The evening times., 1898-12-06
SNUGGLERS MUST
give UP business
OperatiOns to End in the Port
of Havana.
CUSTOM HOUSE FRAUDS
Tobacco and Condensed Milk Are
Brought in as Baggage.
December 10 the Date Fixed Upon
CUSTOM HOUSE FRAUDS
December 10 the Date Fixed Upon
which the COrruptions Must End.
open-handed ThieNery.

ing TO that paper:
Smuggling At the Spanish custom house
in Havana will be ended December 10. No
tice TO this effect has been given 10 mer-
chants here by the local officials, who are
afraid to continue operations so near the
taking over of the custom house by the
American Government. Merchants IN
turn. have notified consignors abroad that
no packings must be shipped TO arrive
after that date manifested otherwise than
their actual contents, and surrepidous-
shipments must cease altogether
Enormous sums in the last few months
have passed into the hands OF the cor
rupt officials The tax thus paid by mer-
chants yearly was stated To me today by
:, Spauish importer to be about SlUoV,U'o
During the last month TINS average was
doubled each official endeavorlEg To make
as much as possible before the advent ol
the American administration. IN lhls ah
connected have participated, from the IN
spector on the wharf to the director Oh
busy departments.
Nov, as many of the incumbents desire
10 take service in the new administration
they do not wish TO have their past ac-
lions discovered but want 10 come lor-
ward comparatively clean handed.
Operations Were Scandalour-
Continuing. my informant said SNUG
Cling operations at the port of Havana
since the close of the war had been sean
dalous, and bribe taking 10y customs OIL
.;.,s -ba most open-handed thievery ever
known. Smuggling at all Cuban ports
had always been pracuced, pul the l,S-
culiar conditions engendered by the DOCK
ade necessitating the replenishment OF
stock and the fact that only snort ulhe
remained to continue the nefarious prac-
tice. had emboldened officials.
Artici,, OF importation which were pro-
hibited by the Spanish tarih ana com
modities paying the highest rate OF uHls
have been smuggled by wholesale Wllhou'
the slightest attempt at concealment'
eCh.sul., having been established by cor
,,I,,, officials for each package, according
"a the size and character Of the merchah-
disc
one Of the convenient methods for the
claudestine introduction of these soous
has been in large passenger trunks lot
which the uniform rate charged W1s rom
81 TO Sc each, according TO size IN Inv
manner tons Of merchandise have peeh
sgrreptitiously brought into the city, The
immense passenger traffic chiefly from
the United States, during the last lew
months having aided the smugglers-
Tobacco Favored in the Thfevery.
rrhus also American leaf tobacco, which
has lately taken the place OF that for
merly brought from Porto Rico, mas al
most flooded the market, and the Local
consumer has been mystiiied in deciding
whether he has been smoking an Amerl-
can or a Cuban cigar. American con-
densed milk. which is extensively con-
f4b a
itive duty under the Spanish tariff, has
likewise found its way into many estab-
lishmenJs.
An amusing incident occurred few
davs ago at La Machina, where all the
passeugers and the accompanying bag
gage are landed from incoming vessels
A steamer from the United States had
just arrived. and an immense quantity Of
baggage awaited examination. porter
I'm handling one of the trunks Jared ii
rather heavily. Its frail, thin bottom,
which was never intended to sustain such
q heavy weight, gave way, scattering
cans of condensed milk in every direction.
Not the least surprise was manifested.
The only result was an audible smile from
bystanders, while officials hastily replac-
ed the milk in the trunk and ordered Its
removal from the room.
Great interest was aroused in the city
few days ago by the knowledge of the
fact that the municipality had decided 10
remove from Obispo Street the nameplates
of Gen Weyler. which is the only sign
left Of the desire OF a subservient town
council 10 change the name Of this busy
thoroughfare. The street was originally
named in honor of a bishop of Havana
whose piety and works Of charity had
endeared him TO everyone. 1t is one Of
the principal business streets Of the town
containing few residences, but filled from
end TO end with fashionable stores.
weyIer Signs Removed.
When Gen. Weyler was in office a syco-
phantic councillor proposed as a compli-
ment to the captain general that the name
of the street be changed from Obispo 10
Gen. Weyler Street The idea was very
unpopular, but none dare make any oppo-
sition for fear he should be looked upon
as unfaVorable to the head Of the govern
ment. This motion was accordingly pass
ed without dissenting voice. As far as
possible the old name was obliterated and
marble tablets were inserted in the walls
bearing a new designation, but the change
was only arbitrary and the street in or
binary usage retained its old appella ion.
An enthusiastic crowd gathered Satur-
day 10 witness the official revival of the
old name by an authorized ordinance as
passed by the council. Alderman Quillo
was charged with the task, and workmen,
amid cheers of bystanders, removed one
bv one the offensive tablets. As they
were taken down they were broken to
pieces, the crowd dancing on the shattered
fragments and shouting: Death to Wey-
leri'' Long live Cuba,' Long live the
United Statesr' Only TWO p ates were pre-
served as relics by curiosity hunters.
Soldiers Den anding Justice.
Tn5;s,a,,. soldiers each day hesiege the
doors of the Spanish armory claiming
payment OF arrears or demanding justice
from their officers. Starved, robbed and
treated like dogs rather than human be-
ings they have hitherto submitted ra:ient-
~ without complaint TO their many hard
ships, but now, rendered desperate. they
are having recourse to every measure like
ly TO obtain for them redress of their
wrongs.
Feeling against their own officers is es-
pecialiy very bitter, and in case of such
a disturbance as was threatened recently
by the orden publico and guardia civie
the arms Of the men would first be d.
recied against their own leaders The
feeling against the government is indeed
strong enough, but that against the Off
GERS Is more in the nature of personal
grievances accumulated during years Of
insult and abuse, and accentuated by the
A CDEEnV Glide