The morning times., 1895-12-05
how cuBANs ARE OPPRESSED.
Spain Obtains Tribute bv Taxes on
Ordinary business Operations.

Ordinary business Operations.
Editor Times: Knowing OF your courage
ous defeuse OF the Cuban cause and having
only recently arrived in your city from
Cuba, felt that you would gladly, through
the columns Of your valuable paper, allow
me TO make some statements as to how
numerically we-the Cubans-are taxed.
how hard it is for us even in times OF peace
TO make our property pay us a living.
Taxes are enormously high. One OF my
houses that Is rented for $50, is taxed
excluding water tax for $50 every
three months.
AS an example of how we are treated
person a permit or license tceduiaI to
ideutify him or her. If by chance you for
get 10 carry your "cedula' you are taken
to the statioI.house. 1t is far better TO
permit tcedala) to walk the streets in
broad daylight rs free man. we are
charged for these "cedulas" according to In
comes, those having means being taxed ao.
cordingly. These "cedulas," or permits
must be renewed every year.
eau any American begin TO realize him.
by The conditions which existed before the
war IN your own country, when slaves were
compelled. when caught ON The streets. 10
show their papers or be locked up.
My only idea in writing this for pub
lication Is that thuse who are In SYM
pathy with us may know inore or our
sufferlngs l find that as rule Amer
leans have not been kept informed as TO
tie true state OF affairs n",ir island; where.
under ordinary conditions, man s NE can
be so happy. We are taxed at every urn
for every little business transact1on-for
example: When You register your name at
your hotel you are required to attach u
stamp, which has to be b'flght OF the
clerk; the money, of course, going to the
government of Spain.
All the goud positions in the island are
reserved for the spaniards; sent ir,hl
Madrid, ana not for the Cubans. When
You collect q bill you mast put your staInD
tihe value of same guing to the government.
otherw yuilr debtor will not pay you the
money: II you wish to hang out your sign
as business man. you are compelled
TO pay su much for every letter. In renting
rooms III your house. to avoid paying this
exorbitant tax. We are obliged to resort to
subtcrfuee. for instance, instead OF say
ing Three t3)roums 20 let we use the
sign of a key and the figure "a. The key
means the words e. rent and the frac-
tioiial three-quarters stands for tres
cslartos' lthree raomsJ.
Our barber shop signs would puzzle an
American; 10 simply has the picture or
razor and pair of scissors. with the prices
attached, as figures are not taxed. The
name OF the owner or proprietor and the
words barber, shop being omitted on
account uf the tax
When our railroad employees receive their
salaries at the end OF the month. before
the money is handed 10 them, they are
required 10 sign receipt, which is stamped.
Ioi "hitu q ttG'dlD duiDuDt ID tt-
Quoted. according 10 the salary. Fortu-
Dateiy, we are not taxed for the clothes
wear-a bit of astonishing generosity on
the part OF Spain. - II we move from one
ward TO another. we have 10 notify the
Judge OF the latter, and if not done so
during certain time we are fined. To have
a hunting gun, We have TO obtain a license
and for which We are charged SO year.
same has TO be renewed every year. j
eDumerate these instances of Spanish mis-
ruie, because, only the other day I was
asked by gentleman in this city why
CubanS wanted TO be free people?"
i1 Americans would only place Themselves
in our shoes and recall how bitter were
their ancestors in &c, on account Of a tax
on tea, am sure they would understand
why We are making such brave fight
to rid our tifui island OF these hard
and grssping taskmasters. so that we
might enjoy the fruits Of our labors In peace
and happiness.
i VIII not sign my name. feel IL would
eDdanger my property and my famiiy. all
of whom reside in Cuba.
Please. hir. Editor, accept the heartfelt
thanks of my suffering Cubans for your
marty stand IN our behalf. God prosper
your noble paper. ] would there were
others like you-wiih the courage of your
coDyictionS. "UN CUBA NO"