The record-union., 1897-11-23

starving has been mostly stolen. The
change of officials has let this out
through the intense hatred Of the Span
ish reformist for the Spanish Conserva-
tive.
An income of per cent. was levied
for the care of the hungry and collect
ed. The present officers charge the
former officials with putting most of it
into their pockets. The amount raised
was considerable, the work done was
next to nothing.
Six thousand dollars went in wages
at Is cents day and downward for
swamp filling. Two hundred men
worked on a boulevard two weeks and
paid most of their money back to the
officials for the food they were COM
PEELED to buy in certain places.
Within a week a leading Spanish
merchant slapped the former Mayors
face after taxing him and the former
Governor with this and other steal
ings.
Another example is the barracks built
for the concentrates, which appears
on the books to have cost SIG, 900. The
material was taken from dismantled
buildings, the labor was compulsory,
more than $1,000. With such a record
and the boast, We are not going to
pay any attention to Blanco's orders"
the Spanish authorities Of Matanzas
cannot be expected to give to the
starving the care they require.
To show how cheaply the dead could
have been kept alive. but glance is
necessary at the books of the United
States agent, who is caring for deSt-
tute American citizens. There have
been 5000 persons of the ''reconcentra-
do" class. Upon May oath many OF
them were in want. Since the Ameri-
can agent came on that date only half
a dozen have died, and it has cost but
10 cents a day for each person at war
prices for food bought in Matanzas
City.
The daily ration is six ounces of po-
tatoes, rice, Goldfish or jerked beef, six
ounces of cornmeal, four ounces of
sugar, two ounces of lard and an
ounce and half of beans.
Medical attendance has cost little.
The Cuban physicians prescribe gratis
and the Cuban druggists sell at cost.
Such a ration and medical attendance
would save $500 souls in MatanZas and
tens and tens of thousands in Western
Cuba
The Red Cross Society has a permit
from Weyler to go even into the rebel
camps. General Blanco doubtless
would extend every facility for its
work now, as it must be done only in
the fortified towns and only for obedf-
ent subjects of Spain. Fifteen cents
day and the Red Cross should save
life A few thousand dollars would
save the remnants of the rural popula-
ton of Western Cuba
Later in the day particulars were re-
ceived here at Spanish headquarters of
the surrender of the authorities in the
Province of Pinar del Rio of the in
surgents belonging to what is known
as the Cuervo band. 1t appears that
when the rebellion first broke out at
the instigation of Generals Gomez and
Maceo, the Cuervo brothers raised a
band Of insurgents and have since been
operating in the rich and extensive
zone, having for it's base the intricate
woods of Guanamon, this province.
Recently the autonomist party elected
their father to be Mayor of Neuva Paz,
and now one of the brothers Cuervo, a
Colonel in the insurgent army, has sur
rendered, with an insurgent Lieutenant
Colonel, three insurgent Majors, nine
other insurgent officers and 1O3 armed
inSurgent privates