The Mena weekly star., 1897-12-29
STAINS ACTION.
Only Her Weakness Permits America
 to Help Cvba's Destitvtion
MANY PENSIONERS PROTEST.

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 WASHINGTON. Dec. 29.--Spain haa, practically, informed the administra- tion that she would like to avail her self of the good offices of this govern ment to bring about peace in Cuba Blanco called upon Consul General Lee to intercede with the insurgents and save Ruiz Minister Dupuy de Lomc obtained the full and cordial approval by his government of the proposition of the administration to start relief movement for the starving Cubana The appeal, signed by Secretary Sher- man and given to the public Christmas eve, says nothing about Spain and her consent It presents the situation in Cuba directly to Americans, and calls upon them to respond directly to the representative of this government in Cuba This government under takes to make the relief effective. Spain suspends the customs to admit the relief stores free. She waves her sovereignty to let the United States reach situation she is unable to meet. The action of Spain is deeply significant. It was not taken hurriedly. Only Spains weakness and her appreciation of that weakness would have induced consent to the proposition of the United States to attempt the amelioration of the conditions. The step from the good offices of the United States in charity to the exercise of them in the direction of peace is short. There is only one thing that is now delaying the taking of it. That is the uncertain following of the Spanish government among it's own people. If the Sagasta ministry was sure of Spanish sentiment, the United States would be called upon to- morrow to find solution to the Cuban pro olein. In undertaking to put an end to the starvation. President Mic kinley has approached within sight of actual intervention.
 Opnosition to Pension Pub icatiou. WAsHINGToN. Dec. 29--Commissioner Evans proposal to publish a list of pensioners. by authority of congress, will apparently stir up :. hornets nest among the veterans. The commission CT announced recently that he would have . bill introduced for this purpose early in January. and many members of congress have already received pro- tests from their constituents. The tenor of these communications Is not against the exposing of frauds in pen sions, but against putting veterans in the power of collection agencies by making their names public at every post office and crossroads in tho coun- try. The commissioner is also opposed to the proposed plan of appropriating lump sum equal to the pensions of 20 years and paying it in bulk to the sol diers who draw pensions. He said yes terdsy that such plan would not be advantageous to the soldier. Many of the pensioners, be said, do not appreci- ate tho value of money, and were the 2O-year plan adopted 1t would not be long before they were dependents again.
 d Report Denied.
 WASHINGTON, Dec 29.-Assistant Sec retsry vanderlip when asked to-day concerning a report that Secretary Gage had rendered his resignation and that MT. Mckinley had refused to ac- cept 1t said: There Is nothing in it." The report in question gave Mir. Van derlip as authority for tho assertion. but he denied having stated so to any person. It Is believed in some usually we'll informed circles that the report is substantially correct, but that there was no formal tender of resignation. It is regarded as probable that in some conversation with the president Mir. Gage in an informal way said that he would resign if his financial views were embarrassing the administration and that the president in reply stated very positively that he did not want his secretary of the treasury to do any such thing and that their financial views were in accord.
 Inspection of Agricultural Exports-
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 29. Secretary Wilson, of the department of agricul- ture, will try to get from congress enough money to establish inspection by microscopists on an elaborate scale of all butter, fruits and other farm products going abroad. He is con- vinced that a great deal may be done to swell exports of this character if they go with government indorsement of purity and high, genuine character.
 Interstate Comms msrce Law Amendment.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-At this ses- sion of congress a strong effort win be made to amend the interstate com ,,xarca lau The aoun mi S~ ;ou are q ro all