The herald., 1896-12-20
IN THE QUEENS DOM|N|ONS
Little Interest Shown iu Span
ish War Scares
A SMALL SLUMP IN STOCKS
But the Break IL Followed by Prompt
Recovery
Over-Taxation Of Ireland Bids Fair to
be a Leading Question in the
Next Parliament.

Associated Press Special Wire
LONDON, Dec. 19.-(Copyright 1896 }
In spite Of the flaming news placards,
the action Of the foreign relations COM
mittee Of the United States senate in
agreeing to report Senator Cameron's
resolution providing for the recognition
of the republic of Cuba has not caused
excitement in London. Most of the poll
ticians are out of town and the bankers
and brokers were unmoved. There was
fall on the stock exchange in American
and Spanish securities, out of sympathy
with the downward movement reported
from Wall street, but 1t was shortly fol-
lowed by a recovery.
The manager of the Bank Of Spain in
England said he did not expect any great
fluctuations as result of the "regretta-
BILE action of the senate committee
In official Spanish circles in London it
is not believed any difficulty will ensue,
Spain's government, it is claimed, is act
ing with prudence and with the highest
degree Of craftsmanship. The effect Of
the senate committees action will not
be known In Spain for few days, owing
to the Interruptions of the land wires on
account Of the severe weather and gov
ernment censorship Of kilograms. AL
though the censorship is not rigorous at
present, still jealous eye is kept on dis
patches emanating from Madrid and
elsewhere.
The agitation arising out Of the report
Of the committee on the financial rela-
tiopo ho+uaap Craot Rrtt a IN opd TraIo ,,d
is growing apace, and the question bids
fair to be one of the leading matters to be
discussed at the next session of parlia-
ment. The Irish Unionists are taking
the matter up and intend to bring the
subject of undue taxation Of Ireland be-
fore parliament at the opening of the
session in the form of an amendment in
reply to the speech from the throne, call
ing upon the state to refund the s2,500.-
900 of over-taxation. Colonel Sanderson,
Conservative member from North Ar
magh, Is expected to amend the amend
ment, and there is much speculation, in
view of Mr.. Morley's attitude, regarding
the position which Sir William Vernon
Harcourl will assume In the matter.
AL the London Radicals are in sack
cloth and ashes at the decision of the
London county council this week re-
garding the renewal of the lease of the
tramways for fourteen years. The Rad
icals made a hard fight against the re-
newal, but according to the Star Lon
don, by the decision Of the council, has
lost all hope of profting by electric trac-
tion, and has lost 10000 year, as the
lease was worth G55,00O. instead Of s45,-
600, which the company pays, and has
lost all hope of halfpenny fares, which
exist on the provincial tramways, as
we'll as having no security against an in
crease Of the present fares. The efforts
of the Radicals, led by John Burns, were
directed toward obtaining better condi-
tions for the employees of the tramway
companies. but these steps also failed.
Private letters received here from Ma
nila, capital of the Philippine islands,
state that the Spaniards there are re-
sorting to torture in order to extort con-
fessions and information from captured
insurgents and suspects. The instru-
ments Of torture used are from the time
of the Inquisition, and consist Of thumby
screws, Spanish boots" ETC., which are
still preserved there.
Mascagni has just finished new op-
era. The scene is laid in Japan. The
composer was paid an enormous sum
for the opera by the publishers.