Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1898 — PLAN IS PERFECTED. [ARTICLE]

PLAN IS PERFECTED.

Congress Ready to Act on the Cuban Question. . i AUTHORITY TO BE GIVEN PRESIDENT Will Be Directed to Intervene at Once and Restore Peace —Empowered to Use the Army and Navy. Washington, April 13.—/The president Is authorized, directed and empowered to Intervene at once to restore peace on the island of Cuba and secure to the people thereof a firm, stable and independent government of their own, and is authorized to use the army and navy forces of the United States to secure this end. This, substantially, is the resolution agreed upon by the republican members of the foreign affairs committee of the house Tuesday night. The meeting was held at the residence of one of the members and did not adjourn till a very late hour. Before finally deciding upon the ■wording-of the resolution as given above the committee carefully considered several other forms. Information was conveyed to the committee, however, that a strong resolution was demanded, and several members, headed t>y Mr. Smith, of Michigan, made the contest for the resolution that was Anally agreed upon. To all intents and J imposes it is the resolution offered by Ir. Smith himself. The single resolution agreed upon by ■ the republican members will be introduced by a preamble reciting the conditions existing on the island of Cuba,' the facts as known concerning the dejrtruction of the Maine and briefly mak- | Ing a strong indictment against Spain for her conduct of affairs on the island. The preamble will in epitomized form follow very closely the lines of the president’s message, but that portion of it referring to the Maine disaster will take stronger ground than did themes«age. Calm Prevails. Outside of congress and the Lee dem-1 onstration, the complete calm which prevailed in all official quarters was in Btriking contrast with the intense ex- . eltement and the rapidity of action during the last two weeks. The regular Tuesday cabinet meeting was held at 11 o'clock, but the deliberations proved to be void of significance. At the con-. elusion of the meeting cabinet members summed up what had occurred by stating that the meeting was the most uneventful in many weeks. The situation, it was explained, was absolutely unchanged from that of Monday. No word had come from Minister Woodford Tuesday, and there were no new phases reported from Cuba. With evident satisfaction the members of the cabinet stated that the whole question is now committed to congress, and that any developments must be looked for from that quarter rather than from the executive branch. Thinks Crisis Averted. The Spanish minister believes that the war crisis has been averted, for the present, at least, and no further thought is being given at the Spanish legation to the necessity for departure. The legation has been advised that the Bpanish consul at Key West and a number of Spanish citizens there have removed to Tampa for fear of their live®, which, the consul reports, have been seriously menaced. No New Negotiations. Washington, April 13. —The diplomatic phase of the Spanish situation is in statu quo. There are no new negotiation® and no further developments In the old ones. It is the expectation that this status will continue for the present, at least, while congress conBiders the subject. A definite understanding has been reached by the representatives of the six great powers of Europe 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 a body since the president's message went to congress, but their personal exchanges have been productive of a common understanding, and their advices sent to the capitals of Europe are that the present situation calls for no further movement by the powers.

Their Attitude Vnlcnown. The armistice has gone into effect in Cuba, but up to a late hour no word had come as to the attitude of the insurgents. If they accept it the solution Appears to be simple. If they do not accept it the expectation of the Spanish government is that this will be made 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 will defend themselves, and thereafter will feel free to take the aggressive. In granting the armistice it Is known that the Spanish military authorities did so us a tender to the insurgents for a mutual cessation of hostilities, but it is viewed as being a mutual undertaking, so that if the insurgents do not accept the tender it is understood that it will not continue to operate as a means of keeping the Spunlab troops passive while under fire. To War Hevenori. Washington, April 13.—The republican members of the ways and means committee have agreed upon a plan for raising revenue in case of need to carry on war with Spain. The plan will raise more than $100,000,000 additional revenue annually, and is thus distributed: An additional tax on beer of one dollar per barrel, estimated to yield $35,000,D 00; a bank stamp tax, on the lines of the law of 1866, estimated to yield $30,000,000; a duty of three cents per pound on coffee and ten cents per pound op tea, and a like amount of internal tax on stocks of coffee and ten on hand in the United Stages, estimated to yield

$28,000,000; additional tax on tobacco, expected to yield $15,000,000. The committee also agreed to authorize the issuing of $500,000,000 bonds. These bonds are to be offered for sale at all post offices in the United States in amounts of SSO each, making a great popular loan to be absorbed by the people. To tide over emergencies the secretary of the treasury will be authorized to issue treasury certificates. These certificates or debentures are to be used to pay running expenses when the revenues do not meet the expenditures. These preparations are distinctly war measures and would be put in operation only should war occur. Ordered to Stop Fighting. Havana, April 13. —Capt. Gen. Blanco has issued instructions to the chiefs of the various corps of the army relative to the edict suspending hostilities, directing them to cause the tame to be communicated to the enemy. The troops will suspend hostilities immediately, fl maintaining their present position without any offensive movement,’ but will continue to guard convoys. In case the enemy assumes the offensive they will attack them vigorously. If the enemy send in flags of truce they will be received. The commander of the troops will enter into negotiations with the chief of the enemy to fix conditions, which will provisionally decide the terms of the suspension of hostilities. The neutral zone to be agreed upon shall be two kilometers. Everything is to be referred to the general of division. Capt. Gen. Blanco will reserve his definitive approbation of the terms granted.