New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-09
FACTS ABOUT CUBAN BONDS.
DEPUTY-TREAsURER GUERRA SAYS THE
AMOUNT PUT OUT IS ONLY $4,000.

CUBA's WAR EXPENSES SMALL. AND WHAT Is
NEEDED COMES FROM TAXATION AND
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AS TO
500 900 600 OF SPANISH BONDS
Washington April S.-Some interesting facts
were developed before the Foreign Affairs Com
mittee OF the House to-day. b. F. Guerra. Dep
uty-Treasurer OF the Cuban Republic. apr cared
with his books, and they were inspected by the
Committee. He explained that Of the $lO.OOO.Oco
In bonds authorized only $122OOO had been
actually disposed Of Some Of these were given
in payment for provisions sent to Cuba FOR
some Of them par had been obtained THESE
were taken mainly by the friends of Cuba. The
lowest price at which any were sold was ~
cents on the dollar A batch OF $4,000 was sold
for $1,000 in a pressing emergency. One million
of the bonds were locked up in the safe OF Bel
mont & Co, Of New-York to be sold when the
price fixed. As cents on the dollar had been OBJ
tanned. Three millions Of the remainder had
been signed but they wero locked up In the
Treasurer's vaults.
The Deputy Treasurer was asked II he knew
the story OF the publication OF the De LONE let
ter and without names ne told how IL was OBJ
tained. He said it was distracted by clerk in
the postofice at Havana who was In sympathy
with the Cuban cause and sent back TO New
York. There its Importance was at once real
ICED. and 1t was given out for publication
Mr.. Guerra was asked about the Spanish
Cuban bonds issued against the revenues of the
island. He replied that he did not know their
amount. which report placed at $4Oc.OO0.Ooo. but
that they were the accumulation Of years OF
deficits. Many Of them had been Issued to pay
the cost OF fighting the rebellion in Cuba.
Mr.. Quesada continued his statement. begun
eminent He went extensively into the author
ity exercised over the eastern provinces by the
Government. There. he said. all was compare
lively peaceful. industry was going on. taxes
were being collected. and all the functions of
government were being discharged. With re-
gard to the capacity Of the Cubans for self
government. he said they were a much higher
class Of people than those who had successfully
revolted from Spanish dominion In South Amer
ica The children Of the more wealthy families
had all been educated In the United States or
abroad, and had imbibed the spirit Of self-gov-
eminent. The poorer classes were laboring peo-
pie. peaceably disposed. as was evidenced by the
fact that they were regarded as desirable work
men at Key West and New-York and wherever
they had gone The people Of Cuba were all
most kindly disposed toward the United States
and looked upon this country as big brother
but they wanted independence. They thought
their struggle for freedom should be recognized
and they should have status among the ma
lions of the earth. ,.s-
Mr.. Newlands moved an adjournment of the
committee until Monday at ~ o'clock, which
was carried. The committee has no regular day
of meeting now. and Is subject to the call OF the
chairman. In order to be In a position to act.
the advocates Of recognition Of independence
took the precauton Of adjourning until Monday
90 that. IL necessary. they could act on that
Iday without depending on call from the chair
man. This is regarded as extremely significant
az showing the temper OF the committee against
any further delay. ed.
Deputy Treasurer Guerra was also before the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to-day.
sold had been disposed Of for average of
about 40 cents on the dollar The expenses OF the
Cuban army were small. and were paid by pri-
vate subscriptions and by the returns from the
taxation Of the property in the port Of the
island controlled by the insurgents Not less
than 100000 had. he said. been collected by
taxation. All the soldiers. both officers and men,
were serving without pay.
Some Of the Republicans In Congress who are
not yet decided whether they want intervention
without independence are investigating the
question to whether the United States under
international law, IL 1t interviewed in Cuba and
cut of the revenues. could be held responsible
for the Spanish bonds said to aggregate $500
O0000O. which have been issued against the
revenues OF the island. Mr.. Bromwell. of Ohio.
says he is looking into the question. and finds
some warrant In law for such responsibility.
IF Intervention without recognition makes us
In any way responsible for those bonds" said
recognition Of independence would validate the
bonds issued by the Cuban Junta. but my under
standing Is that only about 100000 OF these
bonds have been actually Sold