Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-01-21
AFFAIRS in HAVANA.
The Giving Of a Contract to Collect
Back Taxes Criticised.
GEN. BROOKE'S CUBAN CABINET.
A Panic In an Indlaua Regiment Over the
spread of Smallpox - The Province
OF Pinar del Rio being Raw.
aged BY bandits.

Havana, Jan. l1-Ino newspapers
here continue to criticise the action Of
the American authorities In giving
the Spanish bank the contract to col
lect back Spanish taxes. 1t 10 claimed
that Spain alone should do this, and 1t
Is also asserted that II the bank col
lects Spanish dues II should also liqui-
date Spain's obligations to her citi.
Gems, who are still unpaid, and who
are met with continued reiteration
that Spain Is unable TO pay them.
Several offices have been opened in
Havana where citizens can protest
against the payment of back taxes
and also protest against the collection
Of royal dues on transfers OF property.
The Havana council will take up the
questions OF education, sewers and
other municipal subjects by commit
tees. patterned on the American plan,
which will submit completed ideas to
Gen. Ludlow, who will reject or APP
prove them. Where the money Is to
come from is question which will re-
quire q speedy answer. II the new
works are to be started, the customs
duties and taxes must be sufficient to
meet the pay rolls. The administra-
ton up to the present has reduced
them in some ways and increased them
in others, especially the police and
sanitation taxes Bonds will probably
be issued for both municipal and is
land purposes.
Gen. Brooke's new Cuban cabinet
shows disposition to take hold vigor-
ously. DR.. Lanuza, the secretary OF
public instruction, is in Washington.
The other three members-Capote
Desvernine and Yanez-having con.
suited with various Cuban elements,
decided that the situation warranted
them in assuming its responsibilities.
The first inquiry was whether the cab
met had anything to do with the gov
eminent of the city OF Havana or
whether Gen. Ludlow was the supreme
authority, superior to the cabinet.
This question has not been answered.
Capote Is the best known Of Gen.
Brooke's Cuban advisers. as he was
vice president of the provisional gov.
eminent and held the rank Of briga-
der general in the insurgent army.
Public attention Is, however, focused
on Desvernine, who was comparatively
unknown until he was named secre-
tary Of the treasury. He is asked to
use his official influence to overturn
the arrangements by which the Span.
ish bank of the island of Cuba Is TO
continue to collect taxes.
An out-and-out panic exists in the
One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana
regiment, owing to the spread OF
smallpox. Men and officers are using
every influence to bring about the
regiments recall. In the meantime all
who can secure sick leave are going
home. Jacob Dexter, OF Monticello,
Ind, has died OF smallpox. Alonzo
Graham, of Madison, Ind, is dying Of
black smallpox. There are Ave other
cases and seven suspects all In the
same regiment
Reports from Pinar del Rio say that
the province Is being ravaged by ban.
dts, who have broken away from the
insurgent forces. Thus far no great
damage has been done and the crimes
committed are not OF serious nature,
but the ranks OF the outlaws are con.
stautly increasing and the raids are
becoming more daring.