Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-08-18

ident to make up the commission al
together from men OF his own party,
but Mr.. Mckinley does not wish to in
fuse party politics into a treaty of
peace with Spain.
He wants the action Of the admins
tration to be the act of the American
nation and not the Republican party,
and for that reason he wishes the
commission to be strengthened by the
presence on it of men of different
political parties.
WILL HOLD LUzoN.
WASHINGTON, D. c., August IA
The President has decided that the
United States shall hold permanently
the bay, port and city of Manila. He
is prepared to instruct the American
members of the peace commission to
this effect. Further consideration will
develop whether the United States
shall take more. But it is decided that
SO much as the bay, port and city shall
be retained. This decision Is very re-
cent. 1t was only made known to-
day by the President to those near
him.
THE CUBAN DEBT.
In the discussion of terms of peace
a good deal of unnecessary consider
alton was given to the subject of the
Cuban debt. There is no Cuban debt.
There are Spanish bonds quoted on
the bourses as "Cubans.n The Spanish
Government issued them, and to give
them more attractiveness to investors
pledged for the payment of the inter-
est the revenues derived from customs
collections of Cuban ports. In the
protocol signed Friday there is no
reference whatever to the Cuban debt.
The question of the assumption of any
part of it by this country or by any
government that the United States
may set up in Cuba has no place.
Secretary Day was asked if there
would be any attempt by Spain in the
negotiation of the treaty to provide
for the transfer Of part of this debt.
81 think not" he said.
COST OF THE WAR.
The cost of the war is stated at
$50, 0 900. This, according to high
officials of the government, is a mis-
leading estimate. 1t does not cover
many contracts still uncompleted.
Although the hostilities have ceased
war expenditures must continue. Ex-
penditures of the navy will be curtail-
ed rapidly, but the army will be main
tanned, fed, moved and paid just as If
the war was still going N. The esti-
mate of $3.50, 900 900 only represents,
according to officials, about one-half
of what the cost has been and will be.
The sum of at least $500, 00o, 900 will
have to be charged up to this affair
with Spain.
SHELLS FIRED FROM MORO.
KEY WEST, FLA, August 15.-The
flagship San Francisco, the monitor
Miantonomoh and the auxiliary yacht
Sylvia were fred upon by the Havana
batteries shortly before 8 O'Clock FRI
day morning. One 10 or 12-inch shell
struck the San Francisco's stern, and
she turned to get away out of range.
The shell tore q hole about q foot
in diameter, completely wrecking
Commodore Howel's quarters and
smashing his bookcase into frag.
ments. Nobody was injured, and, be-
ing under orders not to attack the
batteries, the ships retreated a fast
as their engines would carry them.
BLANCo AND MACIAs NOTIFIED.
WASHINGTON, D. O., August 49,
Gen. Blanco, at Havana, and General
Macias, at San Juan, did not receive
their official notice that hostilities
had been suspended until Friday
night. They learned unoficially Fri
day. Gen. Greedy sent q personal
message to Gen. Blanco, with whom
he has become well acquainted
through the censorship. Gen. Macias
was informed by the French Consul,