The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-04
WAR WOULD THEN BE SHORT
FOR NO DOUBT is FELT AS To THE
RESULT OF A SEA FIGHT.
SiIverite Senators Again Seeking OPP
pOrtunity to Annoy the Administra-
tiOn and Delay Legislation.
Special to the indianapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, May 3-The administra-
tion is hoping for an ideal conclusion of the
war, to wit: A second noble, spectacular
naval battle, the smashing of the remainder
of the Spanish fleet in Atlantic waters, the
performance to be followed by the retire.
ment of the Spanish troops from Cuba and
Porto Rico and a treaty of peace entered
into between the United States and Spain
Immediately thereafter. If this second
fight cannot be brought about in the near
future the fault will not be ours. The
American navy, under command of Samp-
SON and Schley is painting for an opportu-
nifty to get at the Spaniards and scheming
to force a fight. From latest Madrid adj
vices it would appear that the Spanish are
about ready to hazard the whole fortune
OF war upon one throw of the dice and are
making arrangements to cross to this side
TO engage our fleet The two navies are
about evenly matched in strength, weight
and numbers, and battle between them
would not be an unequal encounter. A
Spanish victory would mean proIongation
OF the war; an American victory would
bring the struggle to swift finish.
The attention of the soldiers and sailors
of America and of the members of the gov
ernment at Washington is focused on the
coming naval battle, battle as full of fate
%o~ Craiv - We ota~lo< 49, g.
Yalu for China. Speculation is hinging up
on the result of such a battle. So eager is
the talk that it requires no severe stretch
OF the imagination to hear the roaring of
the cannon and the crashing of the steel
sides of the men-of-war. To such a COM
plexion has the Washington situation de-
veloped. Everybody is discounting the
future. and in the light Of discussion of
probabilities current events are growing
tame and fat to the taste 1t is easily per-
ceived that the Washington atmosphere is
at this writing heated and unhealthy.
The great naval victory at Manila has
wrought remarkable change among the
members of the opposition on the Senate
finance committee. They argue that mas
much as all indications now point to a war
of brief duration there may be no need of
extraordinary revenue legislation, and that
they will be doing patriotic duty by or
ganizing delay. From this 1t would seem
that they veeripg around to the posi-
tions first taken by Senator Jones and his
free-silver colleagues. who started In upon
a campaign of deliberate obstruction They
will go about it this time, though, in a diff
ferent way. They are setting up the plea
that the House war revenue bill is full of
inequalities as well as being fundamentally
wrong on general principles, and they are
proceeding to pull it to pieces and replace
it with measure of their own. That is
the old-time policy of the Senate, which
almost invariably substitutes revenue bill
of its own for every one that comes over
20 it from the House. There was a prospect
that this one would be treated differently
on account OF the emergency which exists
for its passage. AS matters now stand,
however, there is revived prospect of pro-
longed Senate debate over war revenue leg
islation. A short war may thus mean a
protracted session of Congress.
With the war at an end the opposition in
the Senate will feel free to begin an attack
upon the administration. One feature of this
attack will be a congressional investigation
into the expenditure of the $5O.OOc.O00 war
fund and the supplementary appropriations
for the same purpose. This investigation
VIII be strictly for political effect. and in
the hopes that a drag-net may bring to
light scandals in awarding of contracts and
purchase of ships and supplies of various
kinds. This drag-net campaign of scandal
is already being planned by Senator Jones
and others. who expect to have charge of
the congressional campaign next fall.
-
In making up their estimates of the cost
Of carrying war members of the ways
and means and appropriations committees
of the House went painstakingly into the
financial records of the war of the rebel
lion They found that it cost $50 O.O0O. 900 10
prosecute the civil war, and that it was no
uncommon thing. during the progress OF
that struggle. for Congress to make lump
appropriations ranging from s25O.OOO,OOO to
oOO On a basis of three years en-
nstment there were 2,l27.OOo soldiers in the
war Of the rebellion, and IN May 1866. the