The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-07-25
WASHINGTON.
An Improbable Story.

WASHINGTON, July pa Washington
special says that the Spanish legation was re-
Gently instructed from Madrid to approach Sec
rotary Fish with the inquiry whether the
United States would be disposed to intervene
with an armed force in Cuba, with a view of
ascertainng whether the people of that island
really desire or not to separate themselves from
the mother country.
The proposition comes in connection with an
Intrigue which for sometime has been aturino
IN Europe, by virtue of which Germany and
England are to intervene in Spain and by
means of sufficient troops stop the civil war
now going on there, and place Alfonso on the
throne. The scheme has been managed es-
peclally by Pruss'an diplomacy, and as all the
money which Serrano had for sometime past
for paying troops and carrying on the govern
ment has been fu nished from the Prussian
treasury, it is clear that the proposition is not
to he opposed by HIM.
A part of the project is that Prussia shall
have some small island in the West Indies for
watering station aud the consent of the
United States to this is to be compensated by
giving US Cuba.
Treasury Balances.
The following are the Treasury balances to-
day:-Currency, $I2,646, 620; special deposit OF
legal tenders for redemption of certificates of
deposit, S61, $4,000; coin, $40, 154 including
coin certificates $32, 49,, 200; outstanding legal
tenders, $3S200000O.
The Five Per Cent Loan.
New YORK, July 24.-News has been re-
ceived in regard to the bids for new loan.
Secretary Bristow is now at Long Branch in
conference with the President in regard to the
bids, and latter in the day they will be fur
nished the public and the awards announced.
There is no DOUBT the Secre AIRY committed
grave mistake in refusing to open the bids in
public, as similar bids are treated at the sub
treasury, and as has been the practice of the
treasury to treat them. The mistake probably
arose from the inexperence of the Secretary in
such matters. 1t is evident that if any one of
the larger bids are accepted to which the con-
dition is attached of a ''calP' on the remainder
of the loan the S scretary will be obliged to ex-
cude the bids for smaller amounts to which no
conditions are attached, and this will cause
dissatisfaction. On the other hand, if the
large and conditional bids are thrown out those
making them can say that the treasury did not
take the only method offered of placing the en-
tire loan.
AnoLuer Washington special says it is under
stood that none of the bids which are cOndi-
tional uDon an option of the entire S179000,0 600
for any definite period will be accepted, as the
government seems unwilling to place the con-
troll of the market of United States securities in
the hands OF o on co firm The papers state that
about 300, 100000 of the loan was taken by the
New York capitalists, of which August Bel
mont is said to have taken S25, 100000.
Commissioner DOug lass not to Resign.
Commissioner Douglass authorizes the de-
NAL of the publication that he contcmplates re-
signing the Office of Commissioner of Internal
Revenue to accept the judgeshp of Pennsyl-
vania district.
Discharge of Clerks.
Twenty two of the assorters of money orders
in he Sixth AUDITORS office were discharged
to-day on account of the failure of congress
sional appropriation for their salaries