The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-26
TAXATION AND POLITICS.


Matters Which Are EngrOssing the
Attention OF Cubans.
HAVANA, March Ex-Governor General
Wood has recently had interviews with
persons of influence, who have strenuously
urged the taxation of valuable properties
rather than each bag of sugar as 1t is
manufactured. Those who hold this view
contend that rnder the present system i'm
pediments are thrown in the way of pro-
duction. They point out that many valu-
able estates have been lying idle and un-
productive for years, some even having
complete sugar plants. The owners. who
are rich men, are living in Paris, Madrid
and other European cities quite untaxed
for their property in Cuba. General Wood
feels that if these properties are taxed
their owners will be forced either to sell
them or to make them productive.
Senior Pierra, member Of the subcom-
mittee, who drew up the majority report
on the electoral commission, discussing the
matter to-day said: 'In our report we
have endeavored to arrange for the elec-
tions in such way as to secure fair play
for all concerned. The plan proposed by
the minority report, drawn up by Senior
Tamayo and General Rivera, which sug-
gests that the board of registry be elected
by suffrage, has the drawback of leaving
too much power in the hands of the civil
governors. Under the minority scheme the
civil governors would nominate election
officers in the various provincial districts.
These officers, being charged with the con-
duct of the elections, would choose the
oIa hos ri Of Tn he
civil governors would have too much in
dividual influence in conducting the elec-
tions. as all the officers controlling them
would be their nominees"
With regard to the representation of
minorities Senor Pierra said: Although
no political parties have been formed. there
are two well-marked political tendencies
the Radical and the Conservative. More
ever, local interests will play a prominent
part in the elections. For instance, in
Havana the principal issue will lie be-
tween the workingmen and the land own
ers. The former are a majority. Never
theless the committee has arranged so that
the land holders will not be left unrepre-
sented. The votes are to be taken accord
ing to the ten existing sections into which
lieve the municipalities should not have
unlimited autonomy at once, but only in
the course of time. AT first there should
be a strong central control. There is a
great difference between Cuba and the
United States. Cubans have been accus-
toned 20 look to the central government
for all initiative and also for the support
of new enterprises. 1t would be impossible
to change all that in one day."
Senior Pierra remarked that the commit
tee had chosen judges as registry officers
because "a judge is or should be above
suspicion by virtue of his Office, and is
also likely to have an intimate knowledge
regarding the people of his district"
The recent interviews between leading
autonomists and the members of the Sem
ate committee are still the subject of COM
ment. The autonomists assert that the de-
tails have not been and will not be pub
lished. but the papers keep on printing
alleged accounts of what was said The
Nuevo Pals. organ Of the autonomists, In
reply to an attack by the Discussion saws
that none of the statements yet published
represent the facts. Cubans who are op-
posed TO the policy and tactics of the Dis
cusion assert that its article attacking the
Nuevo Pals was written with view of
stirring up popular feeling against the
autonomists so as to dscredit the new po-
litical organization about to be created.
which will include autonomists and a large
element of moderate Cubans.
The meeting called to-day of those favor
ing universal suffrage resulted In failure.
The only persons present We're about fifty
negroes and several small boys.