Evening star., 1898-12-08
Serious Condition Confronting Span
ish Government in Cuba.
UNABLE TO MEET OBLIGATIONS
Instance of Spanish Officers Greed
in Paying Off Troops.
ola SHE'S WITH CUBAN S

HAVANA, Cuba, December Z (via Key
West, December S).-Serious problems con-
front the last days of Spains sovereignty
in Cuba. One of the most delicate and
most difficult of solution is the question of
return bonds given by civil officials and en-
ployes upon ceasing to hold office. Many
of these are cash bonds, furnished years
ago, the refunding of which now becomes
imperative. All such moneys having been
appointed and spent, the government is un-
able to meet these Obligations or to fulfill
the guarantees.
The settlement of the arrears of pay due
the mobilized and all the irregular troops
offered a brilliant opportunity for mastery
hnanciering on the part of the military in
tendant. With money in hand for full
settlement of all pay due to the troops the
quartermaster general devised an ingenu-
Gus plan. Paying the men off in notes pay
able in Madrid, he offered, through trusted
agents, to discount such notes at 20 or 80
per cent for cash. AS practically every
one of the irregular and mobiliZed troops
Will remain on the island, the men ca agerly
embraced this opportunity to get their
notes cashed and a handsome profit there
fore accrued to the astute originator of the
scheme.
Bank Sells It's MOrtgages.
mortgages held by the Spanish bank
amount to SG0G0,C00. Propositions for the
acquisition Of these mortgages have been
made by London, New York and Berlin
bankers. Although the mortgaged prop
erty represents q most solid investment, the
Spanish bank appears ready to transfer the
title to the foreign corporations through
lack of confidence in the stability of the
future government.
Several disturbances occurred here yes
terday afternoon between a number of
Spaniards and Cubans, but luckily there
was no serious consequence. At ) O'Clock
in the afternoon several Cuban officers,
who were walking down Obispo street,
asked each other in tones rather louder
than necessary when the SpaniaTds were
to finally leave Cuba, and commented on
what they termed the latter's want of
shame in parading the streets attired in
their uniforms. A coupe of Spanish Off
GERS, who CHANGED to pass, overheard the
conversation of the Cubans and one of the
Spaniards approached and slapped the face
of a member of the Cuban party. Several
blows Were then exchanged, but the fight
ers were soon arrested and taken to the
military governors palace, where they were
subsequently discharged.
Cut the Cuban's Hat to Pieces.
A repetition of this incident occurred in
the evening. when Spanish officer in Cen
trail Park tore a fanama hat off a Cuban's
head and cut it into pieces with his sword.
The offender was arrested, and General
Arolas, fearing further trouble, distributed
a force of soldiers in the park and its vicin-
ity. No other disturbances occurred how
ever.
The statue of Isabel la Catolica, which
stands in the middle of Central Park in this
city. was found this morning holding a
Valise 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,