The herald., 1898-12-09
PROBLEMS IN PLENTY
CONFRONT THE MANAGERS OF
CUBAN AFFAIRS
A SPANlARD'S ASTUTE SCHEME
Enables Him to Pay the Troops and
Still Save One-Half of the
Money
Associated Press Special Wire

HAVANA, Dec. I, via Key West, Dec. 8.
The statue of Isabel la Catolica which
stands in the middle of Central Park, In this
city, was found this morning holding va
ise in one hand and a steamer rug IN the
other. An immense placard was slung across
the back of the statue with the words bon
VOYAGE inscribed on it.
Serious problems confront the last days
of Spain's sovereignty in Cuba. One of the
most delicate and most difficult of solution
is the question of return bonds given by civil
officials and employees upon ceaslng to hoid
office. Many OF these are cash bonds fur-
nished wears ago, the refunding OF which
now becomes imperative. All such moneys
having been appropriated and spent the gov
ernment is unable to meet these obhgatlons
OR to fulfill the guarantees.
The settlement of the arrears OF pay Que
the moblized and all the regular troops OF
fered a brilliant opportunity for mastery
fnanciering on the part OF the military IN
tendant. With money in hand Tor fuli set
tlement of all pay due the troops, the quar-
termasterG General devised all ingenious plan
Paving the men off in notes payable IN Ma
drld. ne offered through trusted agents to
discount such notes at twenty or thirty per
cent for cash As practically every one OF
the irregular and mobilized troops Will re-
main on the island, the men eagerly EN-
braced this opportunity to have their notes
cashed. and a handsome proht therefore, ac-
cIued to the astute originator OF the scheine'
The first mortgages held by the spanish
bank on municipal property here amount 10
6.00O. .O0O Propositions for the acquisition
of these mortgages have been made by Lon
don New York and Berlin bankers Al
though the mortgaged property represents
a most solid investment, the Spanish panK
appears ready to transfer the title to the
foreign corporations through lack OF con-
tiderce in the stability OF the future govern
ment
Several disturbances occurred here yes
terdav afternoon between number OF Span
iards and Cubans and luckily there was no
serious consequence. At D O'Clock IN the
afternoon of the day mentioned, several
Cuban officers who were walking down
Ob,spo street asked each other in tones
rather louder than necessary when the Span
iards were finally to leave Cuba, and COM
mented on what they termed the latter S
want of shame in parading the streets at
tired in their uniforms. A couple of Span
ish officers who CHANGED to pass overheard
the conversations OF the Cubans, and one of
the Spaniards approached and slapped the
facc of the Cuban party. Blows were eX-
changed but the fighters were soon arrest
ed and taken to the Military Governors S
palace. where they were subsequently dis
charged.
A repetition of this incident occurred in
the evening when Spanish officer in Cen
trail Park tore a Panama off Cuban's head
and cut it into pieces with his sword. The
offender was arrested and Gen. Arolas,
fearing further trouble, distributed force
of soldiers in the park and its vicinity. No
other disturbances occurred, however.