The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-02
THE HAVANA CONTRACTS.
4 Demand That the scvveriag Rsd
Paving work Ne Done.


HAVANA. March while the Dady
contract to provide sewers for Havana and
the Taylor contract to pave new streets.
| the latter being also Spanish grant. work
/ on which was stopped by the war. are both
hanging FIRE In the Department Of Justice.
| TO which they we're sent for an opinion
the people Of the city are growing FESTIVE
| over the fact that the streets are stilI IN
paved and unsewered. The newspapers are
continually calling attention to the fact
that the Americans have been here for
over year and that nothing but make
shift work has yet been done. The "Nusvo
Pals" and the "Disrio de la Marina both
reiterate this complaint this morning The
''Nuevo Pals" says;
1t matters little to US who does the
work. We wish to emphasize the fact
that 1t is utterly ridiculous 10 attempt the
sanitation of Havana until the city Is first
provided with proper sewer system
The "DisriO de la Marina" echoing the
sentiments OF the "NuevO Pals" says that
the people OF Havana care little who does
the work They all wish to see ground
broken and the undertaking begun.
All this is very cOmmendable. coming
from two Spanish papers accustomed TO
support the regime 10 which sewering was
apparently 4 lost art. Havana does need
sewers and pavements. None recognizes
this better than the Americans. but the
difficulties are many. From an engineer
ing point Of view the sswering OF Havana
IS considered a most difficult problem. Mr..
Gray. an expert OF Providence. has been
working for some time preparing com
plete report on the subject. but this will
not be ready until April.
hrr. nh IT,
sources Of infinite trouble. The fact that
il has taken so long to attempt to find out
where their rights begin or end indicates
that there is some justice in their claims
technically. however advantageous they
might be for the city il their contracts
were carried out In addition. there is the
financial problem. which today takes a new
turn. For carrying out the Taylor con-
tract no bonds are necessary. For the Dady
contract they are necessary. It is also nee
essary. if both contracts be set aside for
the Government. under Army engineers, to
undertake to do the work. General Lud-
lows estimate of the approximate expense
was so. 600.
Today a letter from Jose de Armas to
Mayor Lacoste was made public. Senior de
Armas demands the fufillmeht OF a con-
tract entered into between him and the
ayuntamiento in July, 1894, by which he
was empowered to raise a loan Of % .000, 600
francs for Havana. The Governor General
approved this contract in October, 1894.
Senior de Armas says he is ready now to
negotiate the loan. II the city is severed
il must be bonded but its financial affairs
at present are in such a tangle IL would
take some time to straighten them out.
Senior de Armas says his contract has no
connection with the Dady matter. He IS
simply to raise the money. Il is matter
OF indifference to him who does the work.
The coming OF Secretary Of War Root IS
awaited with expectancy. Cable dispatches
say that he is coming to straighten out the
difficulties between Governor General
Wood and the Cuban officials. hut this
statement is not understood. as the great
est cOTdiality exists between Gene al
Wood and all the officials.
The Italian Anarchist Malatesta, who is
now here. says that the Cuban workmen
have no present cause fer complaint. Their
hours are easy and their wages good He
adds that the time is coming when they
will have recourse TO anarchy to cure the
evils that will arise. He urges the Cub5ns
10 boycott the Americans, not to bend the
knee to the military power. and to refuse
to accept any position in the government.
intends to deliver a nurnoec Of
speeches. but il he continues this sort OF
talk he will be hauled up short. as the
Spanish law is very strict regarding An
lrchists. Malatesta is said to have como
rom the United States
The movement against the 10 per cent
war tax on railway passengers AMI 3 per
cent on freight has now reacned the ship
ping trade. All passengers ard freight On
.oastwise vessels have to pay these taxes
n addition TO regular taxes. 10 IS urged
hat the law be repealed as it restricts
At present the public pays the
axes. but an efOrt viii be made to shift
he burden to the railroads and steamships
Z the repeal Of the law cannot be Sc