The times., 1900-12-27
Will SUPPORT SBARBT'PI
Cuban Priests Abandon the Fight
on the Bishop Of Havana.
The Final Blow to the Opposition
Given by GunibcrtO Gomez-The
New Bids for Raising the Maine
The Discussions of the Islands
Relations With the United states.

HAVANA, Dec. 26.-The Cuban priests
| who have been making war on Bishop
sbaretti and stirring up the people against
him have abandoned their opposition and
have published a letter explaining that
they now regard the Bishop as the lawful
representative of Rome. They have also
made overtures to the Bishop saying that
they will support him loyalty. The move
| raent against the Bishop, which has been
weak for some time, never had much life.
1t is probable that the recent speech of
Gualberto Gomez supporting the Bishop
was the final blow to the opposition.
All the bids for raising the Maine have
been rejected and new bids will be called
Tor, to be opened on February 1. The sue
cessful bidder, who will be allowed to re-
tain the vessel, will have to finish the
work of removing the wreck by July
and will have to furnish a S25 900 guaran-
tee.
The Havana Post" publishes an article
appealing to General Wood not to allow
the city to be delivered, tied hand and
foot. to financial sharks. as it cla inns it
would be if certain terms are granted to
the bankers who desire to take up the
city loan. The paper says that the con-
tract entered into by the city with the
Spanish Bank in 1889 was legal and
financial mcnstrosity. II believes in a
loan. but thinks the city should have the
management of its own property. and that
the latter should not be delivered to any
syndicate. 1t adds that General Wood
stands between helpless people and the
financial sharks General Wood says that
he will not sanction anything which does
not protect the city.
The Discussion" said yesterday that it
had been stated that $50, 900 had been Of
fered to Mayor Rodriguez to keep away
from the sessions of the municipality
when the sewering contract was dis
cussed. The Lucha" to-day says that the
mayor should have the person who Of
fered the money arrested.
The question of the relations between
Cuba and the United States has been the
cause of much discussion. General Ale
man, delegate TO the Constitutional
Convention, and the Discussion deny
that the delegates have changed their
original opinions on the subject in the
least degree. General Aleman has pub
lished letter in which he says he does
not understand how the people can think
the thirty-one delegates could become
partisans of a protectorate so suddenly.
The Discussion categorically denies
that the delegates win accept the inter
vention of the United States in Cuba's
foreign affairs, or that they will agree to
the United States keeping three ports OF
the island In spite of these denials,
there are some persons who maintain
that the convention is ready to grant
these concessions. Many of the delaga es
declare that it is for the United States to
Say what they want. and not for the con-
vention to give without knowing what is
desired They hold that tae convention
might give more than is expected by the
United States. Some also say the United
States viii nave to take the ports IL it
wants them, as the Cubans will not give
them.
The final project for a constitution IS
prepared by the central committee of the
convention will probably be ready this
week. when 1t will be discussed at private
sessions, in spite of the rule making the
sessions public. A few formal public ses-
sions will then be held. 1t is expected
that the constitution will be ready soon
after the middle of January.