The Portland daily press., 1898-11-11
WANT THEIR PAY,
Unpaid Troops in Cuba Threaten to
Make Trouble.

mission.
Havana. November 10, via Key West,
Fla. November I0..-Since early on the
morning of Sunday last the streets Of
Havana have again presented the appear
ance OF a state of seige. At every corner
fonr regulars are stationed armed wit h
Mauser rifles, besides the usual city
patrol.
Asit is known, the Ordeno Public
forces have been threatening trouble over
the refusal of the government to pay the
arrears of wages due them, it was at first
supposed that these military precautions
were taken owing to the fear of an out.
break in that quarter. Later, however,
1T was learned that Gel. Masso Parro, late
commander Of the disbanded Cuban
Espano1a brigade with his officers had
threatened to come to the city, proceed to
the palace and demand the settlement of
his and his officers pay. Fearing that
the arrival or Col. Parro would be the
ST gnal for other malcontents to join the
movement and thus cause serious trouble,
Captain General Blanco forbade Col.
Parro TO come to Havana. Anticipating
characterization, however, Gen. Blanoo
promptly took precautions to queli any
attempted uprising.
Col Masso Parro first attracted atten-
tion when, ranking as brigadier general
of the Cuban Insurgents. he deserted to
the Spanish ranks. He was given the
rank of colonel and organized brigade
of three thousand Cubans under his lead
ership known as the Cuban Espanola
Brigade, which did signal service for the
Spaniards during the late war. About
month ago the BRIGADE began to cause
considerable trouble at Cienfuesos ~
olamoring for the overdue pay. They en-
tienched themselves outside the city, and
refused to disband or lay down their arms
until u settlement was made. Gen.
Aguirre, the Spanish military governor
of Cienfuegos, visited the camp under
flag of truce and held conference with
Col. Parro. The result was hat portion
of the overdue money was paid ana tne
brigade in turn disbanded.
This was the first serious trouble with
the irregular or mobilized troops over the
question of non-payment OF wages, out
open discomfort in regard to this matter
has since spread to every branch OF the
service The trouble in this connection
has been heightened now by the an
nouncement that the $24 which the
government agreed to pay to every en-,
listed man obtaining his discharge will
only be paid upon the evacuation OF the
island by the respective regiments to
which the soldiers belonged? This latest
announcement is mobilization OF q
previous decree providing that the troops
would only be paid upon landing in
Spain.
When partial payment was made to
the Cuban Espanola brigade, the money
1s.xs-4 -4<..1 she tr
Col. PaTro and his officers accepting q
promise of the future payment of their
salaries, the total amount being over
800, GOO, which sum they now claim. The
battalion of San9ti Spiri5us guerillas
was partially paid On Saturday last, but
the members showed their tlisconteno By
appointing committee to go to the
palace in Havana and demanding from
,Captain-G General Blanco, the payment OF
over 100000 still due them. The bat
talon municipal, composed of firemen OF
Havana who engaged in offensive opera
tions in the field for three whole years are
owed 81, zoe, 900, none of which it is de.
oIared has been paid. These are only
few instances showing the position of the
Spanish army here. whose discontent IN
creases daily. 1t is alleged that the cor
ruption in the department. of finance Of
the insular government has reached such
a pitch that employees and officers are
openly taxed twenty and forty per cent
discount on their salaries which they are
forced to accept or go unpaid. The same
corrupt system pervades every branch OIL
the administration, the local press going
SO far as to ask for the ousting of the
municipal officers, saying that the
autonomist control is worse than the old
Spanish colonial administration. This
state of affairs has developed q gang of
thieves, burglars and murderers, leopard
izing the lives and property of peaceable
citizens. Crime spreads and hundreds Of
persons die from want.
A circular letter is being addressed to
all business centers, exchanges, manu-
featuring companies mills and produce
dealers, requesting their cooperation in
an effort to offset the petition signed by
most of the Spanish merchants, and i'm
porters here who request an extension of
sixty days after the American occupation
before putting the new customs tariff in
to effect. The letter is signed by many of
the principal business houses especially
those representing American concerns
A committee will wait upon Special
Commissioner Robert P. Porter when he
arrives here and submit the matter to
him, asking his support in favor OF the
petition. The letter, explains the reasons
adduced on either side in regard to the
case. 1t is in part as follows:
Inc uuC6EuhlntJ LCkuIoAhS eho
schedule of import duties to be levied by
the American government, both as to the
rates to be imposed and as to the specific
time when the schedule of import duties
is to go into effect, is resulting in an almost
complete stagnation in this market and
is rendering the introduction of American
products and manufactures under the
present duties. almost an impossibility.
not only in Havana, but in the smaller
ports on this side of the island. Mean
while, the less important markets Of
Santiago, Manzanillo, Guantanamo and
Gibara, now under American control, are
working with specific duty much lower
than the Spanish tariff in force here, thus
placing this port at great disadvantage.
"The American commission hos been
approached in the interest of small
minority of the importers, who recon-
mend that the American government
Grant them an extension of sixty days
after the data on which it is intended to
pIace the new schedule in operation, in
order that they may dispose of their goods
which were imported under the Spanish
tariff now prevailing here, the rates of
which are much higher than the Ameri-
can tariff to be put in force. Those unac-
oainted with the corrupt methods prac.
ssicad unf1er the Spanish administration