Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-09-16
Exorbitant Prices Maintained
BY the 'Meat Ring"
THE SITUATION CHAOTIC
1anPosalble to Tell Exactly What the Fu-
,ore Ray Develop. Even Regarding
the Evaeuatsou Commissions.
Gitts to Insurgen, heaters.
(By Telegranhl

MISSION are absolutely unforn1cd
mere nave been little incidents but mn
real bitches. - ''"t no
ne spanish steamer Alfonso NH
sx, nem ie1t Tor This port vest, day. is
sApected to have on board IN. -neir,,c
mons from the Spanish govern. mi
me reason that the first formal SIS
son son or the commissioners took p,a,,. on
.ouhoay was the understanding thar ~
Ssonaihlssloners must meet within thirty
alter the signing of the protocol.
sunday being the last day.
Two free soup kitchens in This ci,x
We're closed yesterday and thn clo.in.,
OF others will follow Thes, Kitchens
nave beer distributing TO the real
needy over 10000 rRrions daily. Their
oiseohtinuance based according to the
sli governors circular. on the as
5;..ip mat distress and want have
disappeared from the city, will hay,.ih..
erect OF throwing thousands of unfor
euiate people on public charity. Beg
cars are again infesting the streets and
carrying filth and disease germs nIl
over havana. Immediate arrangements
LII the distribution OF the Comal ra
Mons. now that the Spanish govern
ment refuses to continue Ia feed lie
hungry, lis imperative
ne meat ring continues keau;pp
ehe prace OF meat q from fifty to sixtv
cents per pound. in spite OF the respon,
and offers made by large and resnon-
sue nrms to the government Offering
20 import cattle and place on the
market at 25 cents per pound
hundreds Of Spanish officers have
asked to be discharged from the army
AAeS retuse TO return to Spain where
starvation stares them in the face
Many OF them have formed classes to
study English, hoping to succeed in
obtaining commissions in the ,Tnitea
States army ais soon as they are pro
hcient In the language
II VIII be interesting to watch tho
course pursued by the host of counts
ana marquises, holding titles of nnbil
ity IN Spain and here. The aristocracy
OF Cuba are al, Spanish rrnndees
holding Castilian titles. of which th,.v
are very proud and which they will Ne
'houncle with great reluctance These
Rranuees. who have been holding their
t1ties Tor generations, formerly owning
vast proportions in the island. are tn,
most rabid Cubanists here They vii
De forced to remain loyal Spanish sub
?ects and continue enjoying the priv
iiege OF rank and title, or relinu,lish M
cialHs to this honor and become plail
Tom, Dick and Harry. The same will
happen to long list OF Cubnns widows
and orphans of Spanish officers, draw
ing pensions from Spain. which is theil
only means OF support today. The. isl
The situation here may be summed
up as chaotic. 1t is impossible To- tell
exactly what the future may develop
even regarding the commission Its
powers appear to be very limited. tn.
members having to submit every tri-
ne 10 Washington for considcrat ton
before acting.
The mayor of Havana, the Marqui.
Estaban. an autonomist, has sent Il
GIT OF magnificent saddle horse to
the insurgent chief Mayia Rodriguez.
AT the same time gifts We're sent to
him from we'll known councilman. 4
former aide of General Pando has also
presented horse to the insurgent chief
Andres Hernandez There is an evil
dent desire upon the part OF the Cubans
ho!dlng Office under Spanish rule to
coneilatc The extreme Cuban element
eaEee tally in insurgent army circles
While these gifts are purely personal
g: between old friends. the conduct Of
the donors has been adversely criti-
cised and commented upon in many
official circles.
WANT INDEPENDENCE.
HAVANA. Sept. 15.-5:45 p. M.--lhe
predominant feature of. the situation
Is the feverish and Widespread agi,a-
ton of the Cubans in favor of the. ab-
solute independence of the island ut All
costs.
Manifestos are being circulated in
wiling the cooperation of Spanish resi-
dents and merchants to this end and
pointing out that either annexation or
an American protectorate would mean
death to all trade with Spain in a
couple of years.
~ General Maxine Gomez who only a
fortnight ago gave expression TO en-
tremeiy moderate views, counsclline
harmony and patience now expresses
himself as strongly in favor of '.abso-
Lutte independence or nothing" Hc says
the Spanish element cannot afford to
delay uniting with the Cubans as a
necessary basis for the establishment
of conditions that will forbid ana pre-
vent the United States grabbing and
taking easy advantage of the treasure
both Spaniards and Cuban:s have
fought for at an expense of rivers of
blood on each side
General Gomez says. if report speaks
truly. that those who fear indepen-
dence belonging to the same family of
coWardly ours who fled from Havana
at the first rumor of bombardrnent"
These, he declares. are. however, n
minority. and to quote him further.
almost the entire Spanish population
remains protecting their homes and
defying the dangers of war and will
now remain to unite their efforts With
those Of the Cuban party. working to-
gether with the Cubans for the aevcl-
opment Of The Island and the return of
prosperity
leading evening paper yesterday
published local letter purpnr;ing TO
voice the opinion Of Catalonia in favor
OF independence and promising aid and
cooperation.
How far the influence of the party
agitating for Cuban independence may
extend, 1t is at present difficult to es-
innate, but the fact is, it's agents arc
working like beavers. Some former
sympathizers with the annexation
movement are to be found today in the
ranks of the independence movement
This violent impetus given to the agi-
tation for Independence is the result
apparently OF the arrival of the Reso-
lutte, or rather. Of the arrival of Mr..
Porter and the examination he is
making into traffics. municipal taxa
z ton and other matters of internal gov
eminent which the Cubans had ex-
pected to handle and. administer them
selves. Mr.. Porter's operations are
viewed with suspicion by an important
section OF the Cubans, who keep on
calling meetings and protesting against
n s'nSnrnatJOn of vYjyiIapac no c.,,1