The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-13
OF Government of Our
New Possessions.
The CABINET OFFICERS
Governmental Matters for
Cuba. Porto Rico and the Philip.
pines-Possal Service for Cuba-Ca-
Diagrams from Dewey and Otis-Ofi-
cial Denial Of negotiations for Sale Of
The PhiliPptnes-Proposed Amend.
>ments to the " ar Revenue Act.

Washington, December S.-The dis
cussion of the details of the admins
tration of government offices in Cuba.
Porto Rico and the Philippines under
the treaty of peace which is about to
be signed in Paris, occupied a large
part OF the time at today's cabinet
meeting. The establishment of a new
postal system in Cuba was regarded as
a pressing necessity. The present pur-
pose is to fashion the new system, as
far as practicable, on our own model
Cablegrams were read from Admiral
Dewey and General Otis, at Manila,
giving their views as to the number of
troops that it would be necessary to
keep in the Philippines during the ad-
ministration of the military govern
ment. Further han this, the contents
of these messages were not made pub
lie, but the information received, it is
stated, was entirely satisfactory to the
president.
An official denial is authorized that
the sale Of the Philippine islands to any
other NATION has never been considered
by this government, and it is stated
that the published statements to the
effect that their sale to Japan had been
under discussion was altogether false.
The cabinet also talked over an elab-
orate tariff measure which is now in
preparation here to go into effect, as
now planned contemporaneously with
the entire REIMBURSEMENT of the is
lands by the Spanish, January 1st.
This tariff measure, it is said will show
= an average reduction all along the line,
of about so per cent. from the Spanish
tariff rates. The understanding now is
that there will be M export duties and
that in other ways the burden of tax
ationAwill be reduced.
Postmaster General Emory Smith re-
manned in consultation with the presi-
| dent almost the entire afternoon talk
! ing over the scheme of postal admins
| tration Of Cuba.
GENERAL WHEELER AT THE
WHITE HOUSE.
General Joseph Wheeler was at the
White house today and the president
informed him that he would make a
brief visit to Montgomery, the capital
Of Alabama, during his southern trip,
net week, and would stop at Mont
gomery from 8 o'clock until 5 o'clock
Friday afternoon.
| AMENDMENTS TO THE REVENUE
ACT.
Chairman Dingley, of the ways ana
i means committee, has received a let
ter from the commissioner of internal
revenue, N. B. Scot, recommending a
number of mendmen to the act OF
: June -, 1898, known as the war reve-
nue. act. The recommendations cover
changes of an administrative charac-
ter under Schedules A and B, also for
the monthly payment Of exercise On
sugar refine~ies, n tor a penalty for
failing to stamp parlor car tickets.
Further provisions are suggested as to
the examinations by internal revenue
officers of articles subject to internal
revenue taxes.
In the course of his letter, Commits
sioner Scott makes this suggestion:
That Section 1894 of the revised statutes
as amended by acts Of congress be
made to read as follows: None OF
the packages of smoking tobacco and
fine cut chewing tobacco and cigarettes
prescribed by law shall be permitted tC
have packed in, or attached to, OF
, connected with them, any article OF
thing whatsoever, other than the man
ufacturers' wrappers and labels. the
internal revenue stamp and the tobac-
oc or cigarettes respectively, put VI
therein. on which tax is required to be
paid nder the internal revenue laws
nor shall there be affixed to, or brand
ed. stamped marked, written, or print
ed upon said packages, or their con-
tents. any promise. offer Of, or any or
der or certificate for. any gift. prize
premium, payment of reward.