Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-29
SITUATION IN CUBA
United States Desired to Pay
Cuban Soldiers.
Views ora Promincnt srnminrd Sec
Qua Case OF yellow Fever tn Gen.
cral Ices Camp Judgments nnd
Taxes Refrigerated Beef
,By Telegraph to vIrElnan-pnot,

tBy Telegraph to vlrEin,an- Pglot.)
Havana, January 2S.-Senor Federico
Mora, the Civil Governor of Havana
In an interview to-day, declared that
the question of the payment of the Gu
ban army was OF much greater import
ance than the Washington Government
seems to realize. He said that if the
Cubans were to collect the customs of
the island, which are their property,
their first action would be to meet
CuIba's sacred obligation to the army
by the payment in full of the soldiers.
But the customs administration being
In the hands of the Americans. the Gu
bans make n simple business PROPOSE
ton to the United States Government
that 1t shall advance money to pay the
troops, holding the customs as security.
THE NEED OF MONEY.
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 foundation of its
reconstruction. The army contains
many men who consider that Cuba is
In a position to demand the full pay
ment of the army by the United States
and assert that other action on the
part of the American Government
would be worse tyranny than was eXer-
cised under Spanish sovereignty.
Senior Mora considers the under-esti-
nation of the Importance of this mat
ter unfortunate. and his views are held
by n majority of the Cubans. The heat
of the discussion is daily increasing,
and the newspapers of the island are
full of arguments i'll favor of the pay
.mcnt of the money.
LOAFING CUBANs.
General Snyder reported that five or
six hundred members of the Cuban
army are encamped near Sancti Spiri-
tus. loaiing about and Differing and
begging food General Snyder sent
word to them that If they would come
to Sancti Spiritus and help the Ameri-
cans to clean the town they would re
ccive pay and rations, but the offer
was refused. the CubanS replying that
they were soldiers. not scavengers.
4 prominent Spaniard, long resi-
dent OF Cuba, and all of whose inter-
ests are here declares that if the Amer
leans tomorrow demanded disarma-
ment of the Cuban army without pay.
II storm of passionate protests would
follow, but the army would obey, posi-
bly, IL few OF them becoming bandits
and taking to the hills. lie also says
that the most salutary steps taken by
the Americans since their arrival in
the island have been those Offering ODE
dience to and respect for their author.
YELLOW FEVER.
a second case of yellow fever has de-
velcped in [ Second Engineers. in
General Lees camp. The man attack
ed had been engaged in cleaning out
cess pools at Cabanas with Meyer
Schmidt. who recently died from the
fever.
JUDGMENTS AND TANES.
Major General Ludlow. Military Gov
ernor OF the Department OF Havana,
has issued an order sI.spending the ex-
ecution of judgments against the city,
so that to satisfy Spanish claims the
Treasury will not be kept without
money. The Banco l;spanol Is now
collecting. and will continue to collect
certain municipal dues. including Ii
conse fees, market rents and meat
taxes. out of which the bank will pay
itself the interest on the IS 000. 900 bonds
OF the floating debt. The bank may be
superseded later, when the financial
commission shall have prepared a plaI:
for administering the finances. The
contract with the bank is Il hard and
rated since 1891 One Of the bank 5
functions has been 10 collect the school
taxes in Guanabacoa and supervise the
schools. 1t has been collecting the
taxes as usual for severai months. but
tho schools have been closed
The commission appointed by Gov
crnor General Brooke to investigate
the condition Of the refrigerated beef
brought here by the United States
transport Michigan. will. it is assert
ed, report that the beef is in good con-
dition. and that the method of refrig-
Grafton is excellent. The rumors to the
effect that this beef is bad were cir
culated, it is supposed, by men who
desire that the beef from the United
states should be condemned. in the
hope of getting n local contract to SUP.
ply beef on the hoof.
The first detachment OF troops which
left General Lees camp on Sunday last
for practice march to Guines. re-
turned to Camp to-day.