The Press., 1898-04-14
Washington Letter.

Wh8nAnBbou4 APTu l6eos
 The official announcement of an armi- tice in Cuba declared by Spain is general ly believed to be merely another trick, 1t was feared that 1t might cause the rresl- his mind about sending 1t in. Now those fears are all past. Gen. Lee and all the Americans who desired to leave are safely out of Cuba, and the message Is before congress. Consequently there is a feel ing of contentment because it is known that long deferred justice Is about to be meted out to Spain by the United States 1; that vexatious delays are over.
 Congress is practically unit. although there are a few individuals who would pre- fer proceeding a little differently ,and by the middle of the week the authority will be placed In the presidents hands to use the U. s. army and navy to drive the Spanish out of Cuba, and before the week closes Cuba Is likely to be surrounded by the most formidable fleet of warships this country has ever assembled under one commander, and the steps will have been NhAWA Ah&h WANA WNbh NAAE n6GNwNNAN kEOUHN | to be landed on Cuban soil to cooperate with our ships- The plans are all made, the ships have up steam and only await the final order to start, The only thing that can upset our program now is the showing of the white feather by Spain, but those who are thoroughly conversant with the Spanish character as we'll as with existing political conditions in Spain think that a big blun at making aggressive | war upon the United states will be made and kept up until there Is danger not only of Spain losing Cuba but her other col. Onles and her entire navy. Then she will through the European powers, sue for peace. Meanwhile, it Is known that the | Spanish programme is not to openly | fight our navy, but to try to use It's fast est cruisers and torpedo boats and torpedo destroyers to damage our heavy hghting ships. They will find, however, that this will be very dangerous sort of game to engage In.
 What a world of contrasts 1t is While congress is listening to a message from the president that means war, thousands of happy children are gathered upon the grounds at the rear of the White House engaged in the eport-pecullar to Wash ington, of rolling Easter eggs to the music of the entire Marine band, which plays at the express order of the president to add to the enjoyment of the little ones. There can be little doubt that the president as he looks out over these joyous children | finds for more enjoyment in contemplating their play than he does in looking forward | to the war.
 In view of the war now almost upon us, the following opinion of Col. Jed. Hotch- kiss, of Va, who was on Stonewall Jack sons staff, is interesting, if not important: "I put a very small valuation on big battle ships. They are formidable in looks, but what can they accomplish If two of them fired at each other simultane- ously and both struck, two ships would undoubtedly go to the bottom. One shot will settle the business of the best one ever built. There are too clumsy, too heavy, too slow to get away. The best fighter Is the one who can retreat quickly and to do that there must be little im- pediment, little weight. When men cen turtles ago sheathed both rider and steed in armor they thought they had done something wonderfully clever, but the steed-clad combination wasn't worth q continental. Our bIg war vessels | re- gard as a repetition of that ancient blund- | er." 1t should be remembered that Col Hotchkiss did all his fighting on land.
 Some idea of the amount of work thRt is now being done at the Washingtou Navy Yard-uot upon ships, but upon guns, gun carriages and ammunltion
 may be gained from the fortnightly pas roll, which amounts to $55, 900.
 There is prejudice against the issue of bonds of any kind, among senators anc representatives, but with war in sight, and nearly all of that $50,0O0 appropria- ton gone, 1t Is realized that more money must be had than will be brought in by the proposed doubling of the tax on beer the increasing of the tax on all kinds ol manufactured tobacco, and the placing oi a tax on various commercial papers, and | that bonds must be issued. The ways and means committee has prepared two bills, the first providing for the issue oi S100 900 900 in bonds, as a temporary loan. and the second for from $500 900 |, 900 10 S5O0, ,0O0, 900, as a permanent loan Thes.. bonds will be payable in coin anC to bear per cent interest. If 1t becomes necessary to issue them they may bt offered to the public at par, Instead O being sold in a lump to capitalists. A least. that seems to be the present In tentlon.