The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-22
GOVERNMENT OF CUBA.
Capote Is Studying the Electoral Laws Of
the States.
THE CREDITOR AND DEBTOR DECREE
Has Upd Very Bad Eject Upon
Those who Are Really
Honest.

Havana. May 21.--Senor Domingo Mem
dez Capote. secretary of the government,
has been deyoting considerable time to a
study of the electoral laws of various ma
tions. with view of formulating plans for
inauguration here Universal suffrage is
thought advisable in some respects, but 1t
would have many Objectionable features.
an educational qualification would not
prove satisfactory. He says the Cuban
league is doing much in the way of pre-
pairing the voters to exercise the electoral
function. Day and night schools are con-
Quoted in all the villages for this purpose
the education being gratuitous and the
attendance being numerous and enthusits
tic.
The great objection of a property qualif-
cation is that a majority of those in
cities who formerly had property. the
Spaniards in particular. and many capable
Cubans, have been totally ruined during
the last three wears and would not be
Justly treated were a property qualification
to be enforced. Senior Canote is carefully
considering the problem and will submit
his views to Governor General Brooke
about the middle of next month, when he
Will ask for the issuance of such decree
as he will have in readiness.
Major Eugene f. Ladd. treasurer of the
customs funds, intends on July 1 to begin
a new treasury system of disbursements
by checks as in the United States, thus
introducing into the smaller cities of the
island modern money transfers. The
North American Trust company. acting as
depostors Of the revenues. will establish
branches in the principal cities and cor
respondents in others to facilitate carry
ing out Major Ladd's plan
A number of persons interested in the
debtor and creditor decree attended the
departure Of the I'VE commissioners this
afternoon for Washington. where they hope
to secure a modification of the measure.
DR.. Junco. head of the committee. said the
decree was one OF great Importance, be-
cause affecting millions already invested
and preventing millions from being in
vested
He added: THE proof of what say is
seen in the fact that on the day the de-
cree was issued all loan transactions
ceased. The next day the rate for loans
rose from Z to 8 per cent increase over
the usual rates. Business men consider
that they have no security in Cuba that
10 sdle' anu lne people in whose behalf
me decree was most desirable are really
the principal sufferers, as with or without
a decree an honest debtor will certainly
continue to pay his debts The dishonest
debtor on the other hand will not trv 10
improve his property and viii merely cease
10 pay Thus, the debtor enjoys the spoils
while the creditors may starve. This is
not fanciful idea, 1t is what has fire.
quently happened and the reason WHY
even honest borrowers can mot get the old
rates is that confidence has been shat
tered"
The committee which has been investi-
gazing the finances of Havana reports that
the bonded indebtedness of 50, 400. 600 has
been reduced $4,000 since January 1. The
issues are made readable at any time
ne committee Will later recommend taxi
ing up the per cent bonds at and pos
slbly IL per cent. The floating debt
which is largely due to employees and
contractors under the Spanish regime.
has not been touched. Probably the court
81 claims Will reduce the face of the claims
before 1t now amounting to $500, 900 by at
least 90 per cent. Major General Lud
low, military governor of Havana. will
postpone until the autumn the projected
new bond issue for public works.
General Ludlow has revoked a CONFESS
sion given in 1904 to the O'Reilly family
under which they were allowed to tax
every head of cattle slaughtered to the
amount Of so cents.