The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-24
HAVANA LOOKING UP.
Since Tt Has Become Certain That
spaniards are About to Leave

Since Tt Has Become Certain That
Spaniards are About to Leave
Havana, via Key West, Fla, Nov
24-The last few days have seen a re-
yival OF activity in every quarter
Things appear 10 take on more definite
forms in every branch of military oc-
cupatiOn- Here at Havana wharves
are being built and railway connections
made. The camps chosen have actually
begun to be constructed Government
boats and supplies are arriving and the
first installment of United tates troops
is expected on Friday. At the custom
house the archives are being packed
hurrIedly, preparatory to turning over
the building to the American authori-
ties The best energies of the Spanish
now seem bent upon an immediate
evacuation Of the island
All this has had a statutory effect upon
the general tone of commercial and
social life in the city. which looks to the
immediate future for relief from a long
season OF doubt and stagnatiOn- With
the advent OF cooler weather the health
of the general public has improved No
new cases Of yellow fever among for
eignerS have been recorded and the sit
uatiOn can be said TO be visibly better
There are, however, two disCOrdant
notes, the increase Of crime and the
continuance of official corruption The
newly constituted police force. known
as rifier and guber natives armed with
machetes and rifles is totally inadequate
to cCMe with the criminal classes, whose
ranks are daily swollen by the return
OF deported prisoners from the penal
colonies
The rifers made a very poor substi-
tute for the disbanded orden publiCo.
The alarming increase in vice and
crime renders II unsafe TO walk the
streets unarnled or unprotected after
scores OF hold ups. murders, burglar
les and highway rObberies, which never
get into the local papers, thanks to the
watchful censor.
Corruption. bribery and wholesale
stealing in the military and civil ad-
ministrations continue unchecked Some
insight into the condition of municipal
affairs can be gained from their report
Of a secret session held at the mayors
Office on Monday. The regulation
hours for killing at the slaughter house
are during the afternoon but a special
permit entities certain contractors to
slaughter one head each morning, for
which those who have the privilege pay
a prescribed fee As a matter of fact.
over a hundred are killed every day
before noon. the fees for which, ex~
oeeding $3.50. never find their way into
the city treasury
These beeves are distributed by the
contractors for the military hospitals
in the city at IS cents per kilOgramme.
while the public pays only the market
price of about s. cents The difference
per kifOgramUe. together with the
amount of unpaid abattOir fees is pre-
sumably divided among the select few,
who silently defraud the city out of a
much needed source Of income.
At the secret session where this glar-
ing abuse was under discussion a com,
mission was appointed to inform Cap
tain General BIanc0 of the fact re-
Questing that the contractors be COM
PEELED TO pay the arrears Of fees since
July p
The mayor Of Havana. on his own re-
sponstbihty-. without the sanction OF the
city council and board of aldermen. has
increased the city budget for the salaries
OF municipal officers and employees from
50 eco to $1,000. The board Of aldermen
at their last session resolved not to con
firm the mayors action. thus compelling
him to pay the difference out of his own
pocket
Street cars and ornnibuses have paid no
taxes for several years. Although strict {
" forbidden BY law more than two thOus- /
and wooden houses exist within the city !
limits Such cases of bribery. corruption /
and nal administrati could be multiplied I
Indefinitely Nothing is done TO check {
them
Gambling houses. which after the sign
ing Of the protocol the Spanish authOri-
ties made a great show Of suppressing.
now flourish unuOlestsd- At this late day I
everybody admits the uselessuess OF at /
tempting 70 tnfuse morality into the Span !
sh administration
On November S the partly disbanded /
guerrilla of SaEua Ia CShica took the deld
burning and destroying property They /
lid great damage On the sugar plantation /
British consul Mr.. jerome. two days later
fled claim for damages an official ac- 4
ment of which has been made by /
Captain General BIancO.