The Mena weekly star., 1897-05-26
CUBAN MUDDLE.
The Administration at Washington Op- posed to Being Involved in War.
FIGHT ON THE TARIFF BILL.
Objections wnI He Siadc Against the In- creased Duties on Tobacco, Hides and Beer-Rapid Teiegraphy-A De-
 cision on Rates.

cost us S400, 900, 900 before we fired the first gum" said high official yester- day in speaking of the possibilities of war with Spain. This official is in position to speak knowingly of the presidents position. He declared that it was the intention to proceed slowly. Those who have eonversed with the president about Cuba during the past three days have been much impressed with his desire to bring about peace ful settlement. They agree that the administration is most earnestly op- posed to war and to the expense of getting ready for war There is an other serious feature of this Cuban situation. The highest medical off cers of the army and navy view the possibility of actual operations in Cuba with apprehension. Some of them be- lieve that if an American force were landed there this summer one man in three would die of yellow fever. Secre- tary of War Alger and Secretary of the Navy Long are most pronounced among members of the cabinet against a policy which will precipitate armed in- tervention by this country. They are doing what they can to offset the tre- mendous popular pressure upon the president to move quickly. Evidence in support of claims for indemnity against Spain is accumulating at the state department When the Cleve- land administration went out the re- ported losses of American citizens in Cuba amounted to about SIS, 900, 900. As result of a widespread impression that this administration is to apply more vigorous policy claimants have been active since March in present. ing details and affidavits. The aggre- gate of losses of which the government now has official knowledge is consider ably over S25, 900, ,OOO This, however, represents not more than one-half of the amount which will be involved, it is expected, when the attempt is made to press the subject formally upon the attention of Spain.
 The Fight on the Tarir Bm.
 WASHINGTON, May 25.-Republican members of the senate finance commit tee say that it is extremely doubtful that the tariff bill as amended will yield the annual revenue of $60, GOO, 900 npon which the committee figured in arranging the schedules. These mem bers are now firmly convinced that the internal revenue features are abso- lutely necessary, and that under no circumstances can they be eliminated from the bill. They may find it neces- sary to make further recommenda- tions along the internal revenue line before the debate on the bill is over Another danger threatens the bill The tobacco manufacturers will be here in force to fight the feature in- creasing the tax on tobacco two cents a pound. All the tobacco boards of trade have appointed delegates to come to Washington to help defeat this part of the bill. They object to the tax because they say it came without warning. They claim that all their contracts were made last fall, and the imposition of an additional two cents to the tax on tobacco will work sesous injury to them. There also is 2 New England lobby against the duty on hides, and as the senators from that section are opposed to this duty it is difficult to see how the bill can be passed in its present shape. The southwestern senators will make big fight on the beer schedule in the senate tariff bill. The bill as reported pro- poses an increase of 51 # cents barrel. The St Louis brewers are deeply in- terested in this schedule. as it means an increase to the brewing interests of that city of over $1, ,000 a year The senators from the southwest are confident they can beat this increase, although it will be very hard fight
 Experiments in Rapid Telegraphy.
 WAsHINGToN, May 25.-A proposition is before the senate in the shape of bill introduced by Senator Pettigrew to expend 1000, ,000 in experimenting with new system of rapid telegraphy, wires for the purpose to be construct ed between New York and Washing ton. It is claimed that this system will supplant the telephone, telegraph and mails as method of communica- tion between the great business cen ters of the country, and will make Ros- sible the transmission of 5000 words minute. The new method is called the "synchronograph."
 A Supreme Court Decision on Rates.
 WASHINGTON, May 25.-The United States supreme court decided two cases to-day, holding that the United States interstate commerce commission has no power to prescribe rates on rail- roads which may control in the future. The cases were those of the commission vs the Cincinnati & New Orleans Rail- oxx1 k<. la P~