New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-11

tho American occupation before putting the new
customs tariff into effect. The letter Is signed by
many Of the principal business houses. especially
those representing American concerns.
KILLS BUSINESS IN HAVANA
The letter says, in part
The uncertainty regarding the schedule Of import
both the rates TO be imposed and as 10 the
specific time when the schedule j. to go INTO effect
Is resulting In an almost complete stagnation III
This market ard Is rendering the introduction o.
present duties. almost an impossblity not only IN
Havana. but IN the smaller ports on this side or
OF Santiago de cuba. Manzanillo Guantanamo and
Gbara. now under American control. are working
with specific duty much lower than the Spanish
tar!n In force here thus placing this port at
great disadvantage 1t is therefore, of the utmost
extended throughout the entire island without
tablished for ali these ports that there may not
result an undue advantage for any one market on
The American Commission has been approached
In the interest ~ small minority Of the importers.
them an extension OF sixty days after the date on
which 1t Is intended TO place the schedule in
goods. which were imported under the Spanish
tarif now prevailing here. the rates OF which are
f"Tee THIS reqne5, made on The sraund hat they
higher duties paid Those unacquainted with
ne Go,rrupt methods practiSed undeE the Spanish
cause OF such desire 10 proong the Spanish
in combination with a few OF the custom house
officials have for years been paving but n small
portion Of the proper amount Of import duties This
practice IS ali the more pronounced in the last
days Of Spanish control and the purpose Is stock
up during the extension requested at less than
American schedule. II the American Government
against the interests Of the commercial world al
/ large. and would be especially detrimental 10 the
here.
/ The sale OF the Ferro Carrl Crbanos entire
street railway system is announced TO an English
cfoc Cp1o
twenty-five miles Of road between Cerro Jesus del
/ Monte. Castillo del Principe and Vedado. The
tire line will be rebuilt. ard the motive power Will
be changed 20 electricity. Several American
pora lions made bids but the English company's
| terms wert the most favorable
LIKE A STATE OF SIEGE
Since early on the morning Of Sunday last the
streets Of Havana have again presented the appear
ance OF state OF siege. Al every four regu
lars toned armed with Mauser rifles besides
the usual city patrol As II s known that the orGen
publico forces have been threatening trouble over
the refusal Of the Government 70 pay up the wages
due them II al first supposed that these mill
4 tary precautions taken owing to the fear Of
was learned that Colonel Masso Parro. late com
mander Of The dlsbanded Cuban Espahola Brigade
city. proceed to the Palace and demand the settle
! ment for his men. about $4,000 being due, rear
signal for other macontents TO join the movement
and thus cause serious trouble Captain General
Blanco forbid Colonel Parro from coming to Ha-
vana. Anticipating naturalization. however. Gen
/ attempted UPRISING Colone Masso Parro FIRST at
tracted attention when. ranking as brigadier-gen-
eral Of the Cuban insurgents he deserted to the
! Spanish ranks. was given the rank Of colonel and
organized brigade Of three thousand Du6 snls
Brigade which do signal service for the spaniards
About month ago as told At the time in press
dspa tches the brigade began 10 cause considerable
se Day Tbey ntfencbsd themselves on the Tubu
can estate. OUTSIDE u the city and refused 10 as
made with them on a cash basis General Agurre
the Spanish Military Governor OF Cienfueeos
co ser nee W SiP coont Parro The result Of this
meeting that portion OF the OVERDUE rnoney
was paid 70 the soldiers ana the orisade III 'u'"
disbanded.
OPEN Discomfort SPREADS
! This was the first serious trouble with the irreg
ular or modified troops over the question OF the
: non-payment a wages. but open discomfort In re-
gard 70 this matter has since spread 10 every
branch ~ the service The trouble In this con-
nec,ion has been heightened now by the announce
mon, that the g; which the Government agreed 70
nav 70 every enlisted man obtaining his discharge
Will only paid upon the evacua don OF the island
ty the respective regiments 70 which the soldiers
belonged This latest announcement: Is rnoaiIca
ton OF a previous decree providing that the troops
/ would only he paid upon landing IN spain ms
met with such an energetic protest noweyer InaI
/ II was subsequently revoked over twenty thousdnd
( Of the listed men asking for their discharge IN
order that they night remain IN Euo se,i,as wa.
partially paid Saturday last but the members
! showed their discomfort by appointing committee
| 70 20 to the Palace In Havana and demand from
! Captan-General Blanco the payment OF over sloo-
/ on still due them
To the Battalion Municipal composed OF hremen
Of Havana. who engaged In active operations n
! which II is claimed has been paid.
| These are only few instances showing the posi-
ton Of Inc Spanish Army here. whose discomfort
/ Increases daily causing display OF armed force
in the streets Of the city he slightest suspicion
/ Of an open manifestation OF such dispeasure.
I; is n legged that the corruption In the Depart
menf 81 Finance Of the insular government has
4 reached sucn pitch that empioyes and officials
ar. openlv taxed ~ - and even ~ per cent dis
! count on their salaries which they are forced to
/ accept or 20 unpaid. The same corrupt system II
Is firther asserted. pervades every branch OF the
! administration This stgte Of affairs has developed
| a gang OF thieves burglars and murderers. Jeop-
srdizinR the lives and property OF peaceable cill-
gems II may safely be- said mat nearly all the
crimes arc tho result Il hunger and privation The
eifmatfon daily grows worse. corruption and bribery
/ nourish crime spreads and hundreds Of persons
die from want
SICK AMERICANS SLIGHTLY BETTER.