The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-16
Acts of Commissioners That Have
Excited Comment.
SITUATION IS CHAOTIC
AMERICANS SUBMIT EVERY
THING TO WASHINGTON.
Spanish Commissioners Have Not Re-
ceived Their Instructions and the
Negotiations are Delayed-soup
Kitchens Closed and the City In
tested With Beggars.

Havana, Sept IA (via Key West,
Sept. 15.)-The rumors to the effect that
strained relations exist between the
Spanish commission and the United
States Cuban evacuation commission
are absolutely unfounded. There have
been little incidents, but no real
bitches. For instance, when the United
States transport Resolute, with the
American commissioner on board ar
rived here on Saturday morning, she
did not fire a salute on reaching the
hdrbor, but she fired the regulation sa-
lutte when visited by the British consul,
who has been acting for the United
States This action was commented
upon at the palace, in consequence or
which explanations were exchanged
during the evening, with the result that
the ReSolute, on Monday morning, flew
the Spanish colors in honor of the
birthday OF the Princess of Asturias,
and at noon the same day, when the
Spanish flagship Alfonso XII fired a
salute in honor of the royal birthday
it was answered by the Resolute.
On Saturday morning shortly after
the arrival of the Resolute, a shell ex-
ploded in the ordnance park, killing
two soldiers. The local newspapers
were not allowed to publish anything
in connection with this incident so as
TO avoid miSinterpretation on the part
Of the sensational newspapers. The eX-
plosion was purely accidental.
When the United States commission
ers arrived at the palace of the colonial
government, where their first meeting
took place on Sunday, they were ush-
cred into the state room, where, on
table in the center, were displayed
maps of Spain and Cuba. The mem
hers of the commission and staff re-
T11nUad ThafT. nd inc arta fixr
placed them on the map of Cuba, COW
ering' the whole length of the island.
One Of the Cuban attaches present APP
preached the table and quickly removed
the arms. The incident however, did
not pass unobserved by the others pres
ent, who have since commented good
naturally on the occurrence No i'm
pOrtance or significance is attached to
either of these incidents by the officials
here
The true reason for the delay in the
meetings is the absence Of instructions
from Madrid, which, although an
nounced as coming on the last mail
steamer from Spain, die not arrive as
expected. The Spanish steamer Alton
so XIII, which left Porto Rico for this
Port yesterday, is expected to have on
board the instructions from the Span
ish government.
The reason that the first formal ses-
on Sunday IS the understanding that
the commissioners must meet within
so days after signing the protocol,
which on Monday would have been 81
days.
SOUP KITCHENS CLOSED.
Two free soup kitchens in this city
were closed yesterday and the closing
of others will follow. These kitchens
have been distributing to the really
needy over 10000 rations daily. Their
discOntinuance, based, according to the
civil authorities, on the assumption
that distress and want have diSap-
peared from the city, will have the
effect Of throwing thousands of unfor- |
,tunate people on public charity. Beg
gars are again infeSting the streets and !
carrying filth and disease germs all !
over Havana. Immediate arrange !
ments for the distribution of the Co !
NAL rations, since the Spanish govern !
ment refuses to continue to feed the |
hungry, is imperative.
The meat ring" continues keeping |
the price of meat at from so to so cents |
per pound, in spite of the protests and |
offers made by large and responsible |
firms to the government, Offering to !
import cattle and place meat on the |
market at % cents per pound
Hundreds OF Spanish officers have
asked 10 be discharged from the army. |
They refuse to return to Spain. where |
starvation stares them III the face.
Many of them have formed classes to
study English, hoping to succeed in
obtaining commissions in the United |
States army as soon as they are pro-
fcient in the language.
CHAOTIC SITUATION.
The situation here may be summed
I'D as chaotic. 1t is impossible to tell
exactly what the future may develop,
even regarding the commission. It's
powers appear to be very limited, the
members having to submit everything
TO Washington for consideration be-
fore acting.
The mayor Of Havana, the Marquis
Estaban, an autonomist, has sent a
gift of a magnificent saddle horse to
the insurgent chief, Manuel Rodriguez.
At the same time gifts were sent, TO
him ero1Il a we'll known counselor. a
former aid of General Pandc has also
presented a horse to the insurgent
chief. Andres Hernandez. There is an
evident desire on the part of the Gu
bans holding office under Spanish rule
to conciliate the extreme Cuban ele-
ment, especially in insurgent army cir
cles.
While these gifts are purely personal
as between old friends, the conduct of
the donors has been adversely criti-
cised and commented upon in many
oficial circles