The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-29

WASHINGTON, oct. 2S.-The Presi-
dent was enabled to lay before the cab
.aet to-day very encouraging reports
from Paris regarding rhe progress of
the peace negotiations. The admins
tratIon now fully believes that the nego-
tiations will be concluded much sooner
than was expected from the outlook p
few dayc ago. It can be stated authori-
tatIvaIy that the commissioners have
not vet actually begun the discussion Of
the Philippine question, and further,
that 1t Will mot be taken up until next
week. Since the spanlards have found
that the American commissioners mean
exactly what they say. and that their
presentation OF the side Of the UnIted
ststes is in reality an ultimatum, the
useles5ncss Of prolonged debate, it is
said, has become apparent to the Span
laFdS, and It Is now believed that the
Philippine discussion VIII be less pro-
tracted than reported some days ago.
The recent action Of the United States
government IN intimatinG that the ne
EOElaLlOUH MEIG HLRENIaA46 AIASA@ w.
slowly has had It's effect upon the
spanish commissioners, and they are
not likely 70 debate remaining propo-
citions to the length they did the settle
nert OF the Cuban debt.
The United States has rot assumed
ror guaranteed the so-caEed municipal
Gebt OF Cuba or Cuban municipalities.
hut & IS expected that such debts VIII
be paid by the municipalities mourning
them, for by no reasoning could they
be charged upon Spain. Our govern
:nent, It Is said, in official circles, would
look upon any attempt at evad4ng the
payments o. such debts as reputation
and dishonest, and whatever govern
men. is established in Cuba Will be ex-
pected to see that these obligations are
carried out In good faith. Moreover,
some Of the bonds Of Cuban municipah-
ties are held by citizens OF the United
States, and the United STATES might IN
sist that the investments OF her citizens
in such securities are made good. Tho
state department has no Information as
to the amount Of these municipal habih-
ties.
Attorney General Grfggs and Score
taries Gage and Long, on account OF
their absence from the city, were not
present at tosdaysB cabiueL meeLlnB.
Secretary Hay said that the Cuban
question had not yet, as published, been
finally decided by the Paris commits
sion, but a complete settlement, It was
expected, would be reached by the end
of the present week The Philippine
question, he thought. would be taken up
by the Joint commission early in the
coming week. Although the members
OF the cabinet are extremely reticent
on the subject OF the acquisition OF the
Philippines, There IS row little or no
doubt that nothing less than the ees-
sion OF the entire group Of islands will
be accepted by the American commits
Sioners.
Secretary Wilson brought up at the
cabinet session the fact that Blanco Is
stlH charging SO a head for beef cattle
going Into Cuban ports controlled by the
Span ards while the United States is
admitting beef cattle free Of duty TO
ports controlled by American officials.
The cabinet concluded that It has no
power at present to change this state OF
sffairs, aud that Blauco must bear the
responsibility. As soon as the United
States takes possession OF various ports,
however, this will be changed. Some OF
the ports near Havana will be opened
Ia the f-ee entry OF beef cattle and other
things. and that may result IN benefit to
Havana