Matters in the Philippines look just about as gloomy as they do in Cuba, from the Spanish point of view. The same story of badly paid and starving soldiers comes from Manila that we got from Cuba, the same distress from fever and disease. The general in command is asking Spain for money and men, just as Weyler is asking. He says he cannot conquer the rebels without a larger force. With great reluctance Spain is sending a small force out, but it is understood that she can send no more men, and no money. The insurgents are gaining ground, and are said to fight with great steadiness and bravery. * * * * * The only news from the Transvaal is that England has sent a very determined message to President Krueger, demanding that he shall give the English-speaking people in the Transvaal what they are pleased to call their rights. It is said that some of the British ministers feel sure that war with the Transvaal must come before long, and that they are only too willing to have it come as quickly as possible. The ministers have decided that in the case of war being declared, a force of twenty thousand men will be quite enough to send out from England to conquer the country. It is understood that President Krueger is kept informed of all that goes on in England in regard to his country, and is quite undismayed at the prospect of an invasion by the British. * * * * * State Senator Lexow has made his report to the Legislature at Albany, as to the Trusts which he investigated, and the people generally are not satisfied with it. Mr. Lexow declares that Trusts are dangerous things, that they kill competition, help monopoly, dodge taxes, and make enormous profits. Having said this, he declares himself powerless to prevent any of the evils which he deplores. He thinks an amendment to the Constitution will be the only real means of remedying the evil, because the Trusts manage their business so cleverly that they avoid doing anything that breaks the law so openly that they can be punished, while all the time they are contriving to disobey and set the laws aside. One member of his Committee was, however, of opinion that the Sugar Trust had not been fairly dealt with. He presented a report of his own, in which he tried to show that this Trust was of great benefit to the State. A member of the Albany Legislature has, however, found out a way to stop Trusts. He has offered a bill making it a crime for a Trust to give any money, property, or thing of value to help any political campaign, or to attempt to bribe Congressmen to vote for its bills. The penalty for doing this will be a very heavy fine and the breaking up of the Trust. While we are on the subject of Trusts, we must mention a very interesting case which came up the other day. An action was brought by a workingman against the Knights of Labor, sometimes called the Labor Trust.