The times., 1900-03-07
AFFAIRS IN CUBA.
The Mayors of Havana Province Dis
cu-- NnnIcipnI MnaIers.

HAVANA. March "a meeting Of al %,
mayors in the Province Of Havana. called
by Civil Governor Nunez. was held here to-
day for the purpose OF exchanging ideas
regarding municipal government. many Of
the mayors being ignorant Of administra-
tive Affairs. The chief point discussed be-
yond the details Of administrative routine
was the question Of autonomy for the re-
spective municipalities. The sentiment Of
all those present was opposed to the cen
tralization OF power Ia the insular gov
ernment Governor Nunez made 1t plain
that as long as the municipalities we're de-
pendent upon the island treasury to make
up their financial deficiencies ;hsy could
not hope for home rule He said II they
would rule themselves they must support
themselves He urged that % accomplish
this end II would be a good idea to estab-
lish land tax on the basis OF the value
Of the land instead OF upon the income
therefr0m as now
4 majority OF the mayors appeared to
agree with this suggestion. which was a
good point as this change Is necessary u
the rural municipalities are 70 be put on
a supporting basis As a result OF the
meeting many OF the mayors returned
home determined 20 cut down the budgets
and to bring them as far as possible with
in the amounts raised by municipal taxa
tion ia order 20 have a stronger claim for
freedom from control by the General Gov
eminent
The pcrsistency with which reports Of
an impending revolt in Cuba are cabled
here from the United States is disagree
able TO both the Americans and Cuhans.
| Certainly these reports do not originate
from responsible sources. Talk OF this
kind here is confined to harrooms. The
newspapers and people. while perhaps not
wasting much love on the Americans. and
in some degree suspicious of the Admin
istratiOn's plans In the main. reiterate
their confidence in General Woods gov
ernment. They want independence. but
do not want to fight for It. 1t is too soon
after their last bitter experience. and
there is too little sense Of personal wrong
in their bosoms to make them leave their
families to starve while they shoulder
gun and go to the woods to be shot at.
They have now all the freedom that
American citizens have and their taxes
are lighter. No men are being stood
against walls and shot for talking. and
none is being imprisoned for political rea-
sons.
All that they have not is a senti-
mental republic and this they expect in
comparatively short time. Even the
noislesl agitatOTs nave ceaseu now 70 tdlh
Of taking to the woods. The false stories
sent out from here by irresponsible per-
sons or concocted in the United States for
political purposes. are Injurious to the
Cuhans and TO all Americans having busi-
ness in the island. The latest eanaTd ca
bled here quotes one Gardinhire. who has
arrived in the United States from Ha-
vana. Who this individual is no one here
knows The newspapers sniff at his SEN
timents.
The "Patria" remarks sarcastically that
Cuba is not like Kentucky. where men
shoot on the slightest prOvOcation. IL ex-
presses faith in the joint resolution OF
Congress regarding Cuba and declares
that that resolution is not dead.
The ''manana" habit appears TO have at
tackled Secretary Of War Root, who again
today disappointed everybody by his non
arrival. IL was expected that he would
reach here at about noon and crowds as
sembled to see him. only to be disappoint-
ed. IL was reported at the Palace this
afternoon that he would sail from Key
West tonight and that he would arrive
here tomorrow.