Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-05-04
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, April 20, 1885,
The .house after three days de-
bate passed the war revenue bill
which will add about 100000. 600
year to the government revenues
by internal revenue taxation, includ-
ing Increases in the taxes on beer and
manufactured tobacco and q system
Of stamps similar to that used dur
ing the civil war, and provides for
the issuing of 100000, 1000 in bonds:
also treasury certificates of indebt
edness for temporary exlgencies.
President Mckinley is directing
the conduct OF the war upon better
advice and knowledge than that Of
editors OF irresponsible yellow Jour
mails and loud mouthed corner loaf
ers. He knows what he is DOING
and that it will be fully approved
by the country when results shall
make his policy apparent. The war
news so far has been satisfactory;
the blockade of Cuba is successful,
and the capturing Of number of
prizes pleasing. Ip good time we
shall hoist Old Glory in Cuba, and
our warships shall meet those of
Spain.
President Mckinley has personally
accepted the offer Of John Jacob
AstOr, the New York multi-milIion-
alre, to raise, equip and maintain
throughout the war at his own ex-
pense regiment of artillery, and 10
personally leadit. The equipment of
this regiment, including its batteries,
will be the very best that money can
buy. Previous to this Mr.. Astor
had given his fine steam yacht to the
government to be used as a torpedo
boat.
Under the army reorganization
bill, which This week became a law,
the regul ar army will be increas ed
TO $4,000 men. The additional men
Will be recruited at once.
Secretary Charles Dick, of the Re-
publican National committee, has
closed the Washington headquarters
OF that committee, and gone to join
his regiment. He lis Northumberland
OF the Eighth Ohio, which has vOlun-
teered in a body for the war. The
headquarters will not be opened
again for some time, as the National
committee will take no part in the
congressional campaign.
Visitors to the government depart
ments other than the State, War
and Navy, see not the slightest signs
OF war. Business is moving along
with It's usual clOck-hke regularity IN
the Treasury, the Department of
Justice, of Agriculture, the Post
Office, and the Interior, which in
cludes the patent, pension and land
offices. About the only difference
noticed in any of these offices on &C.
count of the war is in the patent
office, where the applications for
patents show that much Of the in
ventive genius of the country is work
ing upon war-like ideas Nobody
having or expecting to have business
with any government department
need feel the slightest uneasiness on
account Of the war. 1t will not have
any effect upon such a business.
The two changes in the cabinet,
Charles Emory Smith, for some years
editor of The Philadelphia Press,
made acknowledgement in place of
Mr.. Gary, who resigned on account
Of his health, and Judge Day, who as
first assistant secretary of state has
had charge of all the nego tiations
which led up to the war with Spain,
secretary OF state in place of Hon
orahle John Sherman, who resigned
because of the natural inhrmities of
age, have strengthened the cabinet
The first was a surprise, but the
latter had been expected for months.