Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-07
THE TAXES IN CUBA
Spain's System to Be Continued for
a Time at Least.
ORDER OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT
Burden of Collection Assumed by
the Government.
REMISSION OF PENALTIES

EMlSSION OF PEN Allies
The War Department has finally decided
to continue in force for time at least the
system of collecting taxes in Cuba formerly
practiced by the Spanish authorities. How
ever, some very important changes are
made in the plan, all in the direction of
liberality toward the taxpayers and in the
honesty of administra ton. The plan is en-
bodied n general order which represents
vast amount of hard work by Assistant
Secretary Meikiejohn, which was promul-
gated by the War Department today. 1t is
noticeable fact that the burden of col
lection, amounting to per cent of the tax.
is now assumed by the government instead
of being imposed upon the taxpayer, while
the heavy 10 per cent increase in taxation,
which WAS levied of the last acts of
the Spanish administration, is RENTED, as
well AS all accrued penalties.
The text of the OF der is as follows:
Bank to Collect Taxes.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, u. c., January I, 1889.
For the convenience of the taxpayers of
the Island of Cuba and until the military
authority is prepared to perform the work
it is ordered that Banco Espanol de la Isla
CubD shall proceed to collect the general
taxes levied on persons and property IN the
Island of Cuba Tor the fiscal year commenc-
ing July l. 1873, and ending June 80 1899
Also taxes OF similar character iinposed by
leVles prior tC 1888 and now delinquent and
unpaid. The SAID delinquent taxes shall he
kept separate from taxes accruing and pay
aple on and after January ], 1899 and snail
pe held by the authorities of the United
states subject TO future direction.
L nat the money collected and received hy
salo BANK IN payment of said taxes shall
De reported daily to the commanding gen
erai at havana, and shall at all times be
SUBJECT 10 the draft of the commanding
general OF the island or his authorized
agent.
The tax rolls, lists. receipts and all books,
papers documents, etc, relating or apper-
tanning to said taxes or the collection there
OF are public property, and their possession
custody and control belong to the military
authorities of the United States of America
uul1aS the period of the military occu-
pancy by the said authorities of the Island
OF Cuba, and during such time as they shall
remain IN the possession of said bank or
any OF its branches for the purpose of col
iecung sald taxes they shall at all times
De subject to the inspection examination
ana disposition OF said military authorities
OF Such person or persons the said mill
tary authorities may designate.
taymen of taxes collected pursuant IN
this order shall be in currency, and at the
rates prescribed for the collection of GUS
toms in the Island of Cuba under 'sxecutfvs
ORDER, January 1, 1s99 until otherwise
olueiea, u, ana IN accounting for the taxes SO
coliccted, to the military authorities of the
United states the currency at which the
tax was collected shall be maintained
Relieved of Penalties.
All of said taxes which were due and
payable prior to the 31st day of December.
1e9S and payment of which has not been
made. and which would be subject to III
crease by penalties under the Spanish sd-
minstration, Hhall be relieved of such pen
alties or increase if the amount originally
levied is paid by the 2sth day of February,
1883; otherwise said penalties are To remain
in force and effect.
The increase of said tax by adding there
to 20 per centum of the amount levied
which was imposed by the government of
spain as war measure, is hereby Cancelled
and remitted.
The said bank shall deliver to the persons
paying SAID taxes the receipts therefor
heretofore executed and deposited with said
bank by the Spanish authorities but before
delivering said receipts or receiving the
money in payment of said taxes, said bank
shall deliver said receipts to the military
authorities, which shall be thereupon mark
ed approved" by the military commander
of the island or his authorized agent and
returned to the bank.
The said bank shall, at it's own hazard
and expense, transmit the money collect
ed pursuant to this order to any point in
the Island of Cuba where such bank has
or may hereafter establish a branch con-
Germ, upon the order of the Secretary Of
War, so to do without exchange or addi-
tional compensation for such service, save
and excepting actual cost of transfer of
funds or transportation of currency
This order shall continue I'm force until
terminated by the Secretary of War. upon
notice thereof being given to said bank:
such notice being given, the authority
conferred by this order ceases ten days
thereafter.
Bond Required of the Bank
Said Banco Espanol de la Isla de Cuba
(Spanlsh Bank of the Island of Cuba) is
further required to give a bond in the sum
of S,O00,0OO lawful money of the United
States, conditioned upon the faithful per-
formance of the services to be performed
pursuant to this order, which said bond
shall be approved by the Secretary of War.
AS additional guaranty for the faithful
discharge of the duties hereby contem-
plated, said bank shall deposit with the
Secretary of War such other security as he
shall from time to time demand
In consideration of the services to be
PERFORMED under this order, the Secretary
or war shall allow to the Banco Espanol de
la lsla de Cuba a sum squal to five per
centum of all money actually collected for
said taxes and paid to the government of
the United States by said bank, which said
hve per centum shall be collected as re-
auired by the regulations when said taxes
We're levied r. A. ALGER,
Secretary of War.