The age-herald., 1898-09-14
TWO PROBLEMS INVOLVED
Independence and Annexation Are Chief
 Topics Now Being Discussed.
FOUR PRESIDENTIAL TICKET
Have Already Been Placed in Nomina- tion-Two Tendencies in Army, One Supporting Present Government
 and the Other Gomez.

Havana September 13-The presence of Robert P. Porter, who is in Havana on special commission from the United States government to study the financial and economic aspects of the situation, is re- sarded with suspicion by the party of free Cuba, as indicating the establishment of an American policy of guardianship. MT. Porter is preparing revision of the Cuban tariff, which will probably be protective of Cuban industries, and is acquainting himself with every detail of local taxation. In this work he is assisted by a capable staff. For the present his efforts are only preliminary, as until after the definite set tlement of peace it will be impossible to establish the new regime, but his efforts and inquiries, taken together with the an- nouncement that American troops will be sent later to occupy this land. which has been doubted by many, have the effect of provoking protests from the more rabid, who are holding meetings and adopting resolutions against "encroachments upon our rights, as the free and independent re- public of Cuba, by the establishment of an American protectorate."
 Two Problems
 Two problems, independence and annex ation, are the chief topics discusseds and the idea of an American protectorate with military occupancy is unfavorably con- sidered. Everywhere 1t is recognized that the choice is between independence ard annexation.
 Next month at the headquarters of the so-called Cuban republican government at Cubitas, province of Puerto Principe, diff ferent corps of the Cuban army will pro- ceed to a presidential election and a def mite constitution of the government Each army corps will send eight delegates, mak- ing a total of forty-eight electors. There are two separate and distinct tendencies in the Cuban army, one supporting the pres ent government and the other favoring General Maxine Gomez. Already four presidential nomination tickets are de- clared On the first are the names of Bar tolo Masso for president and Mendez Ca- pote for vice president; on the second the names of Mendez Capote for the first place and Jose Miguel Gomez for the second; on the third are Jose Miguel Gomez and Pedro Betancourt, and on the fourth Calixto Gar cia and Jose Miguel Gomez.
 At the camp of Jose Miguel Gomez a newspaper called La Nacion has been pub lished for some time. It is described as a strong advocate of peace and harmony and carries with it the moral indorsement of General Maxine Gomez, who is known to favor the early disbanding of the Cu- ban troops and a return to the arts of peace.
 General Gomez is stiil encamped on the 
 province.
 Several we'll known Cubans arrived here on Saturday on the boat Mascotte, proba- bly as delgates commissioned by the Cuban Junta to facilitate the work of disbanding the Cuban troops.
 There is reliable authority, however, for the statement that they are really com missioned to agitate the question of Cuban independence On Sunday night they were present at a meeting held at the residence of on of the most aristocratic families of Havana, and the question of independence was then discussed at length.
 An Important Gathering
 Fl Noticiere, an evening paper, says that last night at a fashionable mansion on Armagua street there was an important gathering to discuss the future of Cuba, which, in the opinion of those present, will witness the establishment of independence. A central committee was appointed, con sisting of a president, vice-president and thirty-six advisers, into whose hands the promoters Of the movement hope to deliver the destinies of the island as soon as Spain has formally relinquished her sovereignty"
 The same journal announces (what had. hitherto been kept secreD, that some of the buildings formerly state property, which were sold at auction, have not been paid for by purchasers, with the result that the treasury has suffered serious loss. Fl Noticere insists that the government should make a complete inventory of state property sold under such conditions in or der to recover it from purchasers who have not compiled with their contracts. The paper adds, significantly, at later date 1t will have more to say on the subject