Spanish officers and contractors for the army are now
imprisoned at the fortress of La Cabana in Havana, under charges of
fraud in provisioning the army.

Among these men are some of the highest officers: Colonels,
Lieutenant-Colonels, Majors, and Captains.

The amount stolen by these men during the two years of the war is
estimated at several millions. The truth of this wholesale robbery came
to light when the soldiers protested against the bad food that was being
given them. When they found their complaints were being unheeded they
deserted in large numbers to the Cubans.

General Weyler then ordered the arrest of the robbers, and, as we have
said, some two hundred Spaniards were accordingly imprisoned.

The Cubans have of late acquired so much war material through various
successful filibustering expeditions that they now have more arms than
soldiers for the insurgent army.

We told you some time ago that General Gomez had said that he could
nearly double his force if he had weapons to put in the hands of the
thousands who volunteered to join him, but that he had been obliged to
refuse many of the men who flocked to his standard because he could not
arm them. Now, however, that the situation has changed, a circular has
been issued from the revolutionary headquarters, calling upon every
insurgent at work in the towns to come and join the army.

The announcement also asks all Cuban sympathizers to be ready to assist
the insurgents in case they attack the towns.

This appears to have had a very good effect as far as the insurgents are
concerned, for volunteers are hurrying to the Cuban camp in great
numbers.

A report from Spain says that an uprising in Alicante is feared.
Alicante is a seaport on the south-east coast of Spain.

The trouble is on account of the new war taxes which the Government has
levied and to which the people are much opposed.

* * * * *

The Tariff Bill has been passed by the Senate.

It was passed on July 7th by a majority of ten. Thirty-eight Senators
voted for the bill, and twenty-eight against it.

There was great excitement in the Senate Chamber during the closing
debate on this bill.

It had been expected that a vote would be reached on the 7th, and so the
members of the House of Representatives flocked into the Senate Chamber
during the entire day.

The Tariff Bill was taken up at 11:15 in the morning and at 4:15 P.M. it
was finally passed.