The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-04-30
DECLARATION OF WAR
Congress Acts Promptly on a Mes
sage from the President.
House Passes the Army Reorganization IsLH
Democratic Substitute for Bond Issue
in War Measure-Income Tax and
seignIorage Coinage Favored.


in War Measure-IncOme Tax and
seIgnIorage Coinage Favored.
WASHINGTON, April &c. The presi-
dent yesterday sent to congress the fol-
lowing message, recommending a dec
laration of war against Spain:
TO the Senate and House OF Representatives Of
the United States OF America:
transmit to the congress for its conSidera-
tion and appropriate action copies OF corre-
spondence recently had with the representative
OF Spain in the United States, with the United
States minister at Madrid and, through the lat
ter. with the government of Spain, showing the
action taken under the joint resolution ap-
proved April 20, 1898. for the recognition Of
the independence OF the people of Cuba. de-
Inanding that the government OF Spain relin-
Quish its authority and government in the is
land of Cuba and to withdraw its land and
naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters and
directing the president of the United States to
use the land and naval forces Of the United
States to carry these resolutions into effect"
Upon communicating with the Spanish min
ister in Washington the demand which IL be-
came the duty of the executive to address to
the government OF Spain in obedience to said
resolution, the said minister asked for his pass
ports and withdrew The United States min
lister at Madrid was in turn notified by the
Spanish minister for foreign affairs that the
withdrawal OF the Spanish representative from
the United States had terminated diplomatic
relations between the two countries and that
all of the communications between their
spective Representatives ceased Herewith L
recommend to your especial attention the note
addressed to the United States minister at
Madrid by the Spanish minister for foreign af
fairs on the 2ist inst, whereby the foregoing
notification was conveyed It will be perceived
therefrom that the government OF Spain, hav-
ing cogniZance Of the joint resolution OF the
United States congress and in view Of things
which the president Is thereby required and
authorized TO do reponds by treating the rep
resentative demands of this government as
measures Of hostility, following with that in
stant and complete severance OF relations by
its action, whereby the usage Of nations ac-
companies existent state of war between
sovereign powers
The position Of Spain being thus made known
and the demands OF the United States being
denied with complete rupture of intercourse
by the act OF Spain have been constrained,
in exercise OF the power and authority con-
ferred upon me by the joint resolution afore-
said to proclaim under date Of April p, 1898,
blockade of certain ports of the north coast OF
Cuba, lying between Cardenas and Bahia
Honda and OF the port OF Cienfuegos on the
south coast Of Cuba; and, further in exercise
OF my constitutional powers and using the au-
thority conferred upon me by the act OF con-
gress, approved April 22 1895 to issue my proc
lamation dated April %. 1898, calling for volun-
teers in order to carry into effect the said reso-
luton OF April 20. 1898. Copies of these procla-
nations are hereto appended
In view of the measures so taken, and with a
view to the adoption of such other measures as
may be necessary to enable me to carry out the
expressed will OF the congress OF the United
States In the premises, l now recommend to
your honorable body the adoption OF a Joint
resolution declaring that state of war exists
6etween the United States OF America and the
kingdom OF Spain. and l urge speedy action
thereon to the end that the definition of the in
ternational status Of the United States a
belligerent power may be made known, and the
assertion of all It's rights and the maintenance
of all its duties in the conduct OF a public war
may be assured WILLIAM MCKINLEY
Executive Mansion Washington, April 25, 1898
Accompanying the presidents mes
sage to congress was the correspond
ence which has passed between the
United States and Spain since the pas
sage of the resolution directing the
president to intervene in Cuba.
Quick Action by Congress.
WASHINGTON, April 26.-The house
and senate yesterday passed the bill
declaring the existence of a state of
war between the United States and the
kingdom of Spain in a manner which
cannot fail to impress the world. The
bill is as follows:
A bill declaring that war exists between the
United States OF America and the kingdom OF
Spain
Be It enacted. First. that war be and the
has existed since the 2lst day of April. A. ID.
1898, including said day between the United
States OF America and the kingdom OF Spain.
Second, that the president OF the United
States be and he Is hereby directed and en-
powered to use the entire land and naval forces
OF the United States and to call into actual
service OF the United States the militia Of the
several states to such extent may be neceS-
SarY TO carry this act into effect
Army Reorganization Bill Passed.
passed the army reorganization bill
Saturday. Fear was expressed on the
democratic side that the bill might in
crease the regular army in time of
peace, but an amendment prepared by
Mr.. Bailey which removed all doubt
on this score was accepted and the bill
passed by a unanimous vote. The bill
reorganizes the army into the three
battalion formation and authorizes
the % regiments of the infantry arm of
the service to be recruited up to a
total of 3I,SOO enlisted men. 1t au-
thorizes the recruitment of the ten
regiments of the cavalry arm of the .
service to total of 1900 enlisted
men, the seven regiments of the artil-
lery arm of the service to 10, 457 men /,
and the engineer battalion of five COM
4
ing two non-commissioned officers, |
which makes total for these four
arms of the service. when at maxi !
mum strength, of 6!,O1O.
Democratic Substitute for War Measure.
WASHINGTON, April 26. The demo- !
cratic members of the committee have |
q substitute proposition for the bond |
issue which is briefly as follows: To !,
coin $50, 900, 900 of the seigniorage !
now in the treasury into standard /
silver dollars, to issue $50, 900, 900 of GER |
tificates of indebtedness at low rate !
of interest, and to institute an income |
tax of three per cent. on all incomes over |
s., 900. While this latter clause does |
not present any new feature by which |
conflict with the decision of the su- /
preme court is averted, the members ;
profess a belief that if the measure be- !
would be brought to reverse its previ- ,
Gus decision.
The Suffers Occupation Gone.
WASHINGTON, April 25.-The sutler
of our late war, whom every veteran ,
will remember, is a thing of the past
lie ended with the peace of Appomat-
tox. The commissary in the field will
keep all the articles that the ancient
sutler made 100 per cent. profit on.
and will sell them at cost and trans
portation expenses added.
Lieut. Ramon de CarranzI, of the Spanish
Navy, Challenges Gen. Lee and Capt.
SIgsbse. of the Maine.