New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-19
HAVANA'S BONDED DEBT.
APPARENT INCREASE OF THREE MILL
IONS SHOWN.
SANITARY INSPECTION BEGINS TODAY
PURCHASE OF THE FLOATING DRYDocK.

SANITARY INSPECTION BEGINS TODAY
PURCHASE OF THE FLOATING DRYDocK
[BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUSE.l
Havana, jan 1S-The Finance Commission
which Is examining into the financial condition
~ the city to-day, discovered what seems to be
on increase ir the bonded Indebtedness. This
debt has been thought to consist Of first-mort-
cage municipal bonds to the amount Of $1,000
600 and municipal mortgage bonds to the
amount OF SIS 100000. The figures to-day make
the apparent first-mortgage Indebtedness SlO,-
100000 An inquiry will be pursued further to
determine whether this is actual indebtedness
Tomorrow witnesses will be summoned under
oath. and much light is expected to be thrown
On municipal transactions under the Spanish
authorities The vigor with which the inquiry
is being pressed distresses the former officials.
The new Council has decided that II will not
enforce collections for municipal taxes prior to
January / and that II will not employ the Span
,sb Bank TO collect taxes which are levied under
tho old regime The municipality allowed the
hank TO collect city taxes, and withhold per
cent in the same way as the government taxes.
A determined effort is being made to have
the Spanish Banks privilege OF collecting for the
United States revoked. The feeling is more In
tense to-day. The foreign merchants have an
nounced that they will not pay back taxes,
though they will pay for the present period TO
whatever agency the American military author
flies direct.
The Cubans are encouraged in their opposition
by the report that Collector Bliss and the Mill
tary Governor have protested to Washington
against the bank being designated as tax COL
lector Shares Of the bank were lower on the
stock Exchange to-day. due to agitation
CITY's SANITARY INSPECTION
The sanitary inspection of Havana begins to-
morrow The city is divided into one hundred
districts. and Cuban doctors are assigned to each
district The people will be forced to clean their
houses and after that a corps Of plumbers will
visit each district. 1t will be the first time in
the history Of Havana that plumbers have oeen
acquainted with the inhabitants.
The plan Of gathering up vagrants and un-
fortunates from the streets at night has hlled
all institutions provided for them, and addi-
tional quarters must be found
Navy officers are impressing on Assistant Sec
retary Allen the importance Of the United
States obtaining the floating dock which lies IN
the harbor. now the property Of Spain. Captain
Peral is in command until the Madrid authori-
ties decide what shall be done. Bids which were
submitted under the conditions advertised by
the Spanish Government are said to be unsatis-
factory. and another advertisement may be or
dered The dock is new. and cost SlOO0OOO
The highest bid was $500000. Some Of the
firms bidding are reported to do so with the ex-
pectaton of selling the dock to the United
States.
Captain Durfree. OF the Engineer Corps, has
gone TO Sancti Spirtus with the reported pur-
pose OF arranging for survey of Santiago. The
plan is opposed by many Army officers. 1t has
been learned that the price paid TO contractors
for excavations at Guantanamo for Colonel
Hecker,s six-n1ile military railroad is 81 20
cubic yard and that the total excavation will
he about one hundred thousand cubic yards
Private Hayden. Of the I'd South Carolina, died
In camp to-day from yellow fever. Smallpox in
the lGlst Indiana does not decrease. The troops
IN camp are rejoicing over the unauthorized re-
port that the regiments are to be called home.