Arizona republican., 1897-12-17
SPAIN WOULD FIGHT
So Jinsoism in Congress Will
 be Discouraged
WAR WILL NOT BE INVIETD
Ths Wisdom of the Presi-
 dents Conservative Policy
Spaniards on the Slightest Pretsxt would Fury Their Percent Dis- grace in a Respectable Licking byrne United States


 byrne United States
 Washington, Dec. 16.-Evey effort is to be made by the influential men in congress to prevent the two houses from interfering in any way with the presidents conservative and for bearing policy towards Cuba. The reason for the special effort to main tain correct diplomatic attitude is said by we'll informed members to be a conviction cn the part of the leaders that Spain in her desperation is pre- . pairing to accept the dread alternative of war with the United States to es- cape the perilous crisis at home. One of the best informed and most cou- servative members of the house, dis cussing tfle situation today, thus ex- pressed himself:
 ''The Spanish are in desperate straits both at home and in Cuba. Cuban independence is now practically as sured. The autonomy eXped ent is recognized as a failure even by Sa- gaSta, both on account of the refusal of the insurgents to accept it, and because of the unpopularity of the scheme among the Spanish them selves. It is a foregoing conclusion that the Cortes will not ratify the d5- cree Of autonomy and it is realized that the very existence of dihe Span lsh government would be threatened by persistence in the policy.
 'The belief is entertained that the Sagasta government will be driven to seek trouble with the United States m order to escape popular comdemna- tion at home and to avoid the lhumili- atlon of defeat by the Cubans alone The administration realizes tha events are tending in that direction. and the pras at foG'esaw the proha- ib1lty of 1t ;Mhen he wrote his mes sage. Spain cannot seek and could not get the assistance of any foreign government in her efforts to subdue the insurgents, but the Span:ar is have hopes that if the United States could be plalced in the attitude of an aggressor. and be drawn into the fight, soke outside assistance for Spain might be secured. It is regard ed as probable that Spain will take aggressive action herself, in the ab- sence of provocation from this goverr- ment, but in that event no foreign country could find an excuse to par ticipaite as supporter of Spain. It is for this reason that the administra- tion takes the position it does, and that all possible efforts will be made to prevent provoeations being given by congress-
 The house committee on intersta ( and foneignl commerce will give a hearing tomorrow to parties inter- ested in the anti-scalping bill. The committee has received hundreds o1 petitions both for and against the bill The ticket brokers have secured a formidable number of names to she petition by requesting every person who entered their offices to sign it The Sherman bill which is now before the committee would effec,ually stop ticket scalping, but the rail o1d d would have to redeem unused parts of tickets. There is opposition to this plan from the west because of higher railroad rates than in the east. The pooling bill will not be taken up unti the anti-scalping bill is disposed Of The railroad men claim that there cau be no prosperity in the country unti there is stability in railroad rates. Tn, pooling bill will be brought up in tht senate first. There will be a hart fight over both these measures.
 The attitude of the democrats anC of certain western republicans to wards Secretary Cages currency plal makes it practically certain that ther will be no currency revision at thi session. Assistance was counted ol from certain western and southerl men to offset the opposition of the re publican members who oppose an! plan based on national bank assets The opposition of the democrats i based largely on the wish of the silve men to frustrate any design to i'm prove the currency system until the, can have another chance to submi the silver issue to the country. Ma republicans contend that nhere is nt desire in the large cities for the pro posed increase in the currency ant members from the rural districts which it would benefit, are making n effort to secure it. Should Secre ar, Gage decide to submit two special bills that relating to bonds, refunding pub lie debt and placing tax on circula tion, would go to) the ways and mean committee, while Ythe bill for the es tablishment of small banks in rura districts and allowing circulation ul to par, would go tp the committee ol banking curre4cy.
 6X