The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-26
TAX IDLE SUGAR PLANTS
GEN. WOOD THINKS THAT SUCH
ACTION WOULD BE HELPFUL
TO CUBA
PRESENT TAXATION BY BAG
Many Owners Live Abroad and
Their Properties Are Closed Up
Planning for the Elections
on the Island.

HAVANA, March 25.-GoV. Gen Wood
has recently had interviews with persons
Of influence who strongly urged the tax
alton of valuable properties, rather than
each bag of sugar, as it is manufactured
Those who hold this view contend that
under the present system impedf1nents
are thrown IN the way of production.
They point out that many valuable es.
tates have been lying idle and unpro-
ductive for some years, some even having
complete sugar plants. The owners, who
are rich mon, are living in Paris, Madrid
and other European cities, quite untaxed
for their property in Cuba. Gen. Wood
Ieels that If these properties are taxed
their owners will be forced either to sell
them or to make them productive.
Senior Pierra, a member of the subcom-
mittee who drew up the majority report
on the electoral commission, discussing
the matter, said today:
In our report we have endeavored to
arrange for the elections in such a way
as 10 secure fair play for all concerned.
The plan proposed by the minority report,
drawn up by Senor Tanayo and Gen
Rivera, which suggests 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 conduct of the
elections, would choose the electoral
boards of three. In this way the civil
governors would have too much indi-
vidual influence in conducting the cleo
c oil fhn OfSo
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. Moreover local interests
will play a prominent part In the
elections For instance in Havana the
principal issue will be between the work
tngmen and land owners The former
have formed party, while the land own
ers will not be unrepresented. The votes
Will take In ten sections into which Ha-
vana is now divided
Personally ] feel that the municipali-
ties should not have unlimited authority
at once, but only in the course Of time,
AT first there should be a strong central
control There is 81 difference between
Cuba and the United States Cubars
have been accustomed to 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 COM
mittee had chosen judges as registry Of
hcers because "a judge is, or should be-
above suspicion by virtue Of his office
and IS also likely to have the confidence
of the people of his district"
The confereI ce between leading auton.
omists and the senate committee are
still the subject of discussion. The
autonomists declare the details have not
and will not be published but the papers
continue to publish alleged scraps of the
conversation
The Nuevo Pals, organ of the autono-
mists, replying to the Discussion, says
none Of the statements published are col
rect. The Cubans in position to know
say the Discussion article attacking the
NUevo Pals was written for the purpose
Of stirring up feeling against the auton-
omists and the new political organlza-
tion about to be completed, which will
include autonomists and a large number
of representative Cubans.