The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-01-28
B BACK TAXES.
Manner of Their Collection Con-
sidsred In Csbinet

Gen. Brookos Recommendaton ~ 70 too
Manner of Their Collection Con-
sidsred In Cabinet.
Washington. Jan. 25.-The protest
against the continuation of the Span
ish bank at Havana as a medium for
tax collection was thoroughly dis
cussed at the cabinet meeting yester-
day, and Gen. Brooke's statement OF
objection carried conviction into the
minds of the cabinet officers, although
no final action was taken. The Of
ficials of the war department, it should
be stated, in contemplating the on
tinuation of the old system, had it in
mind only as a temporary ~expedient,
believing that it afforded the cheapest
and quickest method of meeting the
difficulty the United States govern
ment found itself in in an effort. to
take upon itself the tax collections.
They are. however, perfectly willing
to accept as sound Gen. Brooke's sug-
gestions; therefore it may be expect
ed hat the original plan will be
abandoned.
Gen. Brooke's statement is in effect
this:
A Fruitful Cause of Dissatisfaction
The Spanish system of tax collection
has been a fruitful cause of dissatisfa"
ton and has led to more than revolt,
even the last movement being founded
in large part upon the %extortions and
h%ardships of the tax system. Taxes
were heavy, unequally laid and collect
ed in an eXtortionate manner. The
CuuA1s thoroughly distrust the insti-
tuition for its acts in the past, and it
should not now be retained in the re-
organization of the government.
A Question OF Economy.
Looking towards the accommodations
siderations that were urged, Gen.
Brooke maintains that, as a matter of
fact, the United States government,
through its own machinery, could col
lect the Cuban taxes at not more than
half the sum that would have to be
paid over to the Spanish bank based
on the collection rate of five per cent.
on collections, though this rate is far
below the rate received by the Span
ish bank under the old regime. The
penalties imposed for default in taxa
ton are said by Gen. Brooke to be so
severe as to make it possible for the
bank to foreclose upon most of the
-oal aefota 1f tho leland onI n1ana ~ in
the hands of its friends, though it is
not charged that this would be done.
Arrears OF Taxes should be Rsmittsd.
Respecting the arrears of taxes,
Gen. Brooke believes that the people
in most cases are unable to pay them,
and he thinks that they should be re-
mitted upon something like the fol-
lowing lines: All rural taxes that
were due, but not paid on December
81 last. should be RENTED. Other re-
missions recommended are: All city
taxes and those on ground mortgages
in own wholly or partially destroyed
during the wal that were unpaid De-
cember 81. last; all money due the
state for transfers of property. or in
terest due the state on ground mort
cages, due and unpaid June 30. last.
1t is also recommended that proper
ty taken by the state be restored. pro-
vided the owner makes claim within a
year, and that no innocent third party
has acquired it.
An Additional Burden Imposed.
Gen. Brooke notes. as an additional
burden upon people who are backward
in their taxes. the requirement that
these taxes shall be paid in currency
instead of at the rate of 20 per cent. in
silver and so per cent. in gold, as under
the Spanish government. Then to col
lect the back taxes Gen. Brooke thinks
might cost more than the receipts,
while the United States could give no
more convincing proof of its good in
t%entions and good will towards the
Cubans than by the gracious act of at
once RENTING these back taxes on
the lines proposed.
Col. Bliss Statement.
Attached to Gen. Brooke's statement
is n letter from Col. Bliss, chief GUS
toms officer in Cuba. giving a full ex-
hibit of the tax schedules, the methods
of collection pursued by the bank and
all of the treasury forms. Col. Bliss
also takes advantage of the opportuni-
ty to fully indorse Gen. Brooke's plans
on the subject of taxation.