The evening times., 1899-01-21
COLLECTING BACK
TAXES FOR SPAIN
Objections Urged Against the
Banca EspanOl.
Efforts to Compel Payment Of Cur.
rency Issued Under Weyler.
Cubans Indignant at the Prospect of
Being Made tO Pay Debts to-
spain-Anti-Nice Crusades.

Havana Jan. 21.-It can hardly be COM
pretended in Washington how deeply Ha-
vana has been stirred by the official con-
frmation of the report that the Bank OF
Spain has been made the fiscal agent of the
United States Government to collect taxes
and, worse, to collect those taxes levied
previous to this month By he Spanish
government.
The feeling existing here is CT the sort
which results in rebellion. and a demon
stration would have been made ere this
were it not for the known fact that every
American official here is opposed to the
arrangement and has promised TO make
every possible effort TO persuade the Presi-
dent TO revoke the concession. ON this
question Brooke, Ludlow, Lee and Bliss
are in full accord.
An American official OF paramount au-
thority, whose name cannot be given
though his identity will be guessed with
/ out difficulty, said yesterday: This move
has done much TO upset all cur work to-
ward a complete understanding with the
Cubans The Banca Espanol stands for
all that was oppressive and hateful in
| Spanish government. Sentimental reasons
alone should have shut il out. but there
are better ones. Its administration of n
nancial affairs was such a scandal as to
discredit it, and had this occasion not been
awarded its future would have been indeed
dubious.
What passes all understanding is that
we have announced our intention OF col
lecting the taxes levied by the Spaniards
BY what right do we do this Who is to
get the proceeds? We are not entitled TO
them. We should not make our Govern
ment collection agency for Spain, which
with some justice announces that il will
declare forfeited the bonds of the Banco
Espanol should the back taxes be collected
and not forwarded TO Madrid.
The greatest reason why the delinquent
taxes should not he collected lies in the
fact that the people cannot afford to pay
them. They need assistance rather than
oppression. Back of II all is that species
of speculator who is TO be found preying
upon others misfortunes. These specula-
tors expect to buy at quarter value the
property sold under tax foreclosures. II
the full truth were known. il would be seen
that these spectators furnished the bond
of 81 coo, ,000 that has been posted in New
York. That is my firm belief / am NOR
ally certain that the bank did not find
within itself that security.
If persisted in this scheme OF collect
Ing the taxes will cause trouble The city
authorities have called upon General Lud-
low TO protest against permitting the Ban
co Espanol 10 collect the taxes. They were
assured that he would do all in his power 10
bring about change in the plans. General
Brooke has sent a vigorous protest TO
Washington. as has Bliss. who has had the
best chance 10 study the financial prob
lem, having been the treasurer OF the
island ad interim.
Additional trouble for the Banco Fs-
panOl has been caused by a united effort
10 compel the payment OF currency issued
during the Weyler regime and guaranteed
through the Colonial Bank 4 demand was
made yesterday for the redemption OF the
so-called billetes 10 the amount of s360.-
600. Upon the banks refusal a formal no.
tice of suit was filed. If this suit should
go against the bank the institution might
be seriously involved. while its early fail
ure is openly predicted by the local press
should the tax concession be withdrawn
by the American Government
LudlOw'S moral crusade continues with
good effect, and Havana is today more
nearly free from vice than before in
generation. The Infamous Lara Theatre
was closed last night because of an indie
cent exhibition of dancing. The vice
which until January l. was fiaunted in
public as something TO be proud of has
been driven into the lowest quarter OF the
city, where it cannot offend decent people
and where ii can he under police surveil-
lance. Corrupters of youth. who have
heretofore fiourished under protection from
the governor generals palace. have been
arrested and will be prosecuted vigorously.
Several girls of tender years have been
rescued and placed in asylums.
One of Havanas most prosperous indus
tries was the circulation of indecent pub
locations. This has been stopped, and sew
eral offenders have been arrested. Three
publishing houses have been closed. great
quantities of engraving plates destroyed.
and several thousand books hurned