The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-26
Struggle With Spain Would Be
of Short Duration.
Her Warships Could Not Reach
Our Coasts.
PLANS ARE ALL LAID.
American Squadron Would At
tack Havana at Once.
Army Would Occupy Cuba. and
Porto Rico.

Washington. D. c., Feb. 26.-It will be
short war with Spain and a harmless
one to this country, so far as the sea
coast is concerned. Officers of the army
and navy do not believe that gun will
De fired from the defenses which are
Delng made ready with so much haste
| Ihey have no idea that a Spanish
squadron or a Spanish war vessel will
l S an american port. In their minds
ish. - q ILL
The Vizcaya steamed 1eisureIy and
ffedched New York, unable to go much
tn - t1i, "IthouI coal. If she had made
tHe TRIP at full speed she would have
USED every pound of fuel The question
u cOaI IS a perfect seacoast defense for
the United States against Spain. unless
10 rG ia a,T SHIPS could coal at Havana
anu lhen steam for the United States
II Is d deIense against all of the powers
except Great Britain. The officers Of
me IN army and navy know that the forti-
ncauon OF the Atlantic coast is With
sole reference to protection against
Ifeat Britain, which alone has the coal
ing stations on this side of the ocean
WhIch would permit her navy to con-
1uct operations against this country
me hour war is declared coal becomes
contra pand of war. It could not be OBJ
tanned by Spain save at Havana
Inc first act of war on the part of the
a squadron from Key West against Ha-
Vana.
The purpose may be accomplished by
a DIockade of the port, or it may take
the form OF bombardment. There is
the possibility of a naval engagement
or the alternative of a surrender to
empowering force. After the fall of
Havana there may be some sea fehtin o.
along the route of the Windward is
IandS,If Spain starts a large fleet across
the water. But the opinion of army and
naval authorities is that the war will
END with the occupation of Cuba, and
perhaps, Porto Rico and the expulsion
of the Spanish authority from this hem
isphere.
How much of a land force will be sent
TO cuba to restore peace and order is a
| matter of difference of opinion The
preparations and plans of the war de-
partment contemplate the mobilization
OF 100 900 men. That number, it is
thought, would be made up from the
regular army and the national guard
The matter of transports has already
received attention. The prediction was
made today that within two weeks the
concentration of troops at New Orleans,
Mobile and coast points would be under
way.
That limit is probably too short. The
court of inquiry is working zealously
but it will be engaged perhaps a week
at Key West after leaving Havana har-
Dor
The successful prosecution of a mod
filled money chest as on welI-1Iled
powder magazine.
At the close of the business in the
treasury Monday the net and cash bal
ance in the vaults amounted to $685.
148 969
OF this amount 800, OOO, 900 constitutes
the gold reserve held for the redemption
of legal tender notes and the balance
of little more than $125, 000, 900, would
be quickly absorbed by the extraOrdina-
ry expenditure which would be requir-
ed. The present average receipts of the
government do not quite equal the aV-
erage ordinary expenditures, and all
extraordinary expenditures that would
be necessitated by war would, there
FORE have to be provided for in two
Ways-by increased taxation and by
borrowed money.
Increased taxes would doubtless be
imposed by congress without delay.
The tariff law would have to be care
fully revised to see Just where and now
additional revenues could be derived
from customs taxation. In some in
stances increases could be obtained by
increasing duties, while in others, where
the duties have already been placed
above the maximum revenue producing
point for the purpose of protection, in
creased revenue could only be obtained
by reducing the rates imposed.
Most of the increases would have to
come from internal taxes, however, and
these would have to be very largely in
creased.
ternal revenue are whisky, beer and to-
baccO. The tax on whisky is at present
about the maximum revenue producing
point, and it is doubtful if an increase
or a lowering of this tax would increase
the receipts appreciably. Beer does not
pay as much as some think 1t ought TO
even for peace times, and should war
taxes become necessary, there would pc
little difficulty in raising from $50, Oo0,O 600
to $50. coo. 600 more a year by doubling
or treblng the tax on beer The poll
cy of congress for some years has been
to decrease the taxes on tobacco ana
to exempt from the exaction some kinds
of tobacco. These taxes could be re
stored as a war measure, and $lo,OOO,OO0
to $40 600. 900 additional could be raised
from this source.
Other millions could be raised by tax
ing proprietary medicines and other
preparations of this character, includ-
ing cosmetics and toilet articles, and
still other millions could be brought in
by stamp tax on legal and commercial
papers Still other taxes, such as an
income tax or other form of direct tax
alton. apportioned among the states in
proportion to population, so as to be
constitutional might be imposed If the
necessity were urgent enough.
At best these additional taxes would
not Weld money enough to meet the
current expenses of war and to sup
Div the ready money for the necessary
OUTLAWS for procuring, while the war
was in progress, the enormous suPples
of material of all kinds, which ought to
have been provided gradually during
the years of peace, so as to be on hand
for an emergency.
They would be useful in raising the
money to pay the war debt after peace
had been restored, but the great bulk
of the money that would be required for
the prosecution of the war would nave
to be secured by borrowing
The credit of the United States IS
good. and even with a foreign war on
So ood a conservative administration
e - +-,aes,1rv denartment it would be
Sos-if1e 70 borrow ali the money needed
a reasonable rates of interest.