The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-09

Seat 20 W0edferd-secret Sessien
May he Held to Declare war.
WASHINGTON, April S.--Memhsrs OK
the ways and means committee Of the
house are husiy engaged with treasury
officials In work preliminary TO drafting
| war revenue measure TO ba introduced
in congress Immediately upon the open-
ing OF hostiiiies with Spain. An in-
crease In the internal revenue tax on
beer from 81 TO s. per barrel. and q large
increase in the tax on manufactured to-
bacco. including cigars and cigarettes.
has been practically agreed upon. Rank
checks. bills OF exchange. drafts. deeds.
mortgages and other papers of this class.
patent medicines and nostrums. In all
probability, will also be added 10 the list.
A rough estimate OF the receipts to b
derived from these sources is that the
Increase on thess articiessalone will ap-
proxmate. II not exceed. slooiooo.ooo
year. Beer. II is thought. will produce
an increase of ssaooo.o0: tobacco. an In
crease OF $aa.oooooo or more. ana conn
merciai and patent medicines. sss.ooo.ooA
Another source Of revenue, which 10 Ger.
tain to be avsiled OF. Is transactions ID
railroad and other listed stocks. Il ie
believed that the returns from this source
win be large
In all figuring so far. the remaining In
dustries and the professions which wero
taxed for strictly war revenues during
the rebellion have been left out OF the
account.
An Increase from to cents on letter
postage and a tax on gas and electric
light has also been suggested TO the de-
partmeEt. but these items have not been
considered. The increase of l cent An
ounce on letter postage probably would
augment the receipts by sso.0oO0o q year.
4 niIi for = Temporary Loan.
A bill providing for temporary loan
of ioo,eooooJ and a permanent loan Of
t0o.ooO .ooo at . per cent. payable In coin.
has been prepared by the ways and
means committee. and will be Immediate
ly made In case OF war. The whole ques-
tion OF finances OF the government In vtsw
of probable hostIlities Is being carefully
considered By the treasury officials, 10
that a definite and well ,noasht-out plan
OF operations may be al the Disposal oe
congress IN case Of need
THE cabinet meeting today was un-
eventfni. No tsiegrams OF any import.
ance had been received since yesterday
erai Lee. and there was said to be no
reason 10 expect any in the near future.
The session was devoted entirely to Z
general discussion OF affairs, but no con-
ciaslon was reached on any point. The
situation can be stated. on the authority
of number OF cabinet officers. to be
unchanged since yesterday. There are
no new Developments. and evidence that
none are looked for before Monday at
least.
II Is stated that Attorney General
Griggs will leave for his home In New
Jersey at o'clock this afternoon, to re-
main until Sunday evening.
Dispatches Must he Translated.
During the cabinet meeting an Associ-
ated Press telegram was handed 10 the
president. stating IN effect that all cipher
kilograms hereafter sent out OF Havana
must first be translated in the presence
OF the press censor. II was Interpreted
as applying 10 government as well 40
other messages. This information was
received with expressions OF Indignation.
but as Gen. Lee will leave Havana to-
morrow the order seems TO have come
too late 10 be Of much service To the
Spanlards or much annoyancs to this
government.
There Is no difference Of opinion among
mo members OF the cabinet on the quee-
tion OF the final Issue OF the present com-
plications. All agree that war u an
parentiy unavoidable.
AT soday's cabinet meeting the question
Of what course this government would
pursue in case Of a surrender on the part
OF Spain was not discussed Events have
moved forward rapidly within the la6S
few days. and other questions than thoso
snyolvlng war have been passed oves.
The Issue has been made up. and present
Indications. Il WAS stated, point sniy -
open hostsiitIes within tho next few dasa
II WAS .tased that the messaes would "
cent to congress on Monday
Good Friday passed In WAahingson uish
not ripple On the surfscs, either e IN
White House or thA espstsi. - ahow nAae
The unissd States = = - 49, - -