New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-21

veyed with great care Caldera Bay. While at the
last-named place he rode inland to the town OF
Bani about 10 miles distant He here had an inter-
view with q number of people Of the town, repre-
scnting its general sentiment. Bani Is thriving
place Of 800 inhabitants and is so far inland as 10
be removed entirely from the annexation influence
which materially controls the ocean towns oaP''
McCool says the people are largely in favor oil an
nexation. He found this sentiment prevailing gen
orally wherever he went, except at Puerto IIa'a'
where the mercantile element predomlnates' anu
this element is mainly composed OF Engilh anu
Germans, and their interest they believe "ou4u
suffer by a change.
The inhabitants IN this section all peneVc tne Ina,
annexation is to be done,' as they can II, ~ 'H
tbov have the most abiding faith and half OF the
are undoubtedly waiting for this happy time, IN the
belif that they are to be made rich and independent
1T once They have the most extravagant IDEA OF
the value of land and look with suspicion upon any
one who approaches them with inquiries about rent
ing or purchasing. For five miles around SANTANA
there is not an acre to be had
THE GOVERNMENT.
The magistrates who administer law and Justice IN
this favored quarter of the world seem 10 have no
respect for any known code, but proceed In sum
mary manner according TO their own crude notions
Of eouitv. As specimen Of the queer things done
sometimes under this system, may tell You story
that las lust been told to me. butcher suspected
n man of stealing from him the sum OF $40. lie
mentioned his suspicious to a magistrate, andthoueh
he did not invoke the aid Of the law, the jealous
furctionary took the responsibility Of ordering
ont the guard auestiug the supposed culnrit,
and organizing court After farcical
trial the prisoner was acquitted, and the
butcher called upon TO pay $50 costs. lie demuTed
10 tlis and was fined $40 for contempt. lie asked
for copy Of the proceedings, and was charged so
more. Then being a British subject he applied 10
the British commercial agent who was here at the
time. and so he expects to obtain redress. But l
must say that, considering the strong inducements
which the people have to abstain from going to law
acts of violence and dishonesty are wonderfully row.
Tho military consists of q sort of national guald'
serving without pay, meeting regularly Tor muster
and furnishing details for guard duty.
The only revenues Of the Government are derived
from an ad vaIorern customs duty Of 40pcr cent,
small tax on business, and the inpost OF mes
and penalties The receipts however, are very
small. The imports are of trline amount. There
is no poh tax, no school tax, no property or other
tax except the fee for licenses 10 carry on business
WHAT THE COMMISSION Is DOING
v.8l.-I have reserved until the last the news
in regard 10 the Commission and there is really
li+t, Of irnrortance 10 record The next day after
orr arrival at SANTANA al the members went on
shore and were received III a scmi-oilcial manner
and informal conversation was had on general sub
iects with some of the principal Inhabitants SINCE
then they have made frequent excursions TO the
village and through the country adjacent, sometimes
afoot and sometimes as,ride bull. believe how
ever. that DR.. Howe is the only member Of the Com
mission who has thus far INDUCED in this luxury
and the sight was worth the trip to behold. The
- Il IN. L. l)HWT-
lass. perhaps in the party, and the bulls are very
low. Curling mp his feet and legs keep them from
the ground guiding the bull with one hand by
rope attached to a ring through the animals nose
and applying the whip with tie other, the Doctor5
picture with his linen coat streaming in the air ana
his broad-brmmed hat covering his magnificent
head was novel and instructive. Mr.. Wade promises
TO sit in the same way for Lis picture al Santo
Domingo,
On the morning Of the 2Cth, the Commits ion dis
Matched Cant. Henry Wade son Of the President OF
the Commission. as a courier 10 Santo Domingo CITY,
bearing an official letter to President Baez inform
ing him that Commission appointed by thc fItsi-
dent Of the United States by authority Of Congress-
had arrived at SANTANA Bay, and would proceed TO
the Capital as soon as the stoamcrcoud load It's coal
Capt Wade was accompanied BY two OF three jour
nalists. and took the overland trail, with guide and
raGons The distance overland is about 50 miles.
The Commission in addition 10 visiting SANTANA
and its adjacent country in person, has taken tcti
mony from all the intelligent inhabitants, IN short
hand and this testimony will be incorporated in The
Commission's report to the President Among those
examined were Gen. Jose Silyano Acosta, Governor
Of the Province of Samana Col. Enrique Abrcu COM
mandante Of the military forces in the village; Eu-
oenio Garcia the alcaldc, or judge Bcnlto Garcia
member OF the Council; two OF three members OF the
Juuta and several prominent merchants; Capt. Benz
Burr. an extensive planter, who has had 1909 men
under his employ; the Rev. Joseph b. Hamilton,
local Methodist preacher and mahogany merchant
one or two other preachers, school-teacner, ana
others whose opinions were though to be OF any con-
sequence. o.,
The most important witness was Victor Dc5ruis-
seaux. the President Of the Municipal Council, and
custodian Of all the records of land and other OIL
cial documents lie stated that he was in charge Of
all the Government documents andrccOrds that were
saved az the time Lupcron, in command of the Tec-
gIafo sheled the town and destroyed it by ire, two
or three years ago. as well all the records of an
official character Of transactions since that time.
The Commission examined the records Of the
deeds mortgages transfers. leases, &c, in the hands
of the gentleman named, and all transactions re-
lating TO citizens Of the United States trans
lated INTO Lhgnsh by persons Olucl'HIy aldchcu 10
the Commission, and properly certified. These will
be incorporated in the report, and the documenswiIl
be presented in their official form, entire. And here
is the important fact. The only Americans owning
land in the vicinity of SANTANA Bay are Mr.. Joseph
w. Fabens and his grantees, SponOrd Brothers Of
New-York, the owners of the Tybee steamer which
plies between here and New-Yorl, who have about
30 acres west of the village and back of their wharf
and warehouse and Judge O'Sulliyan of New-YOrk
who has a grant Of tract of about 30 acres lying