The herald., 1898-10-29
Associated Press Special WIRE.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28.-The President
was enabled to lay before the Cabinet today
very encouraging reports from Paris regard
ing the progress of the peace negotiations
The administration now fully believes that
the negotiations will be concluded much
sooner than was expected from the outlook
few days ago. 1t can be stated authori-
tatively that thd commissioners have not yet
actually begun the discussion of the Philip
pine question and further that it will not
be taken up until next week. Since the
Spaniards have found that the American
commissioners mean exactly what they say
and that their presentation of the side OF
the United States is really an ultimatum, tho
uselessness of prolonged debate, it is said,
has become apparent to the Spaniards, and
it is now believed the Philippine discussion
will be less protracted than reported some
days ago. The recent action Of the United
States government intimating that the ne
gotiations were proceeding much too slowly
has had it's effect upon the Spanish COM
missioners and they are not likely to debate
remaining propositions to the length they
did the settlement of the Cuban debt.
The United States government has not
assumed nor guaranteed the so-called mu-
nicipal debt of Cuba or Cuban municipalities,
but it is expected that such debts will be
paid by the municipalities incurring them.
for by no reasoning could they be charged
upon Spain. Our government, it is said in
official circles, would look upon any attempt
at evading the payment of such debts as re-
pudiation and dishonest and whatever gov
ernment is established in Cuba will be ex-
pected to see these obligations are carried
out in good faith. Moreover, some of the
bonds of Cuban municipalities are held by
citizens OF the United States and the United
States might insist that the investments
OF her citizens in such securities are made
good The State Department has no infor
nation as to the amount of these municipal
liabilities.
Secretary Gage said that the Cuban ques-
ton had not, as he understood, been finally
decided by the Paris commission, but
complete settlement, it was expected, would
be reached at 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 tue acquisition VI thc hilppiiicS,
there is little or no doubt that the accession
of the entire group will be asked by the
commission.
Secretary Wilson brought up the fact that
Blanco is still charging $40 hundred
pounds for beef cattle going into Cuban
ports controlled by the Spaniards, while the
United States is admitting beef cattle free
OF duty to ports controlled by American of
ficials. The cabinet concluded that it has
not the power at present to change this
state of affairs and that Blnnco 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 to the
free entry of beef cattle and other things
that will result In benefit to Havana.
A Havana dispatch says that Captain
General Blanco has been instructed by the
minister of war, General Correa, to pay to
each discharged soldier remaining In Cuba
the sum of $24.
The joint military commissions met at 10
o'clock this morning to discuss the matters
touched upon in the notes recently ex-
changed between them.