The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-27
THE TAX QUESTION.
Terms of the Contract with the Span
ish Bank of Cuba.

Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.
NEAR HAVANA, in camp of the United
States Volunteer Signal Corps, Jan. 22.-The
United States government and the Spanish
Bank of the Island of Cuba have entered
into a contract-the most important clauses
of which are as follows:
For the convenience of taxpayers and
until the military authority is prepared to
perform work, it is ordered that the Spanish
Bank of the Island of Cuba shall proceed
to collect the general taxes levied on per-
sons and property on the Island of Cuba for
the fiscal year commencing July l. 1893, and
ending June 80, 1899. and also all taxes of
similar character imposed by levies prior
to 1873 and now delinquent and unpaid
The said delinquent taxes shall be kept
separate from taxes accrung and payable
on and after Jan. l, 1899, and shall be held
by the United States, subject to future
direction
Payment of the taxes collected pursuant
to this order shall be in United States cur
rency. All taxes that were due and payable
prior TO Dec. 81. 1885, and payment of which
has not been made and which would be sub
ject to increase by penalties under the Span
ish administra ton shall be relieved of such
penalties or Increase if the amount orig
inally levied is paid by the 2Sth day of
February, 1899; otherwise such penalties are
to remain in force and effect The increase
of said tax by adding 20 per cent. of the
amount levied which was imposed as a war
measure, is hereby Cancelled and RENTED.
I'm consideration of the service to be per-
formed under this order the secretary of
war shall allow TO the Spanish Bank a sum
equal to per cent. of all money actually
collected for said taxes and paid to the
government of the United States.
The Lucia, Havanas widest read Cuban
newspaper has the following to say in COM
menting on the above contract. The Cuban
people were not taken into consultation
either in the island or through their repre-
Sentatives in Washington. The agreement
was concluded, on the American side, by
men who are in absolute ignorance of or
Wilfully Indifferent to the true condition of
affairs in this island, and the popular out
cry now beginning, which takes form to-
morrow by demonstrations to General
Brooke of the injustice of such an arrange
ment, Is merely a slight indication of what
will come The rate of taxation has been
heretofore, IS per cent. of assessed value or
l per cent. less than the heaviest taxed peo-
pie in the word-the French. and even this
exorbitant rate was not guaranteed, as it
was an easy matter to overassess, and the
merchants, planters and manufacturers who
have been unable to operate their respective
business. but have been forced to accede
TO the most outrageous demands on the part
of the Spanish government. through this
very bank, should not be compelled now 10
pay back taxes on property which has been
unproductiye and costly for three years
Especially as while no receipts were given
twice or three times the amount of taxes
has been paid already, either in cash or
cattle"
The Cienfuegos Libertad is scandalized