The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-25
The First War Sunday Spent by the
President at Church and In Con-
sultation with His Cabinet.
CONGRESS TO act QUICKLY
SENATE DEMOCRATS MAY SPRING
ANOTHER CUBAN RESOLUTION.
Opposition in Both Houses Likely
When New Revenue Bill Is Sub
mitted by Republicans.

WASHINGTON, April PA resolution
formally declaring war against Spain will
be introduced in the Congress of the United
States tomorrow. The decision to do so has
been reached after mature deliberation in
order to safeguard the interests of the Unit
ed States. All the arguments pro and con
were discussed this afternoon at the White
House at conference, in which President
Mckinley, Attorney General Grggs, Assist
ant Secretary Day and Senators Davis and
Hale participated, and on its breaking up
announcement was made that Congress to-
morrow would be asked to declare what it
is held already exists. This was the most
important Washington development on the
first war Sunday.
The President will send message to Con-
gress tomorrow to be delivered Immediate
ly after its convening, setting forth the
facts in the case and asking Congress to
formally declare war in order that there
may be no misunderstanding the part of
other nations The most important point in
the message from a news point Of view will
be the announcement that Spain has made
formal reply to our ultimatum. This reply
has not been given to the public, and it was
supposed that none had been received. The
document is formal acknowledgment by
try of the ultimatum as a virtual declara-
ton of war Congress will therefore be
asked to recognize this condition of affairs
and to declare it to the world, using Spain's
concession as a reason for it. The war res
olution has been prepared, and it is under
stood that the two committees having in
charge the foreign affairs of the two houses
of Congress will be prepared to report on
it very speedily-probably Immediately after
the reading of the message. An effort will
then be made to have the resolution taken
up and passed forthwith, and it is not now
believed that there will be any formidable
opposition to this course in either house.
Otherwise the news of the day here related
almost entirely to the execution of the
plans hitherto announced.
For the President and his Cabinet circle,
Sunday passed quietly and uneventfully.
Secretary Alger escorted his daughter to
the White House during the morning, and
the latter, in company with the President,
attended divine service at the Metropolitan
Methodist Church, Secretary Alger going to
a PRESBYTERIAN Church. Secretary and Mrs.
Gage also drove to the White House and
accompanied the President and Miss Alger
to the Metropolitan. Mrs. Mckinley has not
vet returned from her trip to New York
city.
General Corbin and Secretary Alger con-
ferred in the afternoon respecting the ar
rangements for calling on the Governors
of the States and Territories for the quota
of troops they are to furnish under the
Presidents proclamation asking for 125,O0O
men. The number OF men in each branch
of the service, viz. Infantry, cavalry and
artillery remains to be settled, besides many
other matters of detail.
In the State, War and Navy Departments
MANY of the officials were at their desks di-
recting the execution of policies hereto
fore determined on. Neither Secretary Alger
nor Secretary Long was on hand, but AS
sistant Secretary Meiklejohn and Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt were on duty for sew
eral hours. Mr. Meikeljohn has already re-
ceived large number of applications from
newspapers to permit their representatives
to accompany the army, but as stated in
the circular issued yesterday, the number
to be accorded the privilege will be limited.
The assistant secretary is busily engaged in
supervising the general preparations for the
transportation of the troops overland and
also to Cuba, for which a large
number of vessels will be chartered.
In the quartermaster's Office nearly the
whole clerical force was on hand. The de-
tails are far from complete, but Quarter
master General Ludington believed every
thing will be in readiness by the time the
troops are ready to move. 1t may be that
the railroad arrangements for the transfer
of the troops overland will be left to the
immediate charge of the quartermasters of
the various army departments who are fully
acquainted with the facilities at hand for
doing this work. Some understanding with
the railroads on the basis of uniform rates
of travel will be arranged, if possible, so that
the soldiers may be sent by the shortest
possible route with the least charge to the
government. Questions of equipment of the
troops with uniforms and tents also are to
be settled, although many of the state or
ganizations are prepared in this respect.
The department has number of branches
in which tents, uniforms, ETC., are manufac-
tured. but it viii be compelled TO call on the
services of outside firms to meet the pres
ent demands.
General Miles was at his Office in the War
Department for some time in conference
with his staff officers Anticipating active
service in the field. the general has had
manufactured several hundred sabetasches,
or officers dispatch cases. which are in use
among the European armies. They are man
afactured of leather, are about nine inches
square and can be attached to the belt
around the officers waist With them is a
fairly good-sized isinglass map case by
which an officer may always have at hand
an outline of the country he is traversing
1t is said at the Navy Department that all
the naval militia which will be used in the
deep sea patrol vessels already have been
ordered TO them. Those remaining will be
utilized in manning the signal stations alcng