Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-06
JEALOUS OF HAVANA,
Real Cause Of the Present
Unrest at Santiago.
Gen. Wood and Or. Castillo Leave On
Mission to President.
Hoped that Muedls Owe. the Custom, m
Soon Be Settled.

Santiago de Cuba. Jan. 5.-The ex.
i PLANTATION of the war department ~
Washington Of its intentions regardIn,
the transfer OF customs receipts from
the different ports in Cuba to Havana
Is met here by statements from tho
cubans that the plan IL similar to the
one adopted ~ the Spanish, when re-
questions on Havana obtained lesx
than per cent. Of what the requisi-
tons called for.
The merchants. business men and in.
huential people here say Havana has
grown rich and prosperous at the ex-
pense of the rest Of the island and the
Cubans and governmental officials at
Santiago say the Cubans of Havana
are responsible for Major General
| Brooke's order on this subject.
The people here add that the Ha-
vana cubans are still anxious to main.
| tain the same system Of the centraIiza-
ton of funds which was in force before
the American occupation.
DR.. Castillo and Mayor Barcardi
have proved true In THIS crisis and
have urged the citizens to remain
peaceful while awaiting the results of
General Wood and DIR. Castillo's trip
to Washington.
Gen. Wood. accompanied by his aide
de-camp. Lieut.. Hnna, and DIR. Castillo,
representing the merchants and bust.
ness men of this city. left here for
New York, today, On the transport
Mississippi. They were accorded an
enthusiastic ovation on their departure
from the palace and during their pas
sage down Mariana street to the
wharf. The municipal band preceded
Gen Wood. who was accompanied by
the mayor and staff and a large num-
Der of officers and Cubans.
Gen. Wood was deeply moved. There
were between 5000 and 5000 persons in
the procession, and the women wept
and wished the general bon voyage.
Cuban gratitude was never more clear
ly expressed. Men who were a few
weeks ago antagonistic to the Ameri-
can commander were. today among his
most enthusiastic supporters.
A dispatch was received from Ha-
vana, today, saying that the customs
receipts may remain at Santiago. The
effects of this information are on the
whole good especially so far as the lab
orers are concerned. for. prior to the
suspended, numerous warrants had
been issued for necessary improve
ments
Senior Bacardi, the mayor. has assur-
ed the laborers that all works now In
progress will go on, and therefore.
there is not likely to be any immedi-
ate trouble. But educated Cubans. the
members of the San Carlos Club. the
judges of the supreme court. the local
newspapers, and Cuban and foreign
merchants here agree that the srua-
ton is substantially unchanged and
that any such project as was original
ly outlined simply means taxation
without representation. Their argu-
ment is that Gen. Brooke. residing in
Havana, will always be antagonistic
to the interests of the province OF San
tiago and likely to object to the neces-
sary expenditure in this section.
Prominent Cubans assert that If Gu
ban government should assume to issue
such an order-concentrating the Gus
tom receipts at Havana-civil war
would Immediately break out. AS 1t Is.
however. everything is quiet and order
ly in anticipation of favorable results
from Cen Woods representatives at
Washington.
AS the Mississippi was leaving. she
ran into the remaining portions OF tne
United States collier Merrimac, sunk
by Naval Constructor Hobson. project
ing above the water and carried away
completely the smokestacks. me
transport came to anchor for halt an
hour. but it was found that she had
received no damage.