The New York herald., 1869-03-03
CUBA.

CUBA.
~~~~~~~~>~~>>-->>~.,o~~
The Expedition 20 Relieve Puerto Principe
An American Claim Ignored in Nuevitas-
The Death Of Argilaga.
NUEvIrAs Peb. IS. 1892
The expedition which recently left here consisted
OF four steamers, three OF which sailed yesterday
morning and one this morning. They took about
1000 troops mostly infantry; some mountain
howtzers the horses Of chiefs and STAR with about
100 others for equipage and baggage. They also
carried great quantity OF provisions some 800 bar
rels OF nour, 400 sacks OF rice and 40 rounds OF
ammunition for each man. the whole under COM
mand OF Brigadier Lesca, recently appointed Gov
ernor OF Puerto Principe, to supersede Mena. A
great deal OF mystery has been affected with refer
ence to Its destination, but every child in town
knows that it is bound for the Bay OF Guanaja,
about thirty-eight miles to the west OF this point
The steamers cannot get the town. as the water
is too shallow, but they have taken In tow some
twenty barges, lighters and small schooners to
facilitate the landing The ultimate objective point OF
the force is undoubtedly Puerto Principe which is
about thirty-six miles from Guanaja, over an open
road for the most part. The government. are aware
OF the preparations made by the insurgents on the
road from Nuevitas to Principe, ana SO have deter
mined to avoid them by another route. 1t is pro.
babe that the siege OF that place will be raised.
We have but one merchant vessel in port the "Kate
Ranger' and American schooner, which sails to-day
Tor Matanzas, as the authorities wl not allow her
70 load, although her cargo Is at the bay side at
paga aae reason given ,aas Tue cargo consist
lines, and therefore should not be allowed to leave
the country without superior orders from Havana.
This vessel was sent out from New York by mer-
camille firm to merchant here, who already owed
large sums to the house, under an arrangement to
allowed her cargo to come in but refuse to let her
load. MT Gibbs, the United States Consular Agent,
went with the representative OF the house and had
an interview with BrIgader Lesca That gentleman
advanced some very astounding propositions Of in
ternational law, but did not grant the permission
see what can be done there.
An insurgent has furnished me with the following
account Of the death OF Dr. Rafael Argllaga, mem
toned in my letter OF the 10th He was Young
man OF talent having been educated in Europe, and
somewhat eccentric. He was monomaniac on the
subject OF Cuban independence, was an excellent
shot, and in November last followed the column OF
Valmaseda from Bonillo to San Miguel striving for
mander was ALWAYS compelled to restrain him, as
he was very reckless At the time the troops made
maae an arTack on their rear. Arrlara e wSo was
present. rushed out into an open space. and kneel-
ing down. discharged seven shots from his repeating
rifle, when he fell, pierced with TWO bullets. The
soldiers came up to him, and finding him still alive
finished him with their bayonets and knives. These
people are very bloodthirsty and, pretending they
DO to civilization, act In very inhuman manner.
Recently Spanlard OF standing and education here
nee IN pv1G s IN tsa ne Woad pay two dollar
Jrng him.
The Financial Policy Of the Government-Ef-
feet OF the War ON Labor-Gold Market
Reinforcements-BurnedP Plantations-Aban.
dOnmcnt Of Guanajn.
HAVANA, Feb. "a, 1863.
The financial policy Of the government has finally
been determined upon, and is announced by de-
cree In the Gdced Of yesterday In order to provide
ways and means to meet the constantly increasing
demands upon the treasury arising from the war
the following changes will be made In the customs
tariff and tax law:-
First-On and after the 1st OF March next all the
custom houses OF the island Will exact the following
export duties on goods for the peninsula and for
egn parts:-Sugar, fifty cents per box and one dol
one dollar per bale cigars nfty cents per thousand.
Sec0nd-From and after same date there will be
levied an ADDITIONAL tax Of ve per cent on the amount
OF the existing import duties.
T3tLu-In the same manner an additional tax OF
twenty-five per cent viii be once charged the
tributions for the current economic year OF COM
merce and industry, exempting those incomes that
are less than $3.50 per annum.s
To meet the immediate exgencies OF the treasury
1t has been determined that the Banco Espaiiol shall
furnish $sooo,ooO, to be repaid by the impost and
export duties mentioned above. the amounts re-
ceived by the custom houses to be handed over
weekly. The advance Of the bank ts to be Of the
same class Of notes as heretofore used, with the
The result Of these new financial measures depends
upon the good faith OF the government In paying
into the bank the customs collected. In some quar-
ters II Is feared that under the exgences Of the war
the government VIII not be able TO keep fath the
demands upon the treasury now amount to about
81 000 900 week, and the revenue is not quarter
Of that
The effect OF the war upon commerce is beginning
TO be felt in the labor question. Representations
were made recently TO the government by the cigar
makers Of this city, who number several
thousand and constitute the great body
Of white labor here, asking for some mea-
sure to remedy the ruinous state OF their trade
The fact Is, that while the total cArances
OF manufactured cigars from this port amounted to
s4,le2,Ooo, from January to February Is, 1885, the
export has fallen down to 23,279,oOO cigars during
the same period this year. showing the enormous de-
crease OF 10, $50 900 IN month and half whereas
In 1sse II was no less than iaa oso nonnGs while n
was only 1855 pounds In 1858. which presents an
excess OF 40s0s5 pounds In the export OF this year
Frensd lies In the latter fact alone, and there
other remedy, thinks that paper, than to enforce
rest the enormous expectation OF Il, and thus pro-
tect the cigar twisters, at least to important ex
tent But the fact is, as The Pensa Itself owns that
the cheapneSs OF labor abroad and the enormous
wages paid here FOR twisting is the real question:;
and as this cannot be remedied, the Fre'asa very
properly exhorts the manufacturers to do their
utmost in competing in the superiority OF their
manufacture
The roz de cuba calls attention to the fact that
the laws about foreigners they still exist are
not carried out to the letter, according there
to every foreign resident OF five years and more
should swear fidelity and become vassas to the
spanish nag. 1t hints at the improperly Of allow
Ing Cuoans to leave with passports having the
"Mister" before their names tas American cftizens
instead OF the usual "Senor' or aDon.u
The gold market Is much easier than ii was last
week, and Spanish ounces can now be had at two
on n md
English soveregn5 are In good demand.
The war steamer Borga arrived late last night
with sos troops and thrty-seven officers. The corps
recently arrived from Spain having the old MIME
carbines have been furnished with the needle guns
OF the new model
The Dtdrio de Ia Marina has the following from
the seat Of the lnsurrectIon:A party OF insurgents
have burned thirty-sx cane fields Of the plantation