New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-01-30
HAVANA CORRESPONDENCE.

HAVANA, Jan. %, 1860.
81. Cfesce7ft-I am not quite certain whether
/ informed yeu in my last letter, (per Ca
hawba, 10Th instantly that the streets of this
city, within the walls, are to be repaved,
and that two reals vara Spanish yard) is to be
paid by the owners of houses for the space in
front Of their properties, and 6 contributions
pretty term, that for forced tax is it not of Is
per cent. is to be imposed upon industry and
commeree"-th that is, one-fourth additional taxes
upon industry and commerce to those already paid
are to be imposed.
For the first time during somewhat protracted
residence in this island have heard men discuss
ing the injustice of this tax. Assembled in knots
Of two three together in the coffee houses, and
at the corners of the public streets, have heard
them eXclainling against it, some expressing an
opinion that the object of the present Ayuntami-
ento-whose term of Office expires with the ensuing
month-in imposing it, is to leave to their success
ors in office full chest, instead of an empty
Even the Diario de Ia Marine, all Of whose
antecedents, as far as | am acquainted with
them, have been in giving its unlimited support to
every act of the authorities matter how great
the wrong or injustice that was done-eyen it de-
voted three of its leading articles at the close of the
Among other arguments adduced by the Diarto
De ID Marina against it was, that its imposition
was not legal, because article 81 Of the Laws of
Ayuntamientos says:
Thatin any case in which tile Ayuntamiento shall
be under the necessity of imposing an extraordi-
nary tax to cover the expenses of any work of
public utility, number of the most influential
citizens shall be called in to discuss the subject,
and vote the supply. Whereas the Ayuntamiento
bna dad III
this law, without calling in any Of the citizens to
consult with them, etc.
Now although have not any idea that any ben
efcial result will accrue TO the taxpayers from
either their objections to this tax and whilst do
not believe any respectable man in this city would
object to the payment Of moderate tax to be ex-
pended in repairing those of the streets that need
it, (for many of them have been repaved within
the last few years and do not require any further
improvement yet the discussing publicly the sub
ject of this q imposition only be looked upon
as one of the j" signs of the times.''
At the request of the Consul Of Yenzuela, Messrs
Jose Maria Morales & Co., one of the leading mer
camille houses of this city, entered at the Custom
House for payment of duties, large number o
Jappa hats the property Of gentleman from
| Venezuela.
BY some accident or clerical error, the humble
of hats stated in the manifest proved to be defci
! ent by one hundred dozen and ten hats from tn
actual number in the packages; and although aI
phcation was Immediately made upon the discover
Of the error to correct the manifest, and althoug
the authorities in their reply to that applicatio
say they do not believe the error occurred inter
tionally yet the hats are all confiscated. The re
suit of such harsh treatment will be- that hereafe
when transient trader brings goods to this marke
he will be induced to bride the inferior officers
and, if requisite, the superior ones also, and pa
one-half, or three-fourths, the regular duties, il
stead Of doing as this gentleman from venezuel
did, and have his goods regularly entered for pa,
ment of the full duties. Again. the publishing
the names of so respectable house as that
Messrs. j. III. Morales Il Co. in several successv
impressions of the Government paper, in connet
ton with such an affair, as was done in this il
stance, is grieyous wrong, and might possibly ii
jure them amongst parties to whom their hig
standing and responsibility are not known.
The horses attached to the carriage of the Rigl
Reverend the Bishop of this Diocese took frigl
last Friday, and running away upset the earring
in the Cazada de Ia Infanta and threw out his Re,