The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-24
SAN DOMINGO.
DoinEs of the CemmlssIou-r Country and
the People.
From letters to the New York Tribune we
make the following interesting extracts:-

make the following interesting extracts:-
CONDITION OF THE INHABITANTs.
The general bealthfulDess of this portion of
the island is established beyond question. DIR.
Newcomb, of Cornell University, VINO is charged
by the commission with the Investigation as
to the sanitary condition of the island, reports
the existence OF leprosy. The evidence of the
physicians in charge of the hospital shO Ows that
there Is always leprosy here, but the cases are
few, not over twenty in the whole city, aad 1t
is not considered contagious. But what the
city is rich In is cripples and mOnstrosites.
There are big-headed children, children
with q dozen or two fingers, and some without
any, children with joints as big as their heads,
and with legs bigger than their bodies, chill
dren overgrown and undergrown, children with
feeble mind or without any at ALL and all other
capricious varieties But the most singular of
all are the spotted children; that is, white
children turning black, or black children turn
ing white. You may believe either, according
to your politics. Whether this is freak of
nature to Show that the black and white races
can live in harmony together on this island,
whether it Is the beginning of a sys-
TEN to introduce white labor here aud
exteTminate the black race, leave for Demo-
Gratis and Republicans to discuss in Congress.
The spotted children are certainly curious spe-
cimens of Santo Domingo productions. There
are not many of them, but enough for variety.
There are children also here that have learned
much of our coinage system, which is astoni5h-
ing in creatures young. They stand ON street
corners all over the city, and continually say
to Americans who pass them, five cents,
or 'ten cents" according to the eXteut of
their English or the knowledge of our coins.
They also plead for cigar stumps, for | believe
that unfortunate children of tender age here
are drought up" on nicotine instead of lacteal
fluids. They all smoke from the time they walk.
without regard to sex, race, color, or previous
condition. The simplicity of their attire is also
worthy of note. A simpler costume, one
better fitted to the climate, could not be sug
gested, and 1.-The fit, as the tailors say, is per-
fect.
THE QUESTION OF ANNEXATION.
Now on the subject of annexation. That the
voice of the people is almost universal i'm favor
of such a course there can be no question. In
deed, the Commissioners are SO well assured of
this, that they have discontinued investig alton
into that branch of the subject in this locality.
1t will doubtless be resumed at Puerto Plata and
other points. The investigation of the Commis-
sion has been full and painstaking on this sub
ject
The two points upon which there is no doubt,
and which will operate against annexation more
than anything else, are the amount of the debt
and the extent of the Government land and pro-
| perty. The debt is stated by President Baez to
| be less than one and q half millions of dollars
in gold, and he promises to pay all the Just
| claims against SautO Domingo for that amount.
| But if you ask him for statement of that debt,
| with names, dates, and items, he says he canuot
| furnish it. How, then, is he to separate the
valid claims from the unjust? How does he
ascertain the amount SO accurately? 1t Is pos
sible be may yet present an authentic showing
to the Conn mission. Until he does there must
still be doubt.
this portion of the island and annex it, the
people ought to know just what they getting
how much land, how many buildings, the loca-
tion of both land and buildings, the claims
against the same, the gifts, the grants the con-
| cessions, the charters, and all such matters as
| concern them. Mr.. Baez cannot give the
amount of the public domain, aud nothing ia
known here upon which an exact estimate can
| hfa has cod harm m nnrAa a No AZ Ynrk
company is now engaged in surveying
| the lands of the island, with Professor
Gabb at the head, under the concession
by President Baez to give a fifth amount
to the company surveying it, and making maps,
| records, etc. This work will require years,
probably, to complete; and no accurate idea eau
be obtained until this is done. Mr.. Wade l.
| satisfied he says, that there no debts due
other Governments by the Dominican Republic
| that all her debts are held by her own people
| for the reason that nobody would trust her
The fact that Hayti has never made any claims,
| nor objected to any negotiations between the
Santo Domingo Republic and the United States
is regarded by him as sufficient evidence thai
she has no claim. Yet, as the resolutions o
Congress require 1t, the commission will go tC
| Port Prince.
THE FUTURE MOVEMENTS OF THE COMMISSION
are not finally decided; but they will sail foi
Azua in the Tennessee on Friday next, and re
main there several days, perhaps week
thence they will probably return on horseback
men like Mr.. Wade and DIR. Howe. On thei
return they may after gathering up the scat
tered parties on this side of the island q,
overland northward TO Puerto Plata
Higuey and the Lanos country, toward
the east end of the island. 1t is probable, how
ever that these last mentioned places will b.
passed by and that the party will return 4
Samana, and thence, after coaling, go to Puert
Plata. From that town they will make jour
ney oyer the mountains, inland, a hard tw
days Iide to Santiago the largest and riches
city ia the Republic, except the capital. Re
turning to aen Puerto Ean Psta they ,bn vii
go on around the west end of the Islam
10 Port-au-P Prince, the capital of Hayt
to confer with the authorities there, and lear
their claims and temper. From this point the
may go or send over to Santiago de Cuba. The
they will return home. This programme Wi
take them to almost every important place i
the whole island, and render the investigatio
exhaustive. 1t will require until the latter paI
of March, perhaps far into April.
NO FORMAL STATEMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS
has yet been received from the Dominican Coy
eTnment by the commissions; but the extent {
the public lands ls probably about IL 00C squar
miles, which a liberal construction of privai
imperfect titles may reduce to 5000. The VIca
Apostolic, who has had several conferences wit
! the Commission. says the Church will expect
retain nndisturbed all the property, such
buildings, grounds, etc., which 1t now own
but no claims will be made for the lands of Ii
) Church confscated by Boyer, which have passe
out of his possession. This statement will pr
; baby be put in written form, as a record, Il
, the Information of the commission.
/ NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BY MR.. WADE AND Dl
/ HOWE.
a At about 81 o'clock ON Thursday evenn
: February 8, large body of citizens includiI
/ | the Dominican Society, accompanied by bar
: Of music appeared in front of the house occ
| pied by the commissioners, and. after one or tW