The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-29
Cubans Near Santiago a Lazy Set, Who
Prefer to Steal Rather than Do
"scavenger'' Work.
AN UNCONFIRMED REPORT
RUMOR THAT GOVERNOR GENERAL
BROOKE WILL BE REMOVED,
And that Major General Wood VIII De
Administration of the Island.

HAVANA, Jan. 28.-Senor Federico Mora,
the civil governor of Havana, in an inter
view to-day declared that the question of
the payment of the Cuban army was of
much greater Importance than the Wash
ington government seems to realize. He
said that if the Cubans were to collect the
customs of the island, which are their prop
erty, their first action would be to meet
Cubas sacred obligation 10 the army by
the payment in full of the soldiers But the
customs administration being in the hands
of the Americans, the Cubans make simple
business proposition to the United States
government that it shall advance money to
pay the troops, holding the customs as Sc
curity. If the Americans were not present
Senior Mora further said, Cuba could easily
Obtain the necessary loan. the distribution
of this money to the army is essential to
permit the country to proceed with the work
of agriculture which must form the founda-
ton Of it's reconstruction. The army con-
tains many men who consider that Cuba is
in a position to demand the full payment of
the army by the United States ana assert
that other action on the part of the Ameri-
can government would be worse tyranny
than was exercised under Spanish SOW
erelgnty. Senior Mora considers the underes-
timation of the Importance of this matter
unfortunate, and his views are held by
majority of the Cubans. The heat of the
discussion is daily increasing and the news
papers of the island are full of arguments
in favor of the payment of the army.
General Snyder reports that five or six
hundred members Of the Cuban army are
encamped near Sancti Spiritus loafing about
and pilfering and begging food. General
Snyder sent word to them that if they would
come to Sancu Spiritus and help the Amer
leans to clean the town they would receive
pay and rations, but the offer was refused
the Cubans replying that they were soldiers
not scavengers
MUST ACT WITH FIRMNESS.
A prominent Spaniard, long a resident of
Cuba, and all Of whose interests are here,
declares that if the Americans tomorrow
demanded the disarmament of the Cuban
army without pay storm of passionate
protests would follow, but the army would
obey, possibly a few of them becoming
bandits and taking to the hills. He also
says that the most salutary steps taken by
the Americans since their arrival in the
island have been those enforcing obedience
to and respect for their authority. A policy
of too great consideration in the American
relations with the Cubans produces the i'm
preston that the Americans fear them. The
recent strikes in the country on plantations
and railways are said to be due to the fact
that the Havana police and other Cuban
servants of the government are paid too
much. This breeds discomfort among the
laborers, who consequently demand more
than the farmers can afford to pay.
Senior Mora has effected a reorganization
of the departments of the civil government,
which formerly numbered eight, but are now
reduced to four, resulting in the dismissal
of many employees, among whom are ten
men employed in the secret service, formerly
used by the Spanish authorities to obtain
evidence as to the political views and ac-
tivity of the Cubans and intrigues on their
part The civil governor has established an
advisory board of eight prominent citizens
of Havana, with whom he will consult on all
matters of Importance with q view of Sc
curing the best assistance for the good of
the country
A second case of yellow fever has de-
veloped in the Second Engineers, in General
Lees camp. The man attacked had been
engaged in cleaning out cesspools at Ca
banas with Meyer Schmidt, who recently
died from the fever
To PAY INTEREST ON BONDS.
Major General Ludlow, military governor
of the Department of Havana, has issued
an order suspending the execution of judg-
ments against the city to satisfy Spanish
claims so the treasury will not be kept
without money. The Bank of Spain is now
collecting and will continue to collect GER
tain municipal dues, including license fees.
market rents and meat taxes out of which
tho hank will nav itself tho interest or, tho
$S,OO0OOO of the floating debt The bank
may be superseded later, when the financial
commission shall have prepared plan for
administering the finances. The contract
with the bank is a hard and fast legal de-
vice and has been operated since 1891 One
of the banks functions has been to collect
the school tax in Guanabacoa and supervise
the schools. 1t has been collecting the taxes
as usual for several months. but the schools
have been closed. General Brooke has not
yet decided whether to remit back taxes.
The commission appointed by Governor
General Brooke to investigate the condition
of the refrigerated beef brought here by the
United States transport Michigan Will it is
asserted, report that the beef is in good
condition and that the method of refrigera-
ton is excellent. The rumors to the effect
that this beef is bad were circulated, it is
supposed, by men who desire that the beef
from the United States should be con-
demned in the hope of getting local con
tract to supply beef on the hoof
The first detachment of troops, which left
General Lees camp on Sunday last for a
practice march to Guines, returned to camp
to-day.
The rations for the Cubans in the hands
Of the military authorities are only suf-
ieient to last ten days more. Large requi-
sitions were made yesterday for further