The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-04-22
PLANS OF THE WAR.

President Anxious to Avoid Death of
Soldiers From Disease-Distribution of
War Tax
Special Correspondence of the CHRONICLE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 20.-It is
clear that the Presidents counsellors diff
fer as to the advisability of the immedi
ate invasion of Cuba by land force. The
hot, rainy season will begin in two or
three weeks and continue until Septem-
Der. The Surgeon General of the Army
estimates that of unacclimated Ameri-
can soldiers sent into Cuba during
this rainy season thirty per cent. would
be stricken with the fevers incident to
that country and die or become disabled
for duty. The President is anxious to
avoid this sacrifice and prefers
to put the burden of the cam
paign for the first three or four
months upon the native soldiers. To
that end it is the intention to furnish
General Gomez with abundant supplies
of arms and munitions of war and leave
it to him to engage the Spaniards until
an American army can operate on the
island without being forced to combat
yellow fever and other diseases as well
as Spanish bullets. General Miles is un-
derstood to concur in these views, al
| though he has been quoted as being ex-
ceedingly anxious to throw large army
into Cuba at once. Secretary of War
Alger, Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt and General Fitzhugh Lee are
for beginning business without delay
and of forcing the fighting both on land
and sea.
SO
The military authorities in Washing
ton seem to be abandoning the theory
that the war will be short one and end
with naval demonstration in Cuban
waters. They are beginning to adopt
the theory that it is the Spanish purpose
to carry on war of retaliation and to
avoid the hazard of a general naval
engagement at the outset. By this it is
assumed that the Spanish intend to hold
themselves ready TO descend upon Ameri-
can commerce and possibly attack
American seaboard cities which they
may find unprotected from time to time.
Expecting final defeat, they are believed
to intend to make the war as expensive
to the United States as they can before
being obliged to yield to superior force.
~
Representatives Steele of Indiana,
Payne of New York and Dalzell of Penn
sylvania, composing subcommittee of
the Ways and Means Committee, have re-
ported to-day to the full committee war
revenue measure. The bill will produce
an increased revenue to an amount
between $lO5,OOO,O00 and $l15, 900, 900
per annum. 1t provides for an increase
of 81 barrel on beer. three cents a
pound on coffee, ten cents pound on
tea, tax on proprietary medicines and
perfumery, bank checks and other in
struments of exchange, and on Apolli-
naris water as well as upon many minor
articles entering into general consump-
ton. Coffee is expected to yield $751;
100000, tea $4,000, 900 and beer $685.
100000. In order to meet the charge
that the tax on tea and coffee is playing
into the hands of spectators who have
laid in heavy stocks for future consump-
ton the tax is imposed on these staples
as they are sold as well as upon importar
tions after the passage of the bill. Mr..
Steele and his colleagues on the sub
! committee have been engaged for three
weeks upon the preparation of this bill.
NArInM,c CALL Enn rnAAnn