Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-09-09
CUBAN COMMISSION TO MEET BE-
HIND CLOSED DOORS.
SPAIN SENDS INSTRUCTIONS
AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS ENPECT-
ED IN HAVANA TODAY.
They Will Live on Hoard the ResO-
lutte During Their Stay i'm Hit
vana-LOcaI Government
of Havana Heavily
i'm Debt.

HAVANA, Sept. S-The Spanish mail
steamer Ciudad de Cadiz, which arrived
this afternoon, brought instructions from
the Madrid government TO the Spanish
evacuation commissioners, dealing with the
details of the evacuation, the questions of
fortifications.' buildings, mortgages and
ether properties of the state to be re-
Eounced by Spain along with her SOW
ereignty in the island.
The joint sessions of the commissioners
Will be held behind closed doors in the
palace of the colonial government. and 1t
is understood that the utmost secrecy will
be observed, all avenues of information be-
ing Zealously guarded.
The United States transport Resolute.
with the American military commissioners.
Is expected TO arrive tomorrow. The com
missionerS. ii is announced here, Will live
on board the transport. coming ashore each
morning and returning in the afternoon TO
the vessel. Special precautions will be
taken 10 insure absolute order and TO pre-
vent any hostile demonstration that might
possibly be made.
On Tuesday last, acting upon the advice
of the colonial council of secretaries. Cen
eral Blanco issued Il decree authorizing the
municipality of Havana to apply to the
payment of certain other preferred obliga-
tions those sums which, provided in the
municipal budget, should be applied in pay
ment Of interest and mortgages overdue on
loans OF 100000 and 3,0o000o pesos, respec-
lively. and directing the Banco Espanol to
turn over 10 the municipal treasury all
sums collected under these heads. suspend
ing this quarters payment of interest on
the bonds issued for these loans.
Despite the agreement of the council and
General Blanco's approval, the Banco rs
panol decided, in order to maintain credit
| to advance the money to pay the interest
due the bondholders on the loan. protest.
| ing against the councils agreement as "a
direct violation of the vested property
| rights. respect for which Is the social and
economic basis of any country
The local government Is in debt to all its
| civil employees. 1t owes Eight months sal
| airy to those appointed before the estab-
! Iishment OF autonomy in the island and
| four months to those named since.
The tobacco crop at yueltO Abajo prom
| ises to be the smallest on record. The
| principal reason Is the scarcity of oxen.
which We're stolen by the insurgents or
confiscated by the Spanish commanders 10
| feed the troops.
| One yoke of oxen will plow the land
necessary for planting 50,Ooo seeds which
| should yield, the average, twenty-five
| bales. es '
| Considering that many Individual tobacco
| growers have lost 900 or 800 oxen eacf-not
| counting those lost by the largest compa-
! Lies and smaller firms-some idea may lie
gathered of An drawbacks to tobacco cul-
| tivati6n II 80 respect. There will be d
great aemat sse oxen in all branches of
| agricultural enterprise. as practically ali
| the herds have been killed off. and no work
in the fields, to speak of. is possible with
| out them.
| Many of the sugar estates. however. have
begun work in different parts OF the island.
| The insurgent camp at Rojas. province of
| Santa Clara, where the Cuban forces are
! expected to concentrate prior to the dis
| banding. is reported very short of rations.
| The troops now there include the COM
| mands OF Jose Gonzales. Veitia Napoles.
| PanchO COrtes and General GARLIC
General Soano. who succeeded General
Pando as chief of staff to General Blanco
will go on board the Resolute on her ar
rival TO receive and welcome the Ameri-
| can commissioners.
| Besides the Ciudad de Cadiz. the first
| Spanish mail steamer to arrive here since
the blockade was raised the following
| vessels have, entered the port within the
| last twenty-four hours: The steamers
| Avala, from New York; Olinda, from Vera
| Cruz and the coasting steamer Guanico.
| all with cargoes and passengers, and the
| schooner Gabriel. from Montevdeo.