Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-26
SPANISH PROPERTY.
government buildings I'm Cuba That
Will BE Claimed.
washington Starr


What Spain owns in Cuba Is one of the
subjects that will be brought before the
joint military commission, evidently with
the purpose Of a later appeal to the
peace commission In Paris. When the
Marquis Of Montaro was chosen as a
member Of the Habana commission this
purpose was substantially ayowed. STATE
department officials are aware that Spain
Is tenacious, even in defeat. She wants
10 claim all that would have been hers
III she mad been treating for the sale of
CUBA, instead Of arranging for the evacu-
alton OF the island by her troops. The
hints thrown out from Madrid that there
is a difference between cession Of terri
tory and cession of sovereignty are fur
Their indication of the hope which the
Sagasta Ministry entertains of securing
some indemnity. 1t will probably come in
the form Of proposition that a valua-
ton be put on the Spanish Government
property in Cuba, and that this amount,
guaranteed by the United States, be APP
piled to the Cuban debt. Such an ar
rangement would be very satisfactory 10
the holders of the bonds issued to meet
the expenses incurred in trying to sup
press the instruction. 1t is not likely 10
meet with encouragement In Washing
ton.
LITTLE OF VALUE.
The reports made by the consus to the
State Department during the last three
years give little information about the
property OF Spain in Cuba, but It is not
very definite. There is less however,
than might be supposed. Government
buildings were not erected as in English
little is owned. In the towns the post
offices and custom-houses were usually
rented. and since the outbreak of the
revolution Spain has been a bad tenant,
seldom paying and always refusing TO be
rejected In the different provinces there
is practically no property of value held
by the civil government Of those pro-
vnces. In the various towns the local
councils usually have a suite of rooms
reserved in the City Hall for the high
officials who might visit them, but these
municipal buildings were not the pro-
perty OF the Central Government. Their
local hospitals and other institutions
were taken possession of by the military
authorities and nothing was paid them.
When the war with the United States
came on the majority of the municipal
ties in Cuba were bankrupt 1t is not
presumed their financial condition has
improved since then. Though Spain goes
the municipalities stay. and If there is
10 be compensation TO that country, de-
ducticn will have to be made for what
she owes the local government.
PROPERTY IN HABANA.
In Habana the property for which the
Sagasta ministry evidently intends TO ash
indemnity is considerable. The Palace
and other buildings are valuable A wide
latitude seems TO have been assumed from
the statement that the administration
was disposed to be magnanimous and thai
armament of historic memories would be
returned 10 Spain. The Krupp guns anC
| other modern defences Of Habana are
| not historic, and they will be needed by
| whatever authority takes the place Of
| Spanish sovereignty, whether the United
| States or an Independent republic under
! its protection. The property which is ad
| junct to the port including the floating
| dock, is also a valuable asset. If the
Madrid Cabinet could secure compensa
| ton for all this under the theory that al
| indemnity is due for ceding sovereignty
| il would probably be able TO satisfy tn,
bondholders. The Marquis Montaro, b!
| virtue of his Office as Secretary of tn,
| Treasury, may be assumed TO be familiar
| with all these subjects. II is doubtful
| however, whether he knows much abou
| them. The autonomist Cabinet never go
| far enough along 10 be familiar with tn
details of Spanish government in Cuba
Aside from this, he is a man of talent anC
Of personal character. He could not per
| suade his fellow Cubans to accept au
tonomy, but they respected him