Gilpin observer., 1899-05-18
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
AND DEPARTMENT NEWS.

| iHore civil tnan mllltary. Ihe nenu OIL
the government is to be a governor,
and there is to be an advisory council,
composed of natives Of the Philippines,
whose business it shall be to confer
with the governor on official matters
and suggest changes in the manner Of
exercising authority. All local govern
ments will be entirely in the hands of
| the natives, subject to certain super
vision by the Americans. The plan
| proposed amounts practically to an au-
| tOnOmOus system. and 1t is believed
here that 1t will be acceptable to the
natives. The proposed government is
to continue only until the Congress of
the United States shall decide upon the
form of government for the islands.
General John McNulta, receiver Of
the Distilling and Cattle Feeding Com
pany, was n witness before the indus
trial commission Monday: In giving
some of the details regarding his re-
ceivership for the whisky trust, he
said 1t was found that one distillery at
Nebraska City. Nebraska, had been
sold for $4,000 at n private sale, and
later was bought by the Distilling and
Cattle Feeding Company for $4,000
There was another case in which one
who was later an officer of the COM
pany had purchased n distillery and
sold it to the company for $3.50, O,OOU
more than he gave for it. These and
other things resulted in the witness
filing n bill against n number Of indi-
viduals. including some officers, to re-
cover $SO0OOO. General McNulta, in
the course of his testimony, showed
that the collapse of the trust was due
to the extreme advance of prices for
the products and that the speculation
xNf OH of I'm IN, 10, oh on
the stock market demoralized the or.
ganizatiOn.
That the situation in Cuba as relat-
ed in dispatches is extremely critical
is no longer denied in official circles.
and apprehension as to the outcome is
felt. There appears to be differences
between the Cubans and Americans of
n nature so tense that only the great
est tact and ability, coupled with
compromising disposition on both
sides, will be able to solve them with
out results of Il grave nature. This
seems to be the opinion at the war de-
partment. although the officials refuse
to discuss the situation publicly. Al
though the course of General Brooke
is not approved in all of it's details by
his superiors here. there is not dispO-
sition to criticise him for demanding
that the Cubans give up their arms.
This measure is approved as n neces-
sary one. and If all differences of Opin-
ion could be traced to this order, 1t is
quite likely that General Brooke would
be sustained by the home government.
But the plan to disarm former Cuban
soldiers by force. If necessary, is not
approved. the policy being to placate
rather than irritate, and General
Rrpnl-n fhpu Iil-n1x- will 1,a nd
vised to keep this policy firmly in
mind. Conflict with the Cubans is not
desired. and is to be avoided If pos
sible. 1t is said that President Me-
Kinley has been Informed of the situ-
alton by Secretary Alger, and that the
president himself will take n hand in
unraveling the knOtted skeins. The
Cubans must be treated with great pa
tience, as they lack stability of pur-
pose and other sterling characterist-
lets. Recognition of this is deemed req
uisite in handling the questions that
have arisen.
The industrial commission on Thurs
day heard the first witness to be called
in connection with its inquiry into the
operation of trusts. The witness was
Hon. James w. Lee of Pittsburg, at
torney for several pipe lines and oil
companies and formerly state sena-
tor of Pennsylvania. Mr.. Lees testi-
mony was directed especially against
the Standard Oil Company. He said
that when the Pure Oil Company in
which the witness is interested, went
into the field in New York in 1896 they
found the Standard selling oil at 91a
cents a gallon. The price was almost
immediately reduced to ,515 cents, and
had remained there since, the object
being to drive out the rival. The first
price was inOrdinately high, but the
latter was ruinously low, and while the
Independent company had met the re-
duction it had done so at o loss. He
thought the competition had resulted
in n saving of fully S3.OOO,OOO to the
people of Greater New York. The same
condition of affairs existed at competi-
tive points. Mr.. Lee expressed the
opinion that the Standard Company
was still getting rebates from the rail
road companies despite the law, ana
he thought this was accomplished by
paying exorbitant prices for lubrlcat-
ing oil. He estimated that the Stand
ard Company had within the last twen-
ty years absorbed ABOUT 100 independ-
ent companies, but that the companies
with which he was connected had re-
fused to sell at an advance Of 12h per
cent. in cost when they were about to
he closed by the sheriff. This refusal
had been directed largely by sentiment.
Now, however. the independent COM
panies We're doing n profitable busi-
ness. He knew of several retineries
which had been purchased Mt high
prices by the Standard company and
then had been shut down. He had also
heard that men had received bonus
to remain idle but he had no personal
information ON this subject.
shrrlns Are Responsibic for Lives OF Pri.
Onera.
indianapolis May 16.-Judge Baker
of the Federal Court to-day Overruled
the demurrer to the complaint OF the