The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-18
NEW CUBAN CABINET.
Takes Hold of the Situation
With Vigor-TO Rename
Havana Streets.

New York, Jan. 1S.-A dispatch to the
Tribune from Havana says:
Gen. Brooke's nef Cuban cabinet
shows a disposition to take hold vigor-
usly. DR.. Lanuza, the secretary of pub
lie instruction, is in Washington. The
other three members-Capote, Desvern-
inc and Yanez, having consulted with
various Cuban elements, decided that
the situation warranted them in assun1
ing it's responsibilities. A complaint was
made that it was not a representative
body of all classes, but its members
seem determined to disprove that charge
as they have already fntimated that
they expect to be something more than
an advisory body and to exercise real
functions of government throughout
the whole island.
The first inquiry was whether the
cabinet had anything to do with the
government of the city of Havana, or
whether Gen. Ludlow was the supreme
authority superior to the cabinet. This
question has not been answered.
BECOMING STORMY.
Capote is the best known of General
Brooke's Cuban advisers as he was vice
president of the provincial government
and held the rank of brigadier general
in the insurgent army. Public attention,
is however, focused on DeSvernine, who
was comparatively unknown until he
was named secretary of the treasury.
He is asked to use his official influence
to overturn the arrangements by which
the Spanish bank of the island of Cuba
is to continue to collect taxes. Agita-
ton on that subject is becoming stormy,
more especially as no authorized state
ment is made and the suggestion that
the bank is to fulfil this function for a
few months only, or until better ar
rangements can be made, does not pac-
ify the public feeling.
1t is alleged that the bank has had
blanks prepared for the collection of
taxes incurred under Spanish sover-
eighty and expects its per cent and an
additional penalty for arrearages and
though this statement has not been
authorized, it increases the agitation.
The former civil employees under Span
ish dominion have had their hopes rails
ed that back collections would be made
and applied to their unpaid salaries.
Many of them are in a distressing state
of poverty The Cubans say that at
Santiago no attempt was made to col
lect taxes incurred prior to American
control and that a different plan cannot
be enforced in other parts of the island.
Many of the leading American officials
in Havana are understood to have ad-
Vised against the bank plan and to have
recommended a direct levy and colIec
ton of taxes by the military authori-
ties. The problem is an intricate one.
COURT OF TWELVE JUDGES.
Gen. Brooke is arranging to establish
the law courts on a firm footing, and to
end the present confusion and the APP
pointment of a supreme court composed
of II members, is one project. Such a
court would have final jurisdiction and
would determine appeals from the pres
emit audiencia, which is the highest 5u-
dicia1 tribunal Many cases which would
have been appealed to Madrid were left
hanging when the Spanish authorities
departed.
The new ayuntamiento, or city coun-
Gil, is considering a scheme to rename
some of the leading streets, replacing
iGh wit n
Americans and Cubans. Among the
changes proposed are the names Me-
Kinley, Lee, Maceo, and Gomez The
council is also arranging to remove the
statues of various Spanish worthless
from the public parks, including that of
Isabelle of the present generation in
the Central park and of Ferdinand VIII
in front of the palace. The American
military authorities offered to have
these statues boxed for the Spanish Of
fcials, but as the latter did not ask for
them, they will be placed in the public
museums. The statue CT Carlos III
which is said to be the work of Canova
will be allowed to remain because of its
artistic value.
Cuban office seekers are complaining
that the American authorities have Gre
ated a political boss in the person Of
Gen. Menocal, because no Cuban can Sc
cure a place in any department without
| MenocaPs Endorsement.