The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-08
NEARING THE END.
Programme Complete for
General Lees Depart.
ure From Cuba.
SATURDAY MORNING SET
Americans All Safe or With
in Reach of Safe
ty Now
NO CHANGE in THE SITUATION
Congressman Lorimer Says. the Con-
sui General Will Make Dis
closures About the Maine.
NO CHANGE IN THE SITUATION

WASHINGTON, April 5. 1Sss.-The
Spanish-American situation is regarded
today as even more grave than at any
time heretofore. The hopeful views of
| peace heretofore entertained have given
way to the conviction that the issue be-
between the United States and Spain has
become well night irreconciliable.
The preparation for all eventuallies is
proceeding steadily. One significant evil
dence in this direction developed today
when it was learned that the United
States Consul at Porto Rico was about to
leave his post.
Assistant Secretary Day announced
this afternoon that all the citizens of the
United States now in Cuba who desired
to leave would positively be out of that
island by Saturday. He added that it
could also be reiterated that Consul-Gen-
eral Lee would leave Havana on that
date.
This statement was made yesterday,
but its positive reiteration on the day pre-
ceding shows there has been no delay
in getting the Americans off n that
nothing has developed that would keep
General Lee at Havana longer than TO-
morrow. Judge Day said there had been
no important communications from Min
ISteT w QOuIoFu at 1hdtl1b-
Inquiry at the foreign embassies and
legations today made it plain that the
action of the great powers yesterday in
presenting a joint note TO President Nc
Kinley urging peace constituted all that
these powers will do. There is no pres
emit purpose to take further action. or
to follow up this guarded and diplomatic
utterance with any suggestion OF medi-
alton or intervention.
1t is probable In case of the withdrawal
of the Minister that the French Arnbassa-
dor, NJ. Cambon will act temporarily in
behalf of Spain. AS stated. however. the
Spanish Minister has received positively
no Instructions concerning his. withdrawal
and therefore has asso begun 40 feparatl9 ms
teryiew given by the Associated Press,
has now become an official document,
having been cabled by Senior Polo to the
Foreign Office at Madrid as an indication
of his views.
1t was accompanied by an expression
of satisfaction at the accuracy with
which his views had been presented. The
Minister has also taken occasion to in
form the authorities at Madrid that there
is no truth in the reports circulated there
of serious indignities to the Spanish Lee
CATION or to himself. While there has
been some petty annoyance it has come
mainly from small ciliIdren and the Min
lister has given it no attention.
The Cabinet today ccupie a little
over an hour and a half. 1t was main
ly devoted to IN informal discussion of
the situation. The Presidents demeanor
" Ii i9hS -tctt etAAA tAtt CN@-A
ings Indicated that there was no expec-
tation on the part of the administration
that war would be averted. 1t can be
positively stated that there was no fresh
Development in the situation brought to
the attention of the Cabinet nor any
dispatches or communications OF any sort
placed before it. The joint note of the
powers was considered but that it will
have practically no effect on the situa-
ton as 1t now exists was plainly evident.
Representative Lorimer OF Illinois is
authority for the statement that General
Lee will make some startling disclosures
before the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations when he arrives here regarding
the conspiracy to blow UP the Maine. 1t
was announced on yesterday that General
Lee would be called before the committee.
but the MATURE of the testimony exact
ed from him was not disclosed. Il un-
derstand that General Lee is to supply the
missing link in the testimony said he.
MY information is that captain Sigsbee
is in possession of the facts but does not
feel at liberty to give until the person
who ave them to him releases him from
the secrecy imposed. That person, l I'M
derstand, is General Lee.
The steering committee of the Republic
can House conference, appointed last
Wednesday to canvass the situation and
ascertain how many Republicans VIII, it
the Presidents message does not go to
Congress next Monday. join with the
Democrats to secure action upon a reso-
luton declaring for Cuban independence
and armed intervention will meet at the
Capitol at 2 O'Clock. Mr.. Lorrimer, of
III ~ lS o&tlf1 o0lLlt III l1CI
movement and a member of the steering
committee. says that over one hundred
of the House Republicans rave already
agreed to act with them He is conf
dent. however. that they will not be
obliged to join with the Democrats to
eperrule the Speaker in order to secure
action.
Il am satisfied" said he, sthat once
we show the Speaker that we lave a
majority of the Republicans he will not
up to this time believed that a majority
of his party desired to act but once evil
dence of that fact is presented to him |
have the strongest reasons for believing
he will bow to the will of the majority"
The members of the Ways and Means
Committee of the House are busily en-
gagged with the treasury officials in the
work preliminary to the drafting of a war
revenue measure to be introduced in Con-
gress Immediately upon the opening of
hostilities with Spain. An increase. in the
internal revenue tax on beer from 81 to 81
a barrel, and a large increase in the tax
on manufactured tobacco, including
cigars and cigarettes, has been practically
! agreed upon. Bank checks, bills of ex-
change. drafts, deeds. mortgages and
other paper of this class, patent medi-
cines and nostrums in all probability also
will be added to the list
A rough estimate of the receipts to be
| derived from these sources is that the
increase ON these articles alone will APP
! proximate If not exceed S100, 900. 600 a year.
Beer. it is thought. will produce an in
| crease of S35, 900. 600. manufactured tobacco
an increase OF $55, UD. VV0 or more. and COM
merical paper and patent medicines $685.
| 600, 600. Another source OF revenue which,
| It is said, is almost certain to be availed
of is transactions in railroad and other
| listed stocks.
1t is believed that the returns from this
| source will be large. In all the figuring
| SO far the remaining industries and the
| professions which were taxed for strictly
war revenues during the rebellion have
| been left out of the account. An increase
Of from two cents to three cents on letter
| postage is also contemplated.