The Press., 1898-04-28
washington Letter.

to find any fault with the rapidity with
which important events have followed
each other during the past week. The
signing by the president of the armed In
tervention resolution; the ultimatum to
Spain; the breaking Of diplomatic rela-
lions with US by Spain; the proclamation
declaring to the nations Of the world
the intention OF the United States to
blockade Havana and other Cuban ports;
the actual establishing OF the blockade; !
the capture OF Spanish merchant vessels
by ships of the blockading squadron; the
proclamation calling for 10000 men to |
serve twoyeaTs, unless sooner discharged. |
That is the weeks record OF the most inn
portant acts of the executive branch of
the government.
Congress has not been idle during the
week It passed the bill authorizing the
formation Of volunteer army; the bill
for reorganixing the regular army and In
creasing It In time Of war to $4,000 men
adopted resolution declaring the exist
ence of state of war between Spain and
the U. s., besides doing the usual amount
of routine business and attending the
funeral of the late Senator Walthall OF
Mississippi, which was held In the senate
chamber on Saturday, and was attended
by the president and all the members OF
the cabinet.
The ways and means committee of the
house upon which devolved the duty of
preparing the bill to provide the money
to pay the expenses of the war, has per-
formed that duty and reported the bill to
the house. The bill by the imposition OF
new internal revenue taxes and an increase
of the taxes on beer and manufactured to-
bacco provides for an estimated increase
of 300, 100000 in the country's annual
revenues. It also provides for the issue of
$500, OOO, 600 in per cent coin bonds, to
run from ten to twenty years, at the option
of the government, and authorizes the
issue of 800, 100000 in 3 per cent. GER
tificates of Indebtedness by the treasury
The expectation is that the bill will be
passed this week, as the disposition OF
congress is to push everything connected
with the conduct of the war through with
out prolonged discussion, recognizing the
moral effect upon the world of speedy and
united action by congress upon war meas
ures. -
The fighting is not likely to be as speedy
in arriving as the events which immediate
" preceded the opening of the war So
far as known the bulk Of the Spanish navy
is on the other side of the Atlantic, with
the intention of remaining there and de-
voting it's attention to hunting for stray
American merchant vessels which can be
taken without fighting. There are numer-
GUS reports about their coming over here to
fight, but our naval officers do not believe
them, although they would be more than
glad to have them do so. Our navy will
not attack the forts of the Cuban ports it
is blockading, unless it is first attacked
by the forts; at least, not for while.
The present object is to make the blockade
thoroughly effective and to capture and
destroy all the Spanish ships that can be
found. In addition to that, small force
will probably be landed at some port that
is accessible to the insurgent army, In
order that it may be furnished the supplies
and ammunition it needs to enable it tC
assume the aggressive towards the Spanish
! army. Food will also be landed for free
distribution to the needy.
, While this is going on in Cuba and Gu.
ban waters the volunteer army will be got
ten together in camps of instruction ane
: prepared at the earliest moment to pro
{ coed to Cuba and drive the Spanish army
. off the island This will take time. Sc
1t is Just as well not to expect news OF
much fighting, unless the Spanish forts
seek an engagement with the blockadine
! squadron, or our Asiatic squadron finds
8 the Spanish squadron it is hunting for, fol
4 several weeks to come.
Although the postmaster general haa
nothing directly to do with the conduct o
the war, the substitution of Hon. Charles
Emory Smith, able editor and ex-ministe
9 to Russia, for Hon. James A Gary, whC
I stated that his resignation of the post
$ master generalship was by direction of hi
: physician, in the cabinet, is regarding al
. the first step towards putting the cabine
y lon war footing, and the second step Is tx
be the substitution of younger and more
vigorous man for Hon. John Sherman al
t secretary of state. Assistant Secretar!
Day will succeed Mr.. Sherman, and Joh1
B. Moore, professor of international law
of Columbia University in New York, ant
= formerly second assistant secretary 0
Q state, has been chosen to succeed Judg'
]. Day as assistant secretary of state.