Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-06
PLAIN TALK TO PLANTERS
Cuban Insurgents Levy Regular Tax on
Sugar Estates.
MUST BE PAID TO SECURE IMMUNITY
II the Rebels Receive the Money, How
ever, General Weyler's Proc
lnmntion VIII be
Violated.

lnmntion VIII De
violated.
Copyright, 1895, by Press Publishing Company
HAVANA-(Via Key West)-March g.
New York World Cablegram-Special Tele-
gram.)-It has been rumored in this city
for several weeks that the insurgents had
called upon sugar planters, including Ameri-
can and other foreigners to pay assess
ments according to the value of their prop
erty This, IL was said, would be neces-
sary in order to protect their machinery
and buildings from destruction. Full con-
frmation of this rumor has been obtained
by the World correspondent. The secretary
of the treasury of the so-called republic of
Cuba has issued the following circular;
OFFICE OF THE TREASURER. DIS
TRICT OF REPUBLIC OF
CUBA: AS the collection of the annual
taxes on sugar estates Is now in process,
and your property -, Is valued at
-, your portion is per cent on the
value, or say dollars in gold, with
out extension, in fifteen days from date.
BY the payment of above amount the gov
ernment of the Republic of Cuba is bound
to respect the factories of the estates, their
buildings and machinery-provided, that the
owners of estates do not try to grind as
the making of the crop is forbidden. Here
with | enclose a printed circular OF the
treasurer of the eXchequer, so you may
take note of its contents.
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
The circular referred to in this order is
addressed to the owners of estates, and is
as follows -...
"Repubic of Cuba-Ofice of the Treasurer
of the Exchequer: Using the facilities con-
fe.red upon me by the secretary of the eX-
chequer hereby notify the owners of estates
| that the only persons authorized to collect the
taxes are those designated by the govern
| ment, who should make themselves known
| by showing their papers of appointment, is
sued by the secretary of the treasury, or by
the representative of the states. Please take
note of above for your guidance.
SECRETARY OF STATE"
This IS the first time this order and
circular have been made public. They were
not issued until after having been submitted
to Maxine Gomez for his approval.
When General Weyler first came to Cuba
three weeks ago he was waited upon by q
| delegation of planters. At that time the
| order above referred TO had not been issued
The planters told General Weyler that they
| wanted to know II there was possibility
of saving at least portion of their years
sugar crop He replied that he was hopeful
| and he had good reasons to assure the plant
ers that by March Is he would have cleared
tho four western provinces from the hands
| and also of the bands which have been des
troying property under leaders of minor i'm
portance. He said that by the middle o.
March he hoped to have every planter grind
ing in Pinar del Rio, Havana, Matanzas ant
| Santa Clara provinces.
SUGAR CROP STILL UNSAVED.
Since that time the civil government O
Matanzas issued an order calling upon til,
planters in the province to begin operations
Immediately He said that he had an in
tervew with General Weyler while il
Havana and that the general was more thai
anxious to save the sugar crop. The planter
were told that they could organize arme'
bodies mot military, but they themseive
would have to defray all expenses ,towar
maintaining the support of the civil troaps
Since this but few planters have take
active operations, and one of the most prom
inent sugar planters, Sebastian Ulacia, VIII
at one time owned eighteen sugar estate
and was enabled to draw his presonal chec
for 81 1000, 900 at the Bank of Spain II
Havana, was hanged near Minas, at Tiyoltc
his plantation because he had gone ther
for the purpose of not only obeying tn
order of General Weyler, but of saving him
! | self from what appeared to him absolut
bankruptcy, should he be enabled to save tn
, small portion of the cane which the in
surgents had left remaining in the fields un
burned.
1t can readily be understood that thi
t act which originated from Maxine Gomez
has not had a good effect upon the othe
; planters. who had thought of showing thei
loyalty to Spain by beginning to grind, eve
though they knew that should they seccee
4 in grinding what remained of the cane, the
, would never make profit.
The circular and order to pay an annut
tax to the insurgents has been received b
, planters in the interior Of the island, ant
according to their statement the amount
. assessed by the rebels in the way which the
! have hitherto paid to the Spanish govern
: ment: The amount of the tax assessed upo
planters is a large one. If the property, ft
= instance is valued at $l,0O0,0OO, and man
: of the estates exceed this amount in the
arbitrary valuations. the owner ef the SAN
is, in accordance with the wording OF Il
circular, compelled to pay tax OF $2OOl
= in gold. This money must be paid in cas-
y Checks or promises are not accepted.
y y The secretary Of the treasury of the 81
= called republic of Cuba has informed IL
y planters that the payment of this tax on
guarantees pr. lection of the 'bateys"
c the estates, which means the factories an
o machinery in use in connection with II
II grinding of sugar. The machinery also
=, many of these large estates is valued
II from 500 900 TO 81 100000, and should 1t
destroyed, could not be replaced In less ina
| one yeat.
o PROTECTION is LIMITED.
. II does not guarantee the protection of VIII
remains of the cane still standing n Il
- fields The secretary also gave the plante
. to understand in unmistakable language th
- should they fail to comply with these d
y y mands their property would probably be
II stroyed.
y Several planters who have received tn
u circular and who have received in persc
y these orders say that they are unable to u
=, derstand exactly why they should pay tn
y tax In the first place 1t by no means affor
;. them a sufficient guarantee that at son
- future date no other insurgents will come
u their plantation and demand more none
= Then again, If they pay, they would be co
= s!dered undar the proclamation issued
" General Weyler, as aiding and abetting &
e rebels, and by thus contributing furnish the
" with sufficient means to continue their wa
fare agacIt the government OF Spa n. [
oi the other hand, II they did not pay, th
Dl must see their property destroyed at q
III hands of the revolutionists.
lie The probability is that these paymen
will not be made, because funds are unava
's able.
le Federation n Necessity.
10 SYDNEY, n. s. W, March 5.-The co
ference of Australian premiers has be
70 concluded. They adopted resolutions recor