Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-02-23
FOR CIVIL AFFAIRS.
Commits sion to Leave for Cuba ard
Porto Rico in a Few Days.
CARS PLANS FOR DISARMAMENT.
Ethan A. Hitchcock Says the Idea IL Simply
for an Agreement Not to Increase
ArmAments- Reason for Pro-
hibiting Beer on Shlps.

Washington, Feb. 2O.-The commits.
sion named by the president to con-
slider questions pertaining TO the civil
affairs in Cuba and Porto Ricois busily
engaged in completing preparations
to leave for the islands, the purpose
being to sail late next week or early
in the following week. Henry G. Cur
It's member Of the commission, has
not arrived yet from Iowa, but. Gen.
Kennedy and Charles W. Watson, the
other members, are proceeding with
the work. The chief questions before
them are those of taxation, public
schools, public highways and fran
chises for private enterprises. At
present no personally or realty taxes
are being collected in either island,
the former laws having been sus-
pended. With view to prepar-
ing and recommending desirable
system for property taxation the
commission is making COM
pilation of the tax laws OF
the several states to the end
that the best may be given to Cuba
and Porto Rico. The plan will be
agreed upon after the members Of the
commission have visited the islands
and personally have given the condi-
tons thorough study. The questions
Of public schools and highways will
receive early attention, but it will be
necessary to give more immediate at
tention to the applications for fran
chises which have accumulated in
great mass through the war depart
ment All applications for franchises
of quasi public nature are referred
BY the department to the commission
and the latter must pass upon it. To
date the capital represented by the
applications on file aggregate $50, 0OO,-
600, among the applications being one
for the construction OF railway from
the eastern to the western end Of Cuba,
Il distance of 800 miles. The commits
sion has not determined upon its itn-
erary, but it probably will go first to
Cuba.
CARS PLAN FOR DISARMAMENT.
Washington, Feb. 20. Ethan Allen
Hitchcock, who is to succeed Secretary
Bliss at the head of the interior de-
partment, reached Washington from
New York yesterday. Secretary Bliss,
who has been in New York, accom-
panied him. The new secretary ex-
pected to cali on President Mckinley
to-day and will assume the duties of
his Office whenever it is the pleasure
Of the president, probably Tuesday.
The new secretary. in an interview
last night, corrected what he said was
proposal made to the powers Of the
world. Said he:
This proposition is not for disarmament,
but for the calling Of a conference for the pur-
pose Of reaching an agreement not TO increase
ornaments Such was the intention Of the cir
cular issued By the car In August last He
believes that the vast amounts Of money re-
quired to adapt the armament Of nations to
new devices which are constantly being brought
forward to bring them up to that OF each other
could be much better utilized for the benefit Of
the people Of the countries affected The sug-
gestion for conference has met with approval,
and think most OF the nations Of the world
will be represented at the meeting to be held
at The Hague very soon to consider the cars
proposition.
THE SALE OF BEER PROHIBITED.
Boston, Feb. 90 In regard to the
recent order of the navy department
prohibiting the sale of beer on ships
of the navy, Secretary Long, in an in.
terview yesterday, said that the order
was issued principally for the protec.
tion of the apprentice boys in the
service:
It is not true that any society outside the
service caused the issuing Of the order II was
due to the solicitation OF naval officers them
selves, who we're actuated by a sense Of duty