Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-01-26
AFFAIRS IN HAVANA.
The Giving Of a Contract to Collect
Back Taxes Criticised.
Gen. BROOKE'S CUBAN CABINET.
Panic In an Indiana Regimen Over the
Spread Of SMALLPOX = The Province
Of Pinar del Rio B-ing Raw.
aged by Bandits.

Havana Jan. 10. The newspapers
here continue to criticise the action OF
the American authorities in giving
the Spanish bank the ontract to col.
lect back Spanish taxes. 1t is claimed
that Spain alone should do this, and II
Is also asserted that il the bank col.
lects Spanish dues it should also liqui-
date Spain's obligations to her citi.
zens, who are still unpaid. and who
are met with continued reiterstion
that Spain Is unable to pay them.
Several offices have been opened in
Havana where citizens can protest
against the payment Of back taxes
and also protest against the collection
OF royal dues on transfers Of property.
The Havana council will take up the
questions of education. sewers and
other municipal subjects by commit
tees. patterned on the American plan,
which will submit completed ideas to
Gen. Ludlow, who will reject or sp.
prove them. Where the money is to
come from is question which will re-
quire speedy answer. II the new
works are to be started, the customs
duties and taxes must be sufficient to
meet the pay rolls The administra.
ton up to the present has reduced
them in some ways and increased them
in others, especially the police and
sanitation taxes Bonds will probably
be issued for both municipal and is.
land purposes.
Gen. Brooke's new Cuban cabinet
shows disposition to take hold vigor-
ously. DR.. Lanuza, the secretary Of
public instruction, is in Washington.
The other three members -Capote,
Desvernine and Yanez--having con.
suited with various Cuban elements.
decided that the situation warranted
them in assuming its responsibilities
The first inquiry was whether the cab
met had anything to do with the gov.
eminent of the city OF Havana or
whether Gen. Ludlow was the supreme
authority, superior to the cabinet.
This question has not been answered.
Capote is the best known Of Gen.
Brooke's Cuban advisers, as he was
vice president Of the provisional gov.
eminent and held the rank of briga-
der general in the insurgent army.
Public attention is, however, focused
on Desvernine, who was comparatively
until he was named secre.
tary of the treasury. He is asked to
use his official influence to overturn
the arrangements by which the Span.
ish bank Of the island Of Cuba is to
continue to collect taxes
An out-and-out panic exists in the
One Hundred and Sixty.frst Indiana
regiment, owing to the spread of
smallpox. Men and officers are using
every influence to bring about the
recall In the meantime all
WIN Cuu ScCuIc sIch ltdRt are ROluR
home Jacob Dexter, of Monticello.
Ind, has died of smallpox. Alonzo
of Madison, Ind, is dying of
black smallpox There are five other
cases and seven suspects all in the
same regiment
Reports from Pinar del Rio say that
the province is being ravaged by ban
Its, who have broken away from the
nsurgent forces. Thus far no great
lamage has been done and the crimes
are not of a serious nature,
out the ranks of the outlaws are con-
SANITY increasing and the raids are
becoming more daring.