The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-20
NOT LIKED BY CUBANS
APPOINTMENT OF A COLONIAL COM
MISSION CONDEMNED.
What the People Are Anxious to
Know AbOut-MOFe Trouble for Gen.
Henry at san Juan.

HAVANA Feb 19.-The appointment by
the United States government of a colonial
commission to regulate matters of vital i'm
portance to Cuba's political life and recon-
struction, is received with sharpened in
terest and what the Washington authorities
will do next for much governed Cuba" is
given a great deal of consideration by the
conservative Spanish and Cuban papers,
who condemn the appointment of the COM
mission. The concensus of opinion is
summed up as follows: Among the ques-
lions 10 be resolved are, the rate. of taxes
and how and when they shall be paid; what
portion of the proceeds are destined for
State and what for municipal purposes;
whether the provincial Populations shall be
abolished and whether taxation shall be
direct or indirect.
To solve matters of such Importance,
the United States sends men ignorant of
the country'S customs and needs and of
The economical situation, whose first i'm
pressions will be acted upon at Washing
ton. The people should not be taxed with
out consultation Last year Cuba's repre-
Sentatives voted upon these matters, but
now Cuba has no voice The military
thority has appointed secretaries to deter
mine Cubas needs and the methods of her
reconstruction. These secretaries are use
less and ridiculous. When the commission,
on top of the complexed governments
already existing, shall take up the adjust
ment of matters in their provinces, the
secretaries should protest and the people
should oppose the commission if it is seen
to be working injury.
The commission has higher authority than
Governor General Brooke, and this will ere
ate confusion and a conflict of power be-
tween the civil and military authorities
themselves, which will surely damage the
country. Before we are taxed we should
be informed if Cuba is to pay the expenses
of the army of occupation. The customs re-
ceipts are sufficient to pay the insular gov
ernments expenses, but Cuba is paying the
army and is heavily taxed, and further
army payment should be considered a ma
tional guaranteed debt. In such a case in
direct taxation would suffice for the federal
necessity and direct for the municipal.
If Cuba is not given scope to exercise her
abilities for self-government, how can she
advance, and how prove that she is able
to govern herself? That something should
soon be done to supply money TO meet the
expenses of the interior municipalities is
recognized. They are at present without
instance of this the police in the interior
are paid by popular subscription.
The United States transport Manitoba ar
rived last evening, and the steamer Sara
tOga came into port this afternoon.
Following the order of Maj. +. q. Rathbone
issued Feb. TO- the Americanization of the
Cuban postal system is proceeding. Thirty
Offices including those at Sagua, Santa
Clara, CienfuegOS, CardenaS and Matanzas,
are now in control of American postmasters.
The former Spanish pOstmasters are acting
as assistants to the new officials and are
being instructed in American methods The
money order and registered letter system
will be introduced tomorrow. A corps of
trained American inspectors began travelling
through the island this week instructing the
officials in the new methods.
The construction of the new custom house
in Havana IS again being agitated The
merchants desire the appropriation of S1O0,
900 of the customs receipts as a nucleus of
the necessary fund and the addition of 112
per cent. to the duty imports to obtain
the remainder of the sum needed. The
merchants voluntarily agree to the imposi-
ton of this new tax. Col. 7. H. Bliss has
not given the matter active consideration.
The five yellow fever suspects in the Two
hundred-and-secondN New York Regiment at
Guanajay have all recovered. The disease
in each case has been diagnosed as not yell
low fever. The names of the patients are:
William Oehler. Company +, Buffalo; Rus
sell Smith, Company l. Rochester; David
Rodenberg. Company l., Buffalo; Michael
Holland, Company E, and George Boxman
Company E, New York city