The National tribune., 1903-08-06
THE AMERICAN
SPANISH WAR.
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SfANlOH WAN.
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printing charts was carried on night and
day. In part, the war-room at the White
House was equipped by the Coast ana
Geodetic Survey. -Four large wall maps
were prepared for the use of the Presi-
dent These were hung in the war room
and were suitably provided with small
pin flags, thus enabling the Executive to
follow the movements of the land and
sea forces. Many detailed maps of va
riouS localities were also furnished. and
special information was collected as need
ed by the President.
While the faithful work performed in
each of the above-named services was of
great value. yet the most important func-
ton of the Department was to provide
funds for the carrying on of those sue
cesSful naval and military operations
which added so much to the glory of our
arms.
In devising plans for the financial ad-
minstrati0n of n war, it is the duty of
those who have in charge so important
Il trust to have regard TO two things: u)
the procuring of funds promptly, and in
amounts sufficient to meet instantly all
demands of the military and naval de-
partments; (2) in SO procuring funds to
have great care that the public credit be
not impaired. AS a corOllary to the lat
ter consideration there should he strict at
tenton paid to the industrial condition of
the country itself. for it may be readily
perceived that anything which operates
injuriously upon the business of the coun-
try must also impair the Nations credit.
1t was the hope and aim of those who
had to do with the financial admnistra-
ton of the war that these things should
be accomplished.
War expenditures began practically
with the blowing up of the Maine. 1t is
true, some preparations had been made
in view of the possibility of a cOntic:
with Spain. but so far as these are con-
ccrned they were rot reflected in the with
drawal of moneys from the Treasury.
When. however, that sad event occurred,
possibility became probability, and the
regular appropriations. made annually
with n view to the maintenance of the
military and naval establishments on a
peace basis. were rapidly exhausted. The
cash balance stood. at the close of Feb
ruary. 1898, at $22I, ,224 900. This by no
means represented the amount which
would have been available for war pur
poses. 1t is our fixed policy to maintain,
1T all events. the integrity of Il fund in the
Treasury amounting to $100,000.OOO in
gold. known commonly as the gold re-
serve" Upon this base of safety depends
the stability of more than 5000. .000,0 600 in
other forms of money. and to undermine
this foundation, already too narrow. if
measured by the standard which prudent
business men employ, would be to threaten
our whole financial structure.
MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC CREDIT.
Having regard. therefore. to the main
tcnance of the public credit, this fund
should not be impaired unless the Nations
necessity should he greater than the dan
ger which would follow from resort TO
it. OF the remaining S121 100000. some
S33, ,COO,0GO were he'd in trust for the re-
demption of notes of national banks,
either in process of liquidation or which
were voluntarily engaged in retiring cir
cuation; S14 100000 must he held for the
redemption of Pacific Railroad bonds due
Jan. ], 1899: S13,000,000 of fractional
silver and minor cGins must be practically
deducted. because a large part We're worn
and uncurrent. and from that fund the
country's needs for small change must be
satisfied. These deductions left but S67,-
0OO.OU0, and it was not to be forgotten
that, while every energy should be en-
ployed for war preparations, civil estab-
lishments must not be the subject of any
neglect. Thus some $30000,00U or
$40 0,0GO,000 We're required to he kept on
hand as cash to be used for the ordinary
functions of the Government. THAT
says writer on war finances,
Corresponds to the cash on hand which
4 merchant keeps in the till to make
change, or to meet small bills So this
available cash balance of S221 100000 at
the close of February. 1898, shrank. when
measured by the Governments ordinary
needs, to barely $2o,OOOO00 or $30,O00,
600.
We had so long been peace-loving Ma
ton. and it has been so contrary to our
traditional policy TO maintain large
armies, and, until recently, to maintain n
feet worthy of the name, that our com
mendable tendencies in the one direction
and our reprehensible neglect perhaps, in
the other. rather invited the hasty and i'll
considered action of the enemy in sug-
gesting early in March tie recall of Con
Lee. This act. hostile in its
nature, and following so soon after our
had been plunged into the depths
Of sorrow by what many believed to be
the wanton destruction of Il ship and its
crew. resulted in more pronounced activity
looking to the National defense The
President without. delay conferred with
the leaders in both Houses of Congress.
L Ht VI tiiiS WIS tUtt
the House, on March 8, and the Senate
the following day, without discussion and
by a practically unanimous vote, passed
4 bill approprating $5O.000,0OO for the
National defense. There has been a aues-
ton whether or not still larger appro-
priation would not have had the moral
effect Of aiding diplomatic negotiations.
but the appropriation was not made for
that purpose, for the Government ener-
getically began the work of preparation |
which was contemplated by the act The |
sum made available was to be expended |
under the direction Of the President. In |
iisposng of it to the best advantage, the |
Executive allotted to the several Depart |
ments amounts in accordance with the re-
luirements Of their respective services. as |
follows: Navy Department. 500, 10. 274.-
p; War Department, S1S,944, ,627 .6S; |
State Department, 1898. $50 50; Treasury
Department, $170,OOO,O0; total, $49,231,-
162. 10
Activity in preparation for the coming
conflict was now the order of the day.
The United States Secret Service. n Bu-
reau of the Treasury Department, devoted
its energies to the breaking up of the spy
system which had been established by
Spanish officials at Montreal
FIRST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.
Until the last moment the President
and other conservative officials earnestly
hoped that war might be escaped through