Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-01

Sanchez. the alcide of Pinal del Rio
was recently deposed by Senior Dolz
the civil governor. because of the fric-
ton which existed between the alcide
and the city council, in which both
sides alleged misconduct in office. Ac-
cording to Gov. Gen. Brooke's decree OF
Feb. ], he alone has the right to depose
and name civil officials, Therefore. the
action of Senior Dolz is Ineffective and
Sanchez will retain his office until
the governor general decides the mat
ter in dispute.
The steamer Montserrat sailed. this
morning. for Spain. having on board
$50 Spanish passengers, formerly resi-
dents Of Cuba, and mostly small mer-
chants This exodus is noticeable be-
cause of the numbers. There have re-
Gently been at least three authentic
murders of Spaniards in the country
and in some cases men of property
have been killed. If it is known who
the marderers are the fact has not de-
veloped. though there are men in Ha-
vana who say there is evidence point
ing to Cuban soldiers being the guilty
parties, and that since Gen. Gomez
was deposed from the post of COM
mander- in chief of the Cuban forces.
the Cubans have not had head 10 rig
idly enforce discipline and punish
crime. In the past, Gen. Gomez pun
ished murderers of this kind with
death. but since his removal the Gu
bans have been taking advantage of
the lack of discipline TO retaliate upon
their war enemies, who are still on the
island.
The efforts to run down the Guanajay
bandits have APPARENTLY been fruitless.
as no traces Of them are said TO have
been found in the province of Pinar
del Rio. Nevertheless there ar occa :
sional further reports of depredations.
and ii il now declared the scare was
started by tobacco growers of the dis
trict with the object of frightening
small growers and forcing them to sell
their crops cheap.
Major Rathbune, the postmaster of
Cuba. is selling stamps for Spanish
copper coins, collected several thousand
dollars worth at 60 per cent. of their
value in gold. the original idea being
to accommodate the poor. He learn
ed. however that spectators bought
the stamps and copper and sold the
gold. Consequently the postmaster
has decided 10 no longer sell for cop
per.
The whole question of Imprisonment
incommunicado by the Cuban author
tiles has been brought conspicuously II
the attention of Gov. Gen. Brooke, by
such experiences as that of the Amerl-
can DR.. G. {. Joliffe. recently arrested
l;,i,,
license and ptincommunicado for TIVE
DAYS This method of administering
Justice with others equally harsh, Sucf
as the arrest of witnesses and the abb
sencc of trial by jury, is still as regu-
larly reSorted to under the new regime
as under the Old: and the very Cubans
who used to complain bitterly Of the
incommunicado imprisonment under
the Spanish domination, now apply il
with all its rigors. Chief of Police
Menocai the judges and the court
iailers have been protesting against
the refusal of COY. Gen. Brooke to al
low them TO keep DR.. Joliffc and MI
Barton another American and 81 friend
of .Joliffc incommunicado, and the mil
tarv administration now contcmplatcs
issuing a decree abolishing the incom-
municado system
Former Capt. Gen. castellanoS before
| leaving the island. signed DEGREES re
| leasing from Jail Spanish volunteers
| confined on charges Of crime. Some
secured their direct charge. but Others
were overlooked. The latter have petit
| toned the governor general to release
| them and he is about to issue a decree
I directing the Cuban courts as now con
| stituted to carry out the DEGREES ol
Gen. Castellanos. dated Dec. Is ant
! q. 1898, as modified, granting pardon
| to members of the Spanish volunteer
corps.
! The modification merely leaves to the
Cuban courts the power to declare
whether the DEGREES apply in particu
lar case. In other words those who arr
still in prison are to be set free pro
viding they establish to the satisfac
ton of the court by proper documents
that they were members of the volun
teers corps and are thus entitled to thu
benefit of the Castellanos decree.
| Gen. Brooke will abolish the local tri