The record-union., 1898-04-13
Conservative Leaders of Both Par
ties Regard War as Inevitable
Unless Spain Makes Final and Complete
Surrender by Giving Up the Island
Ways and Means Committee Agrees
On a War Tax Measure.


den of responsibility for the next move
in the Spanish crisis having been shift
ed by the Presidents message upon the
shoulders of Congress, the Capitol to-
day became the storm center, with the
Foreign Affairs Committees of the two
houses as the foci. The struggle in
each committee was long and bitter,
with this marked difference between
that at the Senate and the House end
of the Capitol-in the Senate commit
tee the Democrats as Well as the Re
publicans participated, while at the
House end the task was to secure har-
rnonious action among the Republicans
so as to present if possible, a solid
front when the Democrats were finally
called in for action.
Pressure from every quarter was
brought to bear Radicals and conser-
vatives strained every nerve. The vital
point of the contest hinged upon Wheth-
er the resolutions should go further
than the President had gone and de-
clare for the independence Of Cuba from
Spanish dominion Tonight compro-
mise proposition was certain to be re-
ported at both ends OFF, the Capitol.
The Senate committees resolution WI
\ be the more radical of the two 1t will
surely be reported tomorrow and will
declare fer immediate intervention
general recognition of the rights of the
Cuban people to freedom and indie
pendence and will demand the with
drawal of the Spanish forces from the
island.
There is a strong impression tonight
that the debate in the House will be
made short, to prevent undue crit-
cism of the Administration. Many OF
the Republicans are in favor of no
debate at all contending that the
passage of the resolution would
strengthen our position before the
world In the Senate it is impossible
to predict how long the debate will
run.
There is a general feeling in Wash
ington tonight among public men that
the action of Congress as foreshad-
owed in the resolutions renders the sit
uation as extremely critical, and con-
servative leaders of both parties con-
slider war inevitable as a result of their
adoption, unless Spain makes final
and complete surrender by giving up
the island of Cuba.
The situation is regarded as so crit
ical that the Republicans on the Ways
and Means Committee. as a result of
private conferences, have reached an
agreement as to the method of raising
$100.OGG000 additional revenues an
nually for the prosecution of the war
by increasing the tax on beer and to-
bacco, and placing d tax on tea and
coffee. They also agreed to authorize
the issue of a popular loan of $500
100000 and the issue of certificates of
Indebtedness to meet emergencies.
The diplomatic phase of the Spanish
situation is in statu quo. There are
no new negotiations, and no further
Developments in the old ones 1t is
the expectation that this status will
continue for the present, at least while
Conrgess considers the subject. A
definite understanding mas beeII IedCH
ed bv the representatives of the six
great Powers that no additional action
from that quarter would be opportune
at this time. This is not the result OF
any meeting of the ambassadors and
Ministers. for they have not met IN
body since the Presidents message
went to Congress, but their personal
exchanges have been productive of
common understanding, and their ad-
vice sent to the Capitals OF Europe is
that the present situation calls for no
further movement of the Powers.
The armistice has gone into effect III
Cuba, but up to late hour to-day no
word had come as to the attitude OF
the insurgents. If they accept 1t the
solution appears to be simple. Ii they
do not accept il the expectation OF the
n Spanish Government is that this VIII be
manifest within the next few days by
continued hostilities by the forces OF
Gomez and others If the Spanish troops
are attacked while in garrison they VIII
defend themselves, and thereafter VIII
be free to take the aggressive.
In granting the arinistice it IS knoWii
that the Spanish military authorities did