New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-05
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF CUBA


DISTRICTS.
[PRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
| HAVANA Aug. 29.-The most notable incident
during the past week has been the panic in the gold
market. Spectators in gold have been busily en-
ployed for some days past in circulating reports cali
culated to keep 10 at high premium. Startling
current of the resignation Of the Zabala
Sagasta Ministry in Spain, the formation Of Cab
met of conciiatOn the elevation Of CASTELAR, to tho
Presidency in place of the Duke dc la Tore. 1t
also declared that the provisions of the Captain
Generals decree Of the 9th of August, for the de-
struction cancellation of all the bank notes col
lected account Of the tax Of ten per cent on
incomes would not be carried out. and the amount
collected would instead Of being used for diminish
ing the Treasury debt be again put into circulation,
Nevertheless, the recent measures of the Captain
General have tended TO inspire confidence, and as
natural consequence, the premium of gold which
two weeks ago between 40 and 49, has steadily
declined, until two days ago. amid considerable
cltement in the ring of exchange brokers and
gold SPECTATORS it reached the low figure Of GO per
cent, although the market closed the day at 30
per cent, and this figure has since been maintained.
The hand Of the Captain General can be clearly
seen in this late movement; he has set to himself
the task of lowering gold and restoring confidence.
The money received from customs has been depos-
lieu at cpallSn Ddnk; ne mas issued decree 10
allow all taxpayers, upon the payment of the
amounts of their !income tax themselves to cancel
the bank notes in which they make payment by
writing on them the word "inutilizadop rendered
useess and subscribing their names; he has begun
the collection of this tax from owners of landed
estates, and will rapidly follow it up through
out tho other classes of society, that
the two terms of six months Of this
year may be collected within the current
year. The cancellation of the bank notes collected
to the 22d of August 10 per cent tax net income
Of landed property specified By the decree Of the
10th of July, and amounting, with the deduction Of
three per cent for cost of collection to S,500
in round numbers, was duly and publicly effected
last Monday the oath, at the Town Hall, and bank
notes to that amount after being counted, CON-
pared checked, &c, punched through and
through, and thus made useless. Next Monday,
another large amount is to be Cancelled in the
manner The decree Of the 26th of August, per-
hitting Taxpayers themselves to cancel the notes.,
was issued in answer to the rumOrs mentioned
above, and the representations of the taxpayers
themselves, who thereby wish to make that
the notes are really Cancelled and will be reis-
sued. To these measures, and the loyal patriotism
of the Spaniards, is attributed the return of conf
dence in the Government, as shown by the recent
fall in gold; although some persons say that tho
present situation cannot last, and look for rapid
rise after the 1st of September, when the total
amount of customs duties to be exacted in gold.
OF course at this time the meddlesome not to call
it by other names, Casino Espafiol must have its
say, and on last Thursday, the 27th, COMMITTEES
from that institution, composed of the acting Pres-
dent and four members of its Board of Direction.
called upon the Captain-General with the double
purpose of condoling with HIM on the death of his
brother the Marquis Del Duero, in the name of tho
Ultramarine Spanish Center of Madrid, and OF
concentrating him the wise and judiciOus
measures he has taken regarding the collection Of
the tax decreed on the 10th of July. The Captain
General replied in a very flattering strain. Concha
has probably begun to understand the immense
power and influence the Casino yields in the
political affairs of this Island.
1t having come the knowledge of the Captain-
General that many owners of slaves still refuse to
pay the war tax on the slaves they possess, be has
deemed it advisable to reproduce the circular of that
date stating moreover that 1t is not just that tho
President of the Junta of Planters (Zuluetal, who
for over year had advanced the amounts which
other slave owners ought TO have paid should be-
any longer deprived Of their return, and ordering
that the Governors Of the different districts shall at
once collect the amounts due that Oecount, and,
if need be- proceed judcially against the dllatOry
slave-owners and enforce collection. The circular
is dated Aug %. and is accompanied by a commune
cation and statement from the President Of the
Junta de HacendadOs Zulueta in which he refers to
the substitution of the tax of 50 all slaves, instead
of the exacton of 81 out ofevey 800 for the ofho
Government, and the consequent engagement as
laborers Of the coolies held in Government depots.
He refers also to the advances made by himself for
payment of transportation and wages even reach
ing SIP 900 at time, and the delays in payment
,,bi oh eli Epp (rOVprnmpnt
The statistical statement he to his cOmmu-
nication based on the census of January, 1871, Of
the slaves IN the Island, shows that there 261sf
slaves comprised in the different Jurisdictions of the
Island, calling for tax of S432.362 OF this amount
about 1922 733 but little onehalf has been COLI
lected leaving still S2O9,629 uncoected. He has ex-
pended S269 74, and consequently the Government
owes him S46,97l.
Great indignation has been expressed in political
circles here at the idea Of the cession OF Puerto
Rico to Germany and telegram has been received
from Madrid denying the correctness of that rumor.
Spain is not willing to yield to any foreign power
single rod of her territory in the West Indies and
the Spaniards here, with their usual bravado, de-
clare they will die first Other kilograms have been
received from Madrid, announcing that the recruit
ment of troops for the army in Cuba is rapidly go
ing on, and that the Government understands the
pressing need of reGnforcements to carry on tina
Winter campaign, and is determined to send troops
to Cuba at any cost, and will not be deferred by
whatever may happen in Spain, for il is determined
TO hold on to Cuba and will make any sacrifice
TO retain the Island in its possession Spain
provides the men! and Cuba the money for the ex-
penses of the war; and the Spaniards predict for the
hundredth time that, when the expected reinforce
ments of 1900 men arrive, the rebellion VIII
speedily be crushed. Meanwhile the reports from
the interior are not very encouraging Operations
xheres nsnended aud great icknesa