Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-02
PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS
Consultations in Regard to Means of Prose-
cutting and Supporting War.
Form of the Expected Declaration
From the Legislative Body
Also Discussed.

Consultations today are largely directed
towards settling upon ways and means of
prosecuting and supporting war. It is un-
eerstood that the men from Congress with
whom the President has talked have been
consulted chiefly on two subjects-the
method Of treating the Intervention ques-
tfon in Congress with view of preserving
harmony between Congress and the Presi-
dent, and the means of raising revenue to
meet the expenses of war.
A story was circulated that Secretary
Gage and Chairman Dingley Of the House
ways and means committee consulted with
the President on tine subject of sending a
representative of the government to New
York to consult with a conference of bank
ers, to ascertain on what terms bonds
&C uld be floated il it should become neces-
sary to float loan
A Star reporter asked Mr.. Dingley about
the report, and he said that it was all
chaff, net true at all.
In reply to inquiry as to what was
under contemplation in the way Of pro-
viding money. Mr.. Dingley said that ma
turally the subject was being considered.
but that there was nothing that could be
said about it.
From another source the statement was
had that the necessary money would be
raised chiefly from internal revenue
1t is said that Senator Hanna advocates
the Issuance of bonds.
Form of the Declaration.
No probability of peace is being taken in
to consideration in the preparation for the
evants of next week. 1t is said to be as
sured that the President will send his mes
sage to Congress Monday or Tuesday, and
that very prompt action will follow.
1t is said that the question under discus
sion between the President and represen-
tatives of the congressional committees
having foreign affairs in charge is the form
in which the declaration by Congress shall
appear. The sentiment in both branches Of
Congress is strongly in favor of making
the destruction of the Maine the principal
indictment against Spain. On the other
hand the President is extremely firm in the
determination that. this. shah not be done.
Il is said that he will carry his opposition
to all extreme point.
1t is insisted bY congressman, however,
that no preamble that fails to treat the
Maine disaster es a principal cause of
complaint can be adopted in Congress. The
cold-blooded way in which the Maine "in-
cident' is learned to have been spoken OF
in the Sagasta dispatch has excited great
Indignation, and the examination Of the
testimony taken by the court, together
with some not sent with. the Presidents
message to Congress, are said to have
satisfied members Of the Senate foreign
relations committee that destruction of. the
Maine is chargeable. to Spanish officials,
directly or Indirectly. A strong conviction
is forced upon some of the leading minds of
Congress that the Maine disaster furnishes
the graver cause of war
1t is held that both the cause of human
ity and the destruction Of, the Maine fur
nish ample Justification for Intervention
or a declaration OF war; that either stand
ing alone would demand such action, but
that the destruction Of the Maine was an
act Of war and furnishes the greater provo
cs ton.
May BE No Preamble.
To avoid this possible conflict of opinion
between the President and Congress, it is
proposed to adopt the resolutions recogniz-
ing the independence OF Cuba and for in
tervention, without any preamble, the rea-
sens for the resolutions to be set forth
fully in the reports of the committee, where
the view of Congress will be expressed.
Mny Be No Recommendation.
Whether the President will make speci-
seems yet undetermined. He has said with
In few days to prominent leaders of his
party that when he sent the case to Con-
gress he would share with that body the
responsibility for whatever course was de-
ctded upon. On the other hand, there is an
tntimation that the President may wish
Congress to assume the initiative. IF he
puts all the responsibility on Congress-"
said republican representative, cit will
sober that body Perhaps"
The prevailing belief is that he will make
a recommendation. There is said to be an
attempt on the part of certain conservative
senators to prevent any stronger action by
Congress than the recognition of Cuban
independence in the hope that the negotia-
ticns may then be reopened and war avert
ed. But the prevailing sentiment at this
moment seems to be to go farther and en-
force recognition by armed Intervention
TEis was the position taken by Gen. Gros-
venor Of Ohio in his speech last Thursday.
Gen. Grosvenor says that If war is de-
clared he is In favor of authorizing the
President to call out z, 600 600 men, and use
as many as are necessary to make the war
short. sharp and decisive The ultra con-
servatives are besing their opposition to
Intervention on the ground Of SPANS re-
cent revocation of the reconcentrado de-
cree and her measures for feeding and
otherwise relieving their misery.
NINISTER Esnx n,oS CIR knurrD>rn~