tipn of the war revenue measure. In
the face of a foreign enemy, they say
they have sunk partly considerations
and have voted to uphold the hands of
the president and they believe that in
raising war revenue, in asmuch as they
are expected to ccquiesce, they should
have had a share. The bill will not be
presented to them formally until to-
morrow morning and Chairman Ding
lev expects to get it before the house
during the day. He thinks the bill
should pass and go to the senate by
Tuesday might at the latest. The dem
ocrats will protest against this xpedl-
tiOn, but will probably not carry their
opposition beyond that. Mr.. Barley
said they would probably be willing to
forego general debate, if an arrange
ment could he made to consider the en-
tire bill for amendment under the five
minute rule. The chief
the democrats desire to offer MS an in
come tax, which they believe can be
framed to meet the decision of the SUI
nror,,h c4NlIp-t ThpV lhp1ipVp a POnSld-
cradle proportion of the war should be
raised from this source. They may of
fer in lieu of the stamp tax a tax OF
50 cents per barrel on petroleum and a
graduated tax on railroad and other
transportation tickets, both of which
propositions We're considered by tine re-
plJbqicanS OF the ways and means com
mittee. but rejected. There is also con-
siderable opposition to the bond fea-
ture of the bill ON the democratic Side
and whether with unanimity or not a
motion will undoubtedly be made to
strike out. Mr.. Bailey, however, is un-
derstOod to recognize the necessity for
an authorization for borrowing money.
The whole week in the house is likely
to be given largely to the cOnsidera-
ton of war measures, but such time
as remains will probably be consumed
in disposing of two election cases.
SENATE FOR TODAY.
1t is the expectation in the Senate
that the week will begin with the re-
ceipt of a message from the president
asking that congress shall make a for
NAL declaration Of war and that there
will be a quick reSpOnse to the request.
There has been some apprehension
that there might be a renewal Of the
effort no secure a recognition OF the in
dependence of the Cuban insurgents
in connection With the war declaration,
but the best information now Is that
this will o be undertaken and that
there will be practically no Opposition
in the senate to a war resolution. 1t is
suggested by some of the members OF
the committee on foreign relations that
it win not even be necessary to refer
the presidents message to the commit
tee when received. but that a reSO!u-
luton can be Immediately introduced
and passed. The committee will report
promptly in any event.
The senate will resume consideration
of the naval appropriation bill at the
earliest moment. The only disputed
point u~ndispoSed of in connection with
the naval bill is the provision in re
gard TO the price which enat0 Iall-
IMAM and Butler are making AN effort
to have reduced from $500, to $500 af-
ter the three .battleships now building
are supplied. Both these senators and
probably others will make speeches in
support of these and the
debate will in all probability be sharp.
1t Toes mot appear probable that the
amendment wifi be accepted by the
senate.
The senate also will take up the
army reorganization bill as soon as 1t
can Zoe reached after it is reported
from h committee on military affairs
by which it will be given prompt con-
SideratiOn.
1t lis not believed that the war Teve-
niue bill will receive consideration this
week. owing to the probability that 1t
Will meet with sufficient opposition in
the finance committee to delay it there
for some gime. The democrats will
seek to climate the bone feature of the
bill and they may attempt to incorpor-
ate a provision for ar income tax when
the bill reaches the committee, and a