The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-28
AlG[RS MISSION N CUBA.
At . Conferences Some Of the Cen
erals Intfmafed They Would Like
te ksow How LSng the Anerf-

can occ.patio. wesla Last.
HAVANA. March E-Secresary Aiger
says his rather hurried VISIT TO Cuba neea
rot be considered as having special i'm
pert. He wishes TO get In personal touch
with the current business Of the islands
government and talk with the men who
control the various military departments
liz this way he expects to gain more vivid
Impressions than would DE possible from
any official correspondence. Moreover. he
Will be able to get some rest and to en-
! large his notions Of West Indian geog-
raphy.
Thus far his expedition has been busy.
Instructive ard entertaining. He received
callers on board the Ingalls, before this
morning, ard at 9 he met the department
commanders in Gov Gen. Brookes draw
ing rooms at Elyadasio. A conference last
ing three hours followed. and after lunch
the secretary drove with Gen. Brooke
10 Camp Quemados. where he reviewed
the Seventh army corps. This evening he
was present a. a reception given in ais
| honor at the residence OF the governor
general
/ AT the morning conference. which wa.
of a somewhat rambling Character two al
the department commanders said II would
materially aid their labors If they knew
I President Mckinley's exact policy with
respect to Cuha--whether the American.
occupation syruid be long or shot. Both
described themselves as working little in
poses of the United States government
| Ills uncertainty as to the length Of hhe
occupation. they declared. tended to pro-
mote restlessness among the Cubans.
oped in a conversational way. did not
elicit from the secretary OF war any ex-
preston. of opinion as to Washingtons
policy other than that the work ahead was
10 restore civil control and 10 modify the
Spanish system wherever the governor
general found 1t defective. Those pres.
enf at the conference with the secretary OF
war were Gov. Gen. Brooke and Gems.
Chaffee, Wilson. Bates. Lee. Ludlow and
Hasbrouck
Gen Alger thinks of going to Pinar del
Rio tomorrow, but has pot decided yet.
He will go 10 Cienfnegos. stoppoing at
Ma,anzas en- route. The question of re-
ments he leaves to Gov. Gen. Brooke.
To witness the review Of the Seventh
Cen Alger rode with Gen. Brooke. Gen
Wilson and Gen. Hashrouck from Five
Gado to Gen. Lees headquarters. where he
", was received All Al, then proceeded 10 the
5 and ended al $50. Gen. Alger rode over
the field with Gems. Lee. Brooke. Wilson
and Chaffee
The Fourth. Ninth and Second Illinois
regiments the Third Nebraska. the One
Hundred and Six;y-first Indiana. the
arv an @ seve .nn yav ss ar
view before the secretary. Gen. Gomez
was invited to attend. but could not ac-
cept.
Five companies of the Fourth Virginia
volunteers sailed today on the Sarguranca
for Savannah.
New Tax Laws for Cuba.
Two important DEGREES will be promul-
gated in the course OF the next few days.
One tears up the Spanish taxation syS-
TEN. Under its provisos all municipal as
sessments are to be applied to local admin
istration. To understand the bearings of
this il should be kept In mind that the
entire island is divided into 1874 municipal
tiles" the term municipality being
used to include country districts as well
as towns and cities. The tax on city
realty is reduced to single rate of S per
cent. on Incomes in Havana, Matanzas.
Sagua. Cardenas, Cienfuegos. Santiago and
in other cities To &. per cent, and on rural
properties to per cent Those ruined by
the war and those that are not productive
are exempted, while all snr-taxes are
abolished.
Numerous rules under this decree are
made fer the collection OF industrial IL
censeS and internal revenue. The liquor
taxes are increased so to 100 per cent ac-
cording TO classification. and all taxes are
made payable In money of the United
states or its equivalent.
Time Given to Debtors.
The other decree. about TO be issued.
grants one year from April l, 1899 10 debt
ors whose Indebtedness existed on Janu-
airy /. 1893 as q period OF grace during
which mortgages cannot be foreclosed or
property sold for either principal or In
terest. For this purpose rural property is
classified as follows:
flrst-Properties completely destroyed,
included sugar Plantations whose machiu-
cry ~ rmned--three years extension
Second Properties which, though not
DESTROYED are non-productive at present
two years extension.
Third-Properties only one-haif of which
Is pioducive-one years extension.
After these various periods debts Of
sa"e or more are TO be payable in six an
nuai instailments, enc at II per cent of
| the amount, two at Is and three M ~
Debts Of less than $500 are TO be paid i'm
three annual instailments Interest due on
| credits. secured BY mortgage and not paid
during the time fixed, either because the
| property was destroyed or unproduciiva
is remitted: and the responsibility of the
/ Debtor for that period Is cancelled
Elaborate regulations are made for in
'ereSt not paid on partially productive
property.
The decree which is long and Intricate
leaves debtors free 10 make any other
arrangements With their creditors which
they may desire. Properties ruined by
are exempted. while all sur-taxes are abo,.
ished- What Il known as rspartlmeuto-,
tax on beef and cattle and the iYnposts ar,
the articles Of prime necessity like food
and fuel is abolished
The municipalities are not allowed IN
lay any export ar import taxes. The ut,ss-
| ton OF excise Is left to- the municipalities.
ous taxes on city and rlsTal real estate
/ ard on commerce and industry are 10 be
turned over 10 DO applied locally
Il.